I'm embarking on my first live edge project where I'll be building shelves for my tiki mug collection. I'm planning to install some flexible LED 'neon' lighting and want to route a slot for the lights to sit, making it flush with the top of the shelf so it's not really visible. The slot needs to follow the shape of the live edge, ideally about an inch away from it consistently. The live edge is mostly smooth but does have some curves. I have a plunge router with edge guide slots and I'm thinking about creating a pair of rollers that I can attach to the edge guides to help me route along the edge.
Here are my main concerns:
- Is there an easier way to do this?
- Am I overthinking it?
- Are there reasons my plan might not work?
- Do any attachments exist that could help?
In short, I'm wondering if this idea is a bit silly or if I'm on the right track!
4 Answers
Does it really need to follow the live edge precisely? You could use an edge guide on the flat back and get close to the live edge. Since it's a shelf, the live edge should be relatively straight. That might save a lot of hassle!
You might want to scribe the curve on a large piece of ply and cut it with a jigsaw. Then, separate them based on the width you want to route. That way, you can create a router jig to hold it steady. Just make sure to test it out on some scrap wood first!
That’s a fantastic idea! It sounds way simpler than my initial plan. I tend to overthink things, and it’s great to see an easier solution.
One simple approach might be to draw a line with a pencil and use a guide to freehand it along that line. You could have equal odds of success or disaster compared to making a whole DIY guide setup though!
I considered that, but I'm not confident with freehanding a router... I've messed up before and ruined pieces.
Consider getting a shaper origin for precision routing. It’ll give you a safe and accurate way to get the job done. A CNC machine would do the trick too, but that might be a bit overkill!
I thought about that, but the shelves vary in width. Still, it's a solid plan B to clamp a straight edge along the top and have it guide the router.