@BradburyGuy Very good point, yes, using butterflies to repair or hide knots, especially ones that are drying and coming loose, is and excellent use. Butterflies are not used as much now as they were in the past, like many things their popularity comes and goes ... still, it's nice to know there are options like this if you need them. Thanks for your comments Colin
That's a pretty popular way of making butterflies joints, I actually like to take a bit longer and use the chisel, just so they look like they are hand made (even if they aren't) .. but that's the beauty of woodworking, lots of different choices and ideas. Thanks for commenting and letting others know there are different ways of doing these :) Colin
@FesterBable In some cases you are absolutely correct. There are actually 2 kinds of butterflies, decorative and functional, and yes, depending on the thickness of the board, the butterfly may need to be thicker than a few millimeters in order to actually work. In terms of "decorative" many woodworkers use butteflies to hide or disguise knot holes or other defects in the wood, especially if the knots are loose or missing. Thanks for your comment ... Colin
Yes you can use different kinds of woods, in fact, it's sometimes best because matching woods is very hard, so the best way to overcome that is to put in contrasting wood. Just make sure your butterfly grain straight along the length and you should be good to go, Thanks for the question ... great to have you with us Colin
That will depend on the thickness of the wood. You might be able to use carbide spiral bit if the wood is not too deep, but you may also need make the hole and the butterfly by hand if it is too deep. I don't actually recall ever seeing one that went all the way through a board but I'm sure someone has done it. Great question, good to have you with us. Colin
Sorry I wasn't more clear on this, and thanks for asking. The router bit set for doing this has a small straight bit that works with 2 different collars. On collar is used to cut the hole for the butterfly, then the other collar is used to cut the outside shape of the butterfly. The difference is that one collar is larger than the other by the exact diameter of the straight router bit. Hopefully I am being clear on this, if not ask me again :)
Guide bushes and inlay kits are great little things, Milescraft do an inlay kit which I use often which includes various templates. Worth pointing out that a spiral router cutter will make a much cleaner cut than a standard single or double fluted cutter, I know that you used a spiral cutter. Any hairline gaps can be filled with dust from sanding or scraping mixed with a little wood glue for a perfect match filler.
LOL ... have never had anyone make that comment ... I will have to let Steve know some people say we sound alike ... thanks for commenting, great to have you with us Colin
Good point, Colin. Thanks. I used western cedar today for butterflys on red cedar. I also used some red cedar butterflys. The red cedar is better because it is harder and cuts cleaner. If the wood is too soft it frays.
I think I got it, the floating part is just cut as an outline in the wood, so imagine the wood with a little ditch dug all around, the exact shape as the hole. Now you take that wood, flip it on edge and run it through the table saw or band saw, just a the bottom of the routed ditch, and that floating part will basically just fall out, or fall off the wood. Is that better to your question?
Nice work. Can any inlay serve the same purpose? Like can simply a inlay of a small "rib" across a piece of word help with the splitting problem or must it be more specifically made for the area you suspect would fail?
Ive seen multiple videos showing how to do this, but none mention whether it is important which way the grain runs in the butterfly. Is this important for functionality?
Hi Tim, excellent question. Yes the grain of the butterfly would normally run against the grain that the butterfly is being inserted into. Normally wood cracks, slits or comes apart along the grain. A butterfly is added to help stop further splitting would want to fun opposite of split. IF it is being used for this purpose. Many butterflies are added to disguise knots, holes or defects in wood, or just for effect, in that case, really doesn't matter, just what looks best.
Hi Colin... great explanation. I bought plans for a Praiire Mission Settle and I was thinking of inlaying faux 'through-tenon' look-alikes on the top rail. This process looks like it's just the right way to do this. Just need a good template. Thanks again.. Tom
Tom Kane Sounds like you are about to make something I have on my list, I have been wanting to make one of these for years, would love to hear how it goes and maybe you will share some pics on woodworkweb with us Thanks Tom ... Colin
Hi I tried this yesterday. My bit broke first time out half way through the first butterfly. I think the bits are to small and delicate. Why do they not make them thicker?
