Amana Tool awarded patent for tambour door bit set

Amana Tool, manufacturer of industrial-quality carbide-tipped, solid carbide and replacement carbide cutting tools, was awarded U.S. Patent 7,810,532 for its tambour router bit set used for creating wood tambours for rolltop desks, bread boxes, kitchen storage areas and a number of other projects.

The three-piece set, designed in partnership with Lonnie Bird, produces tambours that interlock with a ball-and-socket joint, eliminating the need for cloth, glue or wires. The first router bit shapes the face of the wood stock, requiring a cut on each face to complete the contour of the ball. The second bit creates the socket. A third bit in the set shapes the end of the tambour, which provides a place to mount a pull for opening the completed tambour.

"The Amana Tool family is delighted that our innovative, labor- and material-saving design for the tambour bit set has been recognized with a patent," says Frank Misiti, Amana Tool's technical director. "Since its introduction in 2007, the set has generated a great deal of interest and positive feedback from woodworkers and cabinetmakers who appreciate the unique, easy-to-use solution for creating tambour doors. We are continually seeking ways to combine years of woodworking experience with technical innovation to solve many of the woodworking industry's top challenges."

The patented tambour set (item No. 54314) is available through Amana's authorized distributors for $156.34. The set includes all three router bits and step-by-step directions from Bird for making a breadbox. For information, visit www.amanatool.com.