Making Mirror Cuts for Seaming Two Pieces
With this technique, the edges to be joined are routed at the same time, which provides a perfect fit. The seam will be almost invisible when the two pieces are pushed together, even without adhesive.
- Use a 1/2″ shank double fluted router bit.
- Securely clamp the edges of two pieces 3/8” apart so they cannot move.
- Securely clamp a straight edge fence parallel and to one side of the opening. It needs to be at the correct distance so the router bit can cut down the middle of the opening in one continuous movement. If the bit moves a slight amount one way or another during the cut, the undulation on one side will be the mirror of the undulation on the other side, hence it’s called a mirror cut.
FIGURE 1: MIRROR CUTTING MATERIAL LAYOUT
FIGURE 2: MAKING THE MIRROR CUT
Andy Graves, a seasoned fabricator from the Olive Mill fabrication shop in Las Angeles, demonstrates in this video clip the use of simple hand made jigs that make the mirror cutting process faster and more precise.
He then uses wooden blocks, hot melt glue and clamps to clamp the two sides together after he applies solid surface 2 part adhesive to the surfaces to be joined.
