I want to put a shelf up on the wall of a living room, in order to display several collecible plates. With 10 foot ceilings, I want to place the shelf about 7 to 8 feet up, requiring a fairly narrow shelf to show as much of the plate as possible. For the same reason I would like to obtain a router bit (or bits) that would give a nicely figured taper to the front edge of the board. Neither ***** nor any of the home centers have any bits like that.
Does anyone have any suggestions as to what shape bit(s) to use?
I am going to use oak for the shelf, and the width will be determined in part by the shape left by the router. Thank you!

The plate shelf needs a small dado near the back edge of the shelf for the plate to rest in..........a 'small' 1/4" deep recess......using the router ....try a straight cutting...mortise.....beading.....or veining router bit..........

For the front edge .....thinning the shelf.....(not very practical)...... would require a panel raising bit or a table saw or planer.......How about a decorative edge on the front..... try a ogee....or round-over.........to finish the edge. doug

[This message has been edited by doug seibert (edited January 09, 2003).]

Doug,
Thanks for the reply. I know I need to put in a groove near the back to hold the plates in place. Since I am using a 3/4" thick board, I feel I can safely put a decorative cut or two on the front to taper it down some. Some time ago I saw one somewhere that had a couple of cuts made in it, that looke very nice. It's hard to describe here, but a narrow tapered cut away from the edge. Nearer to the edge was another one wider but cut deeper with a round over to the edge, which ended up around 1/4" to 3/8" thick. It was sort of like some of the casing trim one might see, but with an area at the back wide enough for a groove to hold the plates in place.
Does that make any sense?
Thanks,
Gary