Acoustic Guitar Construction

On my fourth project using my binding cutter I ran into some chipping at the edge of the channel (curly cherry). I have no idea as to whether I'm going past the useful life of the router bit or whether the cherry itself is inherently fragile with a tendency to chip. The router bit was installed shiny new for the first project and used for nothing else since.

Any suggestions as to how I can determine whether the router bit itself is contributing to my problem?

Thanks!

Not sure about curly cherry but have cut quilted maple, narra and some fancy bocote which have been chippy in other operations. I've been doing a quick dress of the cutter before each guitar with small diamond wands you can get from most sources. Also I've been doing a climb cut all the way around before a final pass the other way. Seems to make a clean edge.

Thanks for answering. I admit confusion: is a 'climb cut' one in which the router bit rotation follows the direction of cut or travels against the direction of the cut?

I guess that "the router bit rotation follows the direction of cut" would be a way of describing it. I use a tower type binding jig with the body in a cradle, moving it around under the router. The body is rotated counterclockwise in a climb cut (hold on to it tight) then clockwise for the final cleanup. The diagram on the SM site shows a climb cut in certain quarters to prevent chip out. I find it easier for me to do it all the way around.

FWIW: I always follow the SM recipe to make the first cut in "quaters" (in fact in 8ths) and a final cut couter clockwise. Never had chipping out.
Herman

Herman wrote:FWIW: I always follow the SM recipe to make the first cut in "quaters" (in fact in 8ths) and a final cut couter clockwise. Never had chipping out.
Herman

I do the same and that's the way i teach it in my guitar building classes. Very rarely get chip out but some wood just does. Torrified and Sinker tops can catch a grain line and fling a chuck flying if you aren't careful about the cut direction.

Ok you guys.
The diagram attached is one we are familiar with.
My router is attached to the bottom of a router table, so my bit is spinning counter-closckwise.
If I'm not wrong, the diagram (which I've inverted because my bit is not spinning clockwise with the router above the guitar) shows the correct feed angle.

I'm only asking because I cannot cut a perfect channel no matter how much I try, how many virgins I sacrifice, or promises to feed the hungry I make.
I use the SM router bit and bearings.
I will chip, I will dip, and other words that rhyme with those, but no perfect channels. Not semi-perfect.
My friends, Dave is at the end of his rope.
I do not have $400 bucks for the LMII router fixture and a Bosch Colt (plus shipping, another $400 or so. I exaggerate, but shipping some binding material from southern California costs more than the binding material) but I'm pretty much thinking that I need to save some coin to get one. This granadillo and this torrefied wrc top are kicking my buttocks when it comes to channels.

So - sorry to drag you in, though I feel better now - I just want to make certain that the 'feed theory' above and in the diagram is correct. What say you?