Hi Ben, yes you could use a smaller router, the bit set I used is only quarter inch, and as long as the brass inserts are for butterfly making, they should work fine.
LOL ... I know, sometimes I feel like a snack when I am woodworking ... actually, it's my glue bottle and I should really label both sides so people know what it is. I buy glue in bulk and need smaller containers to dispense it from and those little mustard bottles work great. Thanks for reminding me Toolie :) Colin
as someone who has had a major accident with a table saw, this bothers me. there is no riving knife, your right hand is directly over the blade applying downward pressure, and your left hand is there also. I lost 3 fingers doing something similar.if that kicked back, you would have smacked that blade with your hand or make both.i would use a sled and clamps + a riving knife to be safe, especially if you don't have saw stop. not trying to judge, just trying to add educational information.
@BradburyGuy Very good point, yes, using butterflies to repair or hide knots, especially ones that are drying and coming loose, is and excellent use. Butterflies are not used as much now as they were in the past, like many things their popularity comes and goes ... still, it's nice to know there are options like this if you need them.
Thanks for your comments
Colin
Hi Paul, I did not know about the Milescraft kit, I will check that out.
Thanks for commenting and letting us know :)
Colin
That's a pretty popular way of making butterflies joints, I actually like to take a bit longer and use the chisel, just so they look like they are hand made (even if they aren't) .. but that's the beauty of woodworking, lots of different choices and ideas. Thanks for commenting and letting others know there are different ways of doing these :)
Colin
@FesterBable In some cases you are absolutely correct. There are actually 2 kinds of butterflies, decorative and functional, and yes, depending on the thickness of the board, the butterfly may need to be thicker than a few millimeters in order to actually work. In terms of "decorative" many woodworkers use butteflies to hide or disguise knot holes or other defects in the wood, especially if the knots are loose or missing.
Thanks for your comment ...
Colin
Yes you can use different kinds of woods, in fact, it's sometimes best because matching woods is very hard, so the best way to overcome that is to put in contrasting wood. Just make sure your butterfly grain straight along the length and you should be good to go,
Thanks for the question ... great to have you with us
Colin
Cool .. I'll bet it looks great too, maybe you could post some pics on woodworkweb. Always nice to see what others are doing :)
That will depend on the thickness of the wood. You might be able to use carbide spiral bit if the wood is not too deep, but you may also need make the hole and the butterfly by hand if it is too deep. I don't actually recall ever seeing one that went all the way through a board but I'm sure someone has done it. Great question, good to have you with us.
Colin
Sorry I wasn't more clear on this, and thanks for asking. The router bit set for doing this has a small straight bit that works with 2 different collars. On collar is used to cut the hole for the butterfly, then the other collar is used to cut the outside shape of the butterfly. The difference is that one collar is larger than the other by the exact diameter of the straight router bit. Hopefully I am being clear on this, if not ask me again :)
I also was a bit concerned as I saw your long sleeve approaching the spinning blade. Excellent video. Thanks.
Thanks Colin. that opens up a new avenue for all sorts of stuff!
Yes, and bandsaw can also be used and some people might prefer it.
Guide bushes and inlay kits are great little things, Milescraft do an inlay kit which I use often which includes various templates. Worth pointing out that a spiral router cutter will make a much cleaner cut than a standard single or double fluted cutter, I know that you used a spiral cutter.
Any hairline gaps can be filled with dust from sanding or scraping mixed with a little wood glue for a perfect match filler.
@theoriginalpunisher Yup ... if you have a bandsaw, it would be good way to remove the cutout.
LOL ... have never had anyone make that comment ... I will have to let Steve know some people say we sound alike ... thanks for commenting, great to have you with us
Colin
Here in Nova Scotia, we would call them a "Dutchman" and you in no way sound like Steve!!!
Good point, Colin. Thanks. I used western cedar today for butterflys on red cedar. I also used some red cedar butterflys. The red cedar is better because it is harder and cuts cleaner. If the wood is too soft it frays.
Yes, a bandsaw could also be used to remove the insert piece, might be a better option for some people too.
Is it ok to use different kinds of woods for the butterflies? For instance, can I use Walnut butterflies to patch a Maple board?
