Selecting the right bit for your project
Bit material
: Router bits are made from a variety of materials. The most common are
solid carbide, carbide-tipped steel, and high-speed steel. Both solid carbide and carbide-
tipped are good choices. We do not recommend using high-speed steel bits as they dull
quickly and must be re-sharpened.
Flute type
: There are four basic flute types: Straight, spiral up-cut, spiral down-cut, and
compression. Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages, which are outlined in
the chart below.
Good edge quality on most
materials
Moderate chip clearing
abilities
Ideal for: general-purpose
cutting
May chip or fray top face,
good quality on bottom
face when through-cutting
Excels at clearing chips
and dissipating heat,
especially with “o-flute”
bits
Upwards force may cause
part lifting
Ideal for: plastics,
aluminum, or any material
where heat buildup is a
concern
Best edge quality on top
face, may chip or fray
bottom face when
through-cutting
May compact chips in a
groove
Downwards force may
help with cutting thin
sheets
Ideal for: plywood and
laminates (pocketing)
Clean edge on both top
and bottom face
Designed to cut veneered
or laminated materials at
full depth in one pass
Ideal for: plywood and
laminates (profile cutting)
Summary of Contents for HandiBot
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