Top-Bearing Router Bits | McMaster-Carr

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Shank Diameter

Cutting Diameter

Length of Cut

Cut Style

Number of Flutes

Tool Type

For Use On

Overall Length

Flute Type

Ball Bearing Pilot Diameter

Finish

Material

Carbide-Tipped High-Speed Steel

Length

Export Control Classification Number (ECCN)

EAR99

REACH

Not Compliant

RoHS

Compliant

DFARS Specialty Metals

Groove Shape

40 Products

Trimming Router Bits

Cut layers of material flush to one another or make cuts along a template.

Uncoated Carbide-Tipped High-Speed Steel

Flush-Trimming Cut

Style (Top Pilot)

Flush-Trimming Cut

Style (Top

Pilot)—Plunge-Cut

Top Pilot

Carbide-tipped high-speed steel bits are for use on wood and laminate.

Top Pilot—Top-pilot bits cut a lower layer of the workpiece flush to the layer above. In addition to flush trimming, they can be used for pattern cutting with a template placed above the workpiece.

Plunge Cut—Bits with a plunge cut type let you cut directly into the workpiece from above. Other bits are best for operations where the peripheral teeth do most of the work such as trimming, contouring, and finishing.

Straight Flutes—Bits with straight flutes are for general purpose use. They quickly remove material, leaving a rough finish.

Ball Bearing—Ball-bearing pilots guide the bit for accurate cuts and produce less friction than solid pilots for smoother operation.

Pilot Location—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.

	Overall Lg.	Router Bit Pilot Type	Ball Bearing Pilot Dia.	No. of Flutes	For Tool Type	For Use On		Each
Flush-Trimming Cut Style (Top Pilot)







	Straight Flutes

	3/8"	1/2"	1/4"	2"	Ball Bearing	3/8"	2	Hand Router, Router Table	Wood, Particleboard, Plywood, Laminate	0000000	000000


	1/2"	1/4"	1/4"	1 5/8"	Ball Bearing	1/2"	2	Hand Router, Router Table	Wood, Particleboard, Plywood, Laminate	0000000	00000
	1/2"	1/2"	1/4"	2"	Ball Bearing	1/2"	2	Hand Router, Router Table	Wood, Particleboard, Plywood, Laminate	0000000	00000
	1/2"	1"	1/4"	2 1/2"	Ball Bearing	1/2"	2	Hand Router, Router Table	Wood, Particleboard, Plywood, Laminate	0000000	00000
	3/4"	1"	1/2"	3"	Ball Bearing	3/4"	2	Hand Router, Router Table	Wood, Particleboard, Plywood, Laminate	0000000	00000
	3/4"	1 3/4"	1/2"	3 3/4"	Ball Bearing	3/4"	2	Hand Router, Router Table	Wood, Particleboard, Plywood, Laminate	0000000	00000


	Flush-Trimming Cut Style (Top Pilot)—Plunge-Cut







					Straight Flutes

					1/4"	3/4"	1/4"	2 7/16"	Ball Bearing	1/4"	2	Hand Router, Router Table	Wood, Particleboard, Plywood, Laminate	00000000	00000


					3/8"	1/2"	1/4"	2"	Ball Bearing	3/8"	3	Hand Router, Router Table	Wood, Particleboard, Plywood, Laminate	00000000	00000
					1/2"	3/8"	1/4"	2 1/4"	Ball Bearing	1/2"	2	Hand Router, Router Table	Wood, Particleboard, Plywood, Laminate	00000000	00000
					1/2"	1/2"	1/4"	2 1/2"	Ball Bearing	1/2"	3	Hand Router, Router Table	Wood, Particleboard, Plywood, Laminate	00000000	00000
					1/2"	1/2"	1/2"	2 3/4"	Ball Bearing	1/2"	2	Hand Router, Router Table	Wood, Particleboard, Plywood, Laminate	00000000	00000
					1/2"	3/4"	1/4"	2 1/4"	Ball Bearing	1/2"	2	Hand Router, Router Table	Wood, Particleboard, Plywood, Laminate	00000000	00000
					1/2"	3/4"	5/16"	2 3/4"	Ball Bearing	1/2"	2	Hand Router, Router Table	Wood, Particleboard, Plywood, Laminate	00000000	00000
					1/2"	1"	1/4"	2 1/2"	Ball Bearing	1/2"	3	Hand Router, Router Table	Wood, Particleboard, Plywood, Laminate	00000000	00000
					1/2"	1 1/4"	1/4"	2 3/4"	Ball Bearing	1/2"	2	Hand Router, Router Table	Wood, Particleboard, Plywood, Laminate	00000000	00000
					1/2"	1 1/4"	1/2"	3 1/2"	Ball Bearing	1/2"	2	Hand Router, Router Table	Wood, Particleboard, Plywood, Laminate	00000000	00000
					9/16"	3/4"	1/4"	2 5/16"	Ball Bearing	9/16"	2	Hand Router, Router Table	Wood, Particleboard, Plywood, Laminate	00000000	00000