Colin, you are simply awesome. I learnt a lot from your other Videos also..Keep up the good word and the tutorials ...
Thank you, very informative. Iv been looking for a video like this!
I think I got it, the floating part is just cut as an outline in the wood, so imagine the wood with a little ditch dug all around, the exact shape as the hole. Now you take that wood, flip it on edge and run it through the table saw or band saw, just a the bottom of the routed ditch, and that floating part will basically just fall out, or fall off the wood. Is that better to your question?
Nice work. Can any inlay serve the same purpose? Like can simply a inlay of a small "rib" across a piece of word help with the splitting problem or must it be more specifically made for the area you suspect would fail?
That is a cool idea. First time I have seen that
Great video!
Thank You!
That is awesome. Thanks for this Video. Exactly what I was looking for
Thank you Randy
What's the jig called attached to the router? thanks Mike Classic farmhouse designs
thanks yet again Colin, Garry UK
Thanks for sharing... I know them as "Dutchman"...
Ive seen multiple videos showing how to do this, but none mention whether it is important which way the grain runs in the butterfly. Is this important for functionality?
Hi Tim, excellent question. Yes the grain of the butterfly would normally run against the grain that the butterfly is being inserted into. Normally wood cracks, slits or comes apart along the grain. A butterfly is added to help stop further splitting would want to fun opposite of split. IF it is being used for this purpose.
Many butterflies are added to disguise knots, holes or defects in wood, or just for effect, in that case, really doesn't matter, just what looks best.
Hi Colin... great explanation. I bought plans for a Praiire Mission Settle and I was thinking of inlaying faux 'through-tenon' look-alikes on the top rail. This process looks like it's just the right way to do this. Just need a good template. Thanks again.. Tom
Tom Kane Sounds like you are about to make something I have on my list, I have been wanting to make one of these for years, would love to hear how it goes and maybe you will share some pics on woodworkweb with us
Thanks Tom ...
Colin
very informative, thanks.
Muy bueno... excellent work...
marras m Thank you
Hi I tried this yesterday. My bit broke first time out half way through the first butterfly. I think the bits are to small and delicate. Why do they not make them thicker?
Great job
Noor Muhammad Noor Thanks for commenting Noor
can i use a smaller router bit and get same results with the brass incerts
Hi Ben, yes you could use a smaller router, the bit set I used is only quarter inch, and as long as the brass inserts are for butterfly making, they should work fine.
ok...nice video...ok...keep up the good work...ok...we could call them bow ties...ok..let's call them butterfly s... ok... i have subscribed..
great way
victor valverde thank you Victor
yuor welkomme
@9:45 a bit of scary tablesaw handling
+Leinad Llennoc'o Not really, but you could also do it on a bandsaw if you have one
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Mustard in the background?
LOL ... I know, sometimes I feel like a snack when I am woodworking ... actually, it's my glue bottle and I should really label both sides so people know what it is. I buy glue in bulk and need smaller containers to dispense it from and those little mustard bottles work great. Thanks for reminding me Toolie :)
Colin
Why not just cut out your "positive" piece from an 1/8" board?
once you finish the cut the piece would be free to move around. you stand to damage the piece if it moves around.
You can always secure it with double tape or hot glue. The issue is that you cannot always find 1/8" stock of the material you want to use.
Hands that close to a blade have a habit of disappearing
as someone who has had a major accident with a table saw, this bothers me. there is no riving knife, your right hand is directly over the blade applying downward pressure, and your left hand is there also. I lost 3 fingers doing something similar.if that kicked back, you would have smacked that blade with your hand or make both.i would use a sled and clamps + a riving knife to be safe, especially if you don't have saw stop. not trying to judge, just trying to add educational information.
I'd make round corners/shapes so no chisels would be needed.
Yikes, a bandsaw is a better option to remove the butterfly. It could also be called a "BowTie".
10:00, i´m sorry, but this is an absolut NOGO! your hands we´re way to CLOSE to the moving blade!
These kind of carpentry works could be made easier and faster with the use of CNC Machine.
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MUSTARD
also known as bowties