routering

[frenchies2two]

i can router one side easy then when i flib the board over the router bit just digs into the wood and its a pain in the asss

what do i need to prevent this

[doctor worm]

rout in the other direction

[CrisVA]

If it has concave, you can't really.

Routers hate concave.

[frenchies2two]

okay i meen im doing the edges

and i do the top fine then the bottom gets messed up

[CrisVA]

okay i meen im doing the edges

and i do the top fine then the bottom gets messed up

Same thing that happened to me. Problem is the router can't sit flat when it sits on the bottom of the concave, so it digs in since it can't sit flat which the router needs.

I use a belt sander on the bottom to get a good edge now. Use a 100grit belt, and do a little bit at a time and it will look just as good.

[nicnoyd]

[ol'dude]

Slow down?

Maybe grain direction...

Also, how big of a bite are you taking? You might want to do 2-3 passes if you are getting a lot of tearout.

Counter-clockwise around the outer edge...

[jmclure]

I also had this problem. Sorry there's no easy solution because the roundover bit I'm using (and I believe you are) is designed to follow the curve of the wood along the little wheel at the bottom. If your using thinner wood (anything under an inch) it dosn't have anything to follow so it digs in.
I've just been routering the top and belt sanding the bottoms so at least the top of the board looks good. Another solution would be to make 2 or more of the same shaped boards, sandwich them and do the routing together, then flip and do the other sides together. I haven't tried this yet because I want each board to be different.

[ol'dude]

designed to follow the curve of the wood along the little wheel at the bottom. If your using thinner wood (anything under an inch) it dosn't have anything to follow so it digs in.

Do you have an adjustable base? You should be able to lower the bit so the bearing rides on the very edge of your ply.

Sidebar: I'm also a big fan of templates. 1/8th or 1/4 inch masonite or mdf, sand it to the perfect shape, and the saw and router make many decks just as smooth.
Drill a big 1" hole in it, and you can hang an entire quiver of shapes on a dowel.