Router Flush Trim Bit – which one?
MichaelJacob
| Posted in Tools for Home Building on
I was doing some kitchen cabinet work, and needed to flush trim the bottom edge of the island (near the toe kick). So I went to the Depot to get a new bit, but was kind of stumped on which one to buy. There were two versions, a thin 1/4″ or so, and a larger 1/2″. The only thing i was concerned about was a clean edge, but which one would perform better? the larger one would have a higher speed on the outer blade edge, but the smaller one would have a shorter effective distance between the blades as they cut. so which do you guys think would have been better? I bought the larger one, and it did great, but i’m still curious what you pro’s would have chosen.
-mike.
Replies
It is not the diameter of the bit as much as it is no. of flutes doing the cutting. A single flute cutter is fast and rough, a double flute is smoother and a triple flute is even smoother albeit a tad slower on the feed rate permissable.
I'd pick a bit by what amount needs to be trimmed, and what final level of quality I am aiming for.
I have a 1/2" shank 1 1/4" dia, flush trim with two semi helical flutes...cuts like a dream and leaves a glass smooth surface on Face frames and the like.
A single flute panel pilot bit will ruff out a window opening in plywood sheathing in a quick lick, but can splinter out a solid wood edge.
Pick your speed of feed accordingly, more flutes, slower feed.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
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There is also the issue of how close they can get into a corner it that is important.
True that. For a laminate counter top inside corner a 3/8 dia. is the smallest I can locate. Being that a truely squared out corner in some laminates and esp. solid surface can lead to stress fracture, I still leave a slight radius at those places.
I have never seen a 1/4'' dia. flush trim bit, or never found a need to go looking for one.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
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I have never seen a 1/4'' dia. flush trim bit, or never found a need to go looking for one.
Your missing out then. Those 1/4" flush trim bits are nice. Wax the edge of the counter top so you dont get burn marks and they cut nice. You can even get the ones with a slight bevel, better make sure you have the height set just right, and then you have very little fileing to do.
Doug
Agree with you there, Doug.
I use solid, two flute, carbide bits, w/o the bearings. Just wax the edge and pay attention to the feed rate.
Dave
One other small concern with a smaller diameter bit for a bearing (self or bearing) is that smaller bits will fall "into" any defects or crevasses they ride on, therefore making a slightly bigger devit in an edge. I know that all should be perfect for routing but it isn't always. the smaller self-pilot professional solid carbide bit work very well for certain types of laminate situations I just avoid running on laminate itself (as in self-edging). NEVER do this on a high-gloss self-edge...it will show, unless you tape the edge first and waxing helps a ton...these are just the finer points.