					5/8"	1/2"	1/4"	2 1/4"	Ball Bearing	5/8"	2	Hand Router, Router Table	Wood, Particleboard, Plywood, Laminate	00000000	00000
					5/8"	3/4"	1/4"	2 1/2"	Ball Bearing	5/8"	2	Hand Router, Router Table	Wood, Particleboard, Plywood, Laminate	00000000	00000
					5/8"	3/4"	1/4"	2 5/8"	Ball Bearing	5/8"	2	Hand Router, Router Table	Wood, Particleboard, Plywood, Laminate	00000000	00000
					5/8"	1"	1/4"	2 3/4"	Ball Bearing	5/8"	2	Hand Router, Router Table	Wood, Particleboard, Plywood, Laminate	00000000	00000
					5/8"	1 1/4"	1/2"	3 1/2"	Ball Bearing	5/8"	2	Hand Router, Router Table	Wood, Particleboard, Plywood, Laminate	00000000	00000
					3/4"	3/4"	1/4"	2 3/8"	Ball Bearing	3/4"	2	Hand Router, Router Table	Wood, Particleboard, Plywood, Laminate	00000000	00000
					3/4"	3/4"	1/2"	2 3/4"	Ball Bearing	3/4"	2	Hand Router, Router Table	Wood, Particleboard, Plywood, Laminate	00000000	00000
					3/4"	1"	1/4"	2 1/2"	Ball Bearing	3/4"	2	Hand Router, Router Table	Wood, Particleboard, Plywood, Laminate	00000000	00000
					3/4"	1"	1/2"	3 1/4"	Ball Bearing	3/4"	2	Hand Router, Router Table	Wood, Particleboard, Plywood, Laminate	00000000	00000
					3/4"	1 1/4"	1/2"	3 11/32"	Ball Bearing	3/4"	3	Hand Router, Router Table	Wood, Particleboard, Plywood, Laminate	00000000	00000


					3/4"	2"	1/2"	4"	Ball Bearing	3/4"	2	Hand Router, Router Table	Wood, Particleboard, Plywood, Laminate	00000000	00000
					1"	1"	3/8"	2 7/8"	Ball Bearing	1"	2	Hand Router, Router Table	Wood, Particleboard, Plywood, Laminate	00000000	00000
					1"	1"	1/2"	2 3/4"	Ball Bearing	1"	2	Hand Router, Router Table	Wood, Particleboard, Plywood, Laminate	00000000	00000
					1"	1 3/4"	1/2"	3 3/4"	Ball Bearing	1"	2	Hand Router, Router Table	Wood, Particleboard, Plywood, Laminate	00000000	00000
					1 1/8"	1"	1/2"	3"	Ball Bearing	1 1/8"	2	Hand Router, Router Table	Wood, Particleboard, Plywood, Laminate	00000000	00000
					1 1/8"	1 1/2"	1/2"	3 1/2"	Ball Bearing	1 1/8"	2	Hand Router, Router Table	Wood, Particleboard, Plywood, Laminate	00000000	00000
					1 1/8"	2"	1/2"	4"	Ball Bearing	1 1/8"	2	Hand Router, Router Table	Wood, Particleboard, Plywood, Laminate	00000000	00000
					1 1/4"	1 1/2"	1/2"	3 3/8"	Ball Bearing	1 1/4"	2	Hand Router, Router Table	Wood, Particleboard, Plywood, Laminate	00000000	00000
1 1/2"					1 3/4"	1/2"	3 3/4"	Ball Bearing	1 1/2"	2	Hand Router, Router Table	Wood, Particleboard, Plywood, Laminate	00000000	00000

Uncoated Carbide

Flush-Trimming Cut

Style (Top

Pilot)—Plunge-Cut

Top Pilot

Use carbide bits for longer tool life and faster cutting speeds than high-speed steel.

Spiral Flute—Bits with spiral flutes leave a smoother finish than straight-flute bits and make plunge cuts more easily (for plunge-cutting bits).

Upward and Downward Chip Removal—Bits with upward and downward chip removal are also known as compression bits. Acting like scissors, they move chips away from the top and bottom edges of the cut for a smooth finish on both.

Ball Bearing—Ball-bearing pilots guide the bit for accurate cuts and produce less friction than solid pilots for smoother operation.

Pilot Location—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.

	Overall Lg.	Router Bit Pilot Type	Ball Bearing Pilot Dia.	No. of Flutes	For Tool Type	For Use On		Each
Flush-Trimming Cut Style (Top Pilot)—Plunge-Cut







	Spiral Flutes with Upward and Downward Chip Removal

	1/2"	1"	1/4"	2 5/8"	Ball Bearing	1/2"	2	Hand Router, Router Table	Wood, Plywood, Laminate	00000000	0000000


	7/8"	1 1/8"	1/2"	3 15/16"	Ball Bearing	7/8"	2	Hand Router, Router Table	Wood, Plywood, Laminate	00000000	000000

Router Bits for Grooves

Carve grooves in wood and laminate. These bits have straight flutes that quickly remove material, leaving a rough finish. Made of carbide-tipped high-speed steel, they provide a longer tool life and faster cutting speeds than standard high-speed steel bits.

Uncoated Carbide-Tipped High-Speed Steel


V-Shaped Grooves (Top Pilot)	Rounded Grooves (Top Pilot)

V-Shaped Grooves

(Top Pilot)

Rounded Grooves

(Top Pilot)

Top Pilot—Bits with a top pilot let you flush trim, cutting a lower layer of the workpiece flush to the layer above. They can also be used for pattern cutting with a template. They have a ball-bearing pilot that guides the bit for accurate cuts. All other bits do not have a pilot, so guide your router along a straight edge when hand routing to make accurate cuts.

	Shank Dia.	Overall Lg.	Router Bit Pilot Type	Ball Bearing Pilot Dia.	No. of Flutes	For Tool Type	For Use On		Each
V-Shaped Grooves (Top Pilot)







	Straight Flutes

	1/2"	1/2"	90°	1/4"	2"	Ball Bearing	1/2"	2	Hand Router, Router Table	Wood, Particleboard, Plywood, Laminate	00000000	000000


	Rounded Grooves (Top Pilot)







					Straight Flutes

					1/2"	3/8"	—	1/4"	2"	Ball Bearing	1/2"	2	Hand Router, Router Table	Wood, Particleboard, Plywood, Laminate	0000000	00000