4 Flute Light Duty Dovetail Cutter
This cutter was made for the Impossible Dovetail project, and came about because the dimensions I specified for the project (which were dictated by the stock I had on hand) meant that I couldn't source a commercial metal cutter to do the job. There are quite a few router bits that could probably have been pressed into service if it was all made from aluminium, but I considered it was probably asking for trouble with the brass.
In any case, it was a great excuse to make a reasonably complex cutter from O1 tool steel, and I certainly learned a great deal about what is really possible with a simple shop made milling cutter like this. As you will see in the video, there are plenty of limitations to its use, but at the very least I consider the concept is perfect for making complex ornamental profiling tools for softer materials like aluminium.
In any case, it was a great excuse to make a reasonably complex cutter from O1 tool steel, and I certainly learned a great deal about what is really possible with a simple shop made milling cutter like this. As you will see in the video, there are plenty of limitations to its use, but at the very least I consider the concept is perfect for making complex ornamental profiling tools for softer materials like aluminium.
