Trimming Router Bits
Cut layers of material flush to one another or make cuts along a template.
Use carbide bits for longer tool life and faster cutting speeds than high-speed steel. Ball-bearing pilots guide the bit for accurate cuts and produce less friction than solid pilots for smoother operation.
Pilot location describes the position of the pilot when the bit is used for hand routing. The pilot location is reversed when using the bit with a router table. Bottom-pilot bits trim material from an upper layer of the workpiece so that it is flush with the layer below. In addition to flush trimming, they can be used to cut along a template placed below the workpiece.
Bits with spiral flutes leave a smoother finish than straight-flute bits and make plunge cuts more easily (for plunge-cutting bits).
| Cutting Dia. | Lg. of Cut | Shank Dia. | Overall Lg. | Pilot Type | Ball-Bearing Pilot Dia. | Number of Flutes | Flute Type | For Tool Type | For Use On | Each | |
Bottom Pilot | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/2" | 5/8" | 1/2" | 3 1/2" | Ball Bearing | 1/2" | 2 | Spiral | Hand Router, Router Table | Wood, Particleboard, Plywood, Aluminum Laminate | 00000000 | 0000000 |