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On occasion, I have had tearout occur when trimming the top and backs (flush bit). I just ordered a spiral downcut bit from Whiteside. But, I saw a comment recently about using climb cutting to avoid this. Do any of you do that?

Mike

All the time.

You can climb all the way round, but you need to make sure you're holding on to the guitar (talking table mounted router here); or just rout from the wide parts to the narrow parts, which gives you a climb cut where you need it. If you have big overhangs, don't try to take it all off in one hit, of course.

I always climb all the way round when cutting binding or purfling channels (using either a "vertical axis" machine or a hand held laminate trimmer).

All the bits I use for these types of cuts are "spiral" to some degree, either up or down. Gives a much smoother cut. Spiral down for purflings gives a very clean cut.

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Trevor Gore, Luthier. Australian hand made acoustic guitars, classical guitars; custom guitar design and build; guitar design instruction.

http://www.goreguitars.com.au