Laguna Tools Smartshop II Series, Manual

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Types of router bits.
There are five basic types of router bits: straight, up shear, down shear,
combination (also called compression), and form tools
(round over, ogee, etc.).
1. Straight Router Bits.
These are the standard router bits that are commonly
used with handheld routers and are readily available at
home centers.
2. Up Shear Router Bits.
These bits have flutes that are spiraled upward (a
standard twist drill is an example of this type of bit). This bit design removes the
chips from the kerf but have a tendency to chip the top surface, especially
veneers or melamine surfaces.
Ball nose Router Bits are a variation of the up shear bit design but have a
radiused end. These bits are typically used for 3D surfacing applications.
3. Down Shear Router Bits.
These bits are similar to the up shear but with an opposite spiral that actually
tends to pack the chips into the kerf. These bits prevent chipping the material
surface, especially with veneers or melamine surfaces.
4. Combination (Compression) Router Bits.
These bits combine the advantages of both up shear and down shear designs.
The top section of the tool is down shear to prevent chipping the top surface of
the material, and the lower part of the bit is up shear to prevent chipping the
bottom surface of the material.
Combination Router Bits are the preferred configuration for machining veneered
plywood as well as melamine-surfaced products. A variation of the bit is called
the “Mortising Compression” router bit. With this bit, the up shear portion of the
bit is less than 1/4" in length so that the bit can be used on 1/4" veneered
plywood and for dados.
5. Form Router Bits.
Form Router Bits typically are available in standard profiles such as round over,
ogee, etc. Router bits that have a shape associated with them would be classified
with this group.
Router bits