Question about using a router on end grain for a big sign

I was making a 4 foot oak sign for a local cafe and decided to try a roundover bit on the end grain edges, not the face. I thought it would be fine if I went slow, but it tore out a huge chunk near the corner, like a 2 inch splinter. I had to cut a whole new piece. I learned you really need a backing board or to change your cut direction, even on a simple edge. Anyone got a better trick for clean end grain routing?

3 comments

3 Comments

taylor_fox1mo ago

Yeah, climb cutting helps a ton.

river_scott1mo ago

Climb cutting is a game changer, @taylor_fox. Makes everything so much smoother.

taylor8213d ago

Climb cutting really does take all that chattering out of the equation. Once I got used to the feel, I couldn't go back to conventional on most cuts. You tried it on aluminum yet?