For longer tool life and a better finish in general purpose milling applications, these solid carbide end mills are harder, stronger, and more wear resistant than high-speed steel and cobalt steel end mills. Their extreme hardness means they are brittle, so a highly rigid setup, such as a CNC machine, is necessary to prevent the end mill from breaking. They have a square end for milling square slots, pockets, and edges.

End mills with fewer flutes provide better chip clearance for high-volume, high-speed plunge, slotting, and roughing cuts; end mills with more flutes provide a finer finish and operate with less vibration when run at high speeds.

Use uncoated end mills for general purpose milling and short production runs.

Center-cutting end mills allow plunge cuts into a surface.