How do you cut out your tabs?

[jwoody18]

I’ve been looking around for the best way to cut out tabs.

Here are approaches I’ve seen:

-Jig saw (haven’t tried it yet, my Bosch is mounted in my Jig saw table) [Seems prone to error and leaves extra cleanup]

-Cordless/Corded trim router with a 1/4" flush trim bit (a bit rare, but Lee Valley stocks one) [This is my favorite idea and a second Makita arrives today. Flip over the workpiece, slip the bit in the slot and run it around the contour and tahdah, part is out and perfect. Thank you, Izzy Sawn] [EDIT: Only disadvantage is that you need to remove the stock with the tabs in place as you can’t do this on the table. Depending on tab strength, some tabs may break or parts fall out. However, a few broken tabs aren’t an issue as the router will clean up the edge. The parts falling out and being damaged is less ideal so maybe use thicker tabs? I’ve started using 2.25mm, what do you use?]

** This reminds me - I have been thinking about running a heavy guage extension cord in my drag chain, one of the ones with 3 outlets on the end. That would allow us to plug the router in at the top of the XZ assembly, as well as leave power for a laser and a Wyze security camera. Plus removing the router to use on the bench or to cut out tabs would be trivial versus opening up the drag chain to take the power cord out. Has anyone done this already? **

-Hand saw (tried this, don’t have nice flush cut saws, a crappy flush cut dowel saw (like $7 one) is so-so and still requires sanding, plus some small pieces or narrow tab spacings are too small for this to work.

-Flush cut saw/multi-tool. This is what I just discovered and am currently doing until my second trim router arrives. I got the cheapo Canadian Tire multi-tool on a father’s day sale a few years ago and have barely used it. I put the flat blade on it and it cuts very nicely without even removing the workpiece from the table after the CNC cuts are done. [EDIT: It is awfully nice to leave your hold downs in place and buzz away those tabs and lift out the finished pieces. I do like being able to do it on the table.]

However the Canadian Tire unit, while affordable, is BIG and HEAVY so it’s a bit unwieldy to use in a tiny slot held vertically. If I had a more streamlined/lighter body and/or cordless version this would be a solid contender.

-Jointer. I don’t have a jointer but in another video someone posted showing how to use dowels and rubber bands for work holding, I caught a few seconds of a brilliant idea. The presenter cut out some lovely walnut pieces on his CNC (admittedly fairly narrow pieces) and then simply ran the piece through his jointer and took 1/16th off the bottom and his piece fell right out. Neat.

Any other ideas? How do you remove tabs?

-Jeff

[gwilki]

@jwoody18 I use a sharp 1/4" chisel then sandpaper. I have a Bosch Colt trim router that I could use, but many of the projects that I do on the Mill use a 1/8" bit and I don’t have a 1/8" flush trim bit.(I don’t remember ever seeing one.) My tabs are never more than 1/8" thick, so the chisel makes short work of them. Plus, I don’t use tabs a lot.

I like the idea of putting an extension cord in the drag chain. I don’t think I’ll be taking the Makita in and out at any time soon, but it could be handy to have an outlet right at the Mill.

I’ve onion-skinned a couple of projects, then run them through my jointer. It worked very well for bigger projects. For smaller projects, holding the parts that are about to be loose can be “interesting”.

[jwoody18]

@gwilki

I use a sharp 1/4" chisel then sandpaper.

Grant win’s the Occam’s Razor award. Brilliant and simple!

[Iguana]

A utility knife also works well.

[Wsar10]

As simple as possible… Usually while the material is still attached to my wasteboard, I grab a sharp chisel and a hammer. Sometimes I just use a carpenters knife or the blade from one. Then if needed I hit them with an orbital sander, unless I am using my bigger sander for shaping.

I plan ahead in CAD though… Meaning I engineer out as many issues as possible to make the tabs easy to deal with, like keeping them away from corners, managing the size etc.

[Br5d]

I use a multi tool as my tabs are generally 10 to 15mm thick x 20mm L

[jwoody18]

Wow, why such large tabs? Are you cutting out very large parts?

[Br5d]

Well I’ve had issues with using smaller tabs so I went to progressively bigger ones until the problem was no more. Mainly cutting out larger components from hardwoods. Works for me.

[Troym]

I found a Flush Cut Pull saw by Dewalt at Home depot. It works great for all sizes of tabs. Little sanding after cutting out and your done with the tabs.
Link below of the one I use.
DEWALT Flush Cut Pull Saw | The Home Depot Canada

[Bill]

I use a Harbor freight Vibrating sander/trimmer, $20 bucks, you can buy different size cutting blades but I try to place tabs in an easy exposed edge. I chose the cheap ac powered version since anything battery rechargeable doesn’t earn high points, actually I have two, one for occasional detail sanding “triangle sanding disc”, one for tabs with a smaller cutting blade turned 90° for better ease of handling and control. Absolutely not Festool, but they do the required task less expensively. I use a disc sander to complete the task.