> I am a little new to running the router table, and am finding that as I
> cut the coves, the redwood tends to splinter pretty bad. Fir, too, but for
> some reason not quite so bad. Am I taking too deep a cut? Feeding too
> fast? When I slow it down a little it is better, but still some good sized
> chunks come off. What is a good setup? I have two feather boards holding
> to the fence, but none holding it down on the table, I've been doing that
> by hand. Also, the bit is in the fence. Should I be running the bit
> outside the fence and feeding the other way?

> -Don

Don, Question: Did you get new cutters and put them on the router?? The majority of carbide cutters are NOT sharp when they're "out of the box". That's what it sounds like. If they are new, you might take them to a saw sharpener and have them touched up. Doesn't cost that much. With soft woods those carbide cutters should go through them like the proverbial "Hot knife thru Butter". And Looking down on your router table, facing the cutter, is the bit turning counter-clockwise? If so, you should be feeding "right to left". Or, you should be feeding against the rotation on the bit. But, if you were going the wrong way, you would have found out in a big hurry, as the piece would have been pulled out of your hand and likely shot across the room. Unless you have feather boards in place. Most likely though, the bit is probably dull. If the bit has been sharpened at one time, then look at the back side of the carbide and see if there is a deposit on them. If so, that could cause bad cutting. If it's there, It can be cleaned off with "Easy-Off Oven Cleaner". Hope this helps a little. Rehd