Wood roughing cutters for a hand router. Wood cutters for a manual router: types, features, application

Helpful information

Milling cutters for a hand-held wood router are designed for processing various workpieces, parts and structures made of wood, as well as its derivative saw materials (chipboard, fibreboard, plywood, veneer, etc.) and are, in fact, working equipment for a hand-held on wood. In general, using such a tool, equipped with special equipment, it is possible to process the widest range of known materials. But here we will talk specifically about working with wood and saw materials.

Application

It is widespread and practiced when performing various construction, finishing, repair and installation works made of wood. This processing method makes it possible to create a wide variety of elements on wooden structures: grooves, ledges, edges, profiles, grooves, etc. This processing allows you to articulate wooden blanks and structures, ideally fitting the component parts to each other, and with the help of recessed cavities, various structural and functional elements (locks, latches, hinges, lamps, etc.) can be inserted into the wood.

Equipment classification

There are several classification options for this equipment, taking into account various characteristic features. They are divided by the structure of the teeth, the design of the body of the tool (solid, welded, brazed and prefabricated), as well as by the material from which they are made (hard alloys, high-speed steel, mineral ceramics and rarer new high-tech materials). Solid ones are made of one material and are in this sense monolithic; in welded ones, the stronger cutting elements are directly welded to the body; in brazed ones, accordingly, they are soldered, and in prefabricated ones they are attached using connecting elements.

In our online store you can always choose and purchase not only a single copy of the equipment, but also a set of wood cutters for the router.

From this article you can find out what a cutting element such as a wood cutter for a hand router is. The text sets out a detailed classification of products: the main types and features of parts, their technical characteristics and practical use. The article contains useful recommendations that will help you decide on the choice of cutters for hand tools.

A hand router is a convenient and effective tool designed for processing lumber, including shaped, as well as flat surfaces. In addition, this device is suitable for forming various technological recesses, for example, grooves, ridges, recesses for installing hinges. To do this, it is enough to buy cutters of the appropriate configuration. Each such element has individual design features and is used to perform specific functions.

Purpose of a hand cutter for wood:

1. Edge processing - involves the use of a cutter for merging wood for a manual router, when it is necessary to connect various workpieces together by connecting a tongue/groove.
2. Insertion of hinges and other fittings.
3. Decorating - in this case, cutters are used to form three-dimensional shapes on the surface of flat products, as well as for the production of wooden blanks with complex configurations.

Professionals know dozens of options for using cutters on a manual router. However, in order to correctly determine the choice of cutting parts for a tool, it is advisable to study the official classification of existing products. Once you understand what cutters are and the features of their use, it will be much easier to make a choice.

First of all, you need to pay attention to the unit of measurement for the diameter of the shank. This can be done in millimeters or inches. The unit of measurement depends on the type of collets that are included with the router. These components are designed to clamp the shank. If the size is calculated in millimeters, then the most common options will be products with a diameter of 6, 12 and 8 mm. If inches are taken as the unit of measurement, in this case it will be possible to buy cutters for a hand router in only two sizes - ½ and ¼.

Note! You cannot combine a millimeter shank and an inch collet and vice versa. This may cause the tool to break.

Types of cutters for a manual wood router: typesdesigns

There are dozens of product options on the market with different purposes and costs. If we consider the design features of cutting elements, we can distinguish the following types of wood cutters for a hand router:

1. Prefabricated - have the form of blanks with welded cutting edges. These cutters are very easy to manufacture, which is why most products on the market have a similar design.
2. With replaceable edges – products are equipped with replaceable cutting edges that have double-sided sharpening. When the knife becomes dull on one side, the cutter can be turned over and used further.
3. Monolithic - cutters with cutting edges machined at the base. They rarely break, but after several sharpenings the part will have to be replaced.

Types of wood cutters: classification of products by blade type

Milling cutters can have vertical, spiral or inclined blades. Products with straight edges will cut pieces of wood from the workpiece, increasing the likelihood that chips will appear during the cutting process. As a result, the quality of milling is significantly reduced. This does not happen with angled blades.

Consumers can buy wood cutters with two types of blades:

1. High-speed cutting (HM) - used on surfaces made of soft wood.
2. Carbide (HSS) – used for machining hard surfaces.

Products with carbide blades have a higher temperature coefficient and have improved characteristics, which affects their cost.

Classification of cutters: overview of the main types of products

Milling cutters are rotating parts studded with teeth. These elements are available in various configurations. Milling cutters can be used for processing metal and plastic surfaces, but they are most often used for working with wood.

The following types of products are distinguished:

• end;
• end;
• cylindrical or slotted straight;
• shaped elements, which can be both groove and edge;
• disk, etc.

Helpful advice! If you periodically lubricate the support bearing, you can increase the life of the part.

Features of wood end mills for hand tools

Wood end mills for a hand router have cutting edges on the end side of the working part. Moreover, they work not only through the application of axial load. These cutters also use side edges, which makes it possible to move the rotating element in the plane of the support pad on the router. As a result of this, it is possible to obtain various selections and grooves in the wood. Such parts may have a different number of cutting edges, which affects the cleanliness of the processing.

In most cases, end mills have a monolithic design, but sometimes you can find composite ones, for example, hole saws, used as cutters for a wood drill. This option is used in cases where there is no manual router at hand.

• end;
• spiral;
• burrs;

• profile;
• conical;
• spherical.

Wood end mills are used to form grooves of various configurations and sizes. They are suitable not only for making wooden products, but also for creating tongue and groove joints. Therefore, end mills are often classified as slotted products.

Profile cutters represent a wide group of components for performing the following tasks:

• end processing;
• formation of grooves with a complex configuration;
• decorating the surface with ornaments.

Wood burrs have another name - cutters. They are designed for making holes with a specific configuration. Such cutters are used at the intermediate stage of processing. In addition, they can be used to finalize the configuration of some parts.

Classification of edge cutters for wood for a manual router

Edge cutters are the most common group, since hand tools are most often used for making edges on wood products. Even in large sets, the bulk of the parts are edge cutters. This option is more preferable for home craftsmen. It is easier to buy a set of wood cutters for a hand router than to select these elements one by one.

This group includes:

• profile - to give an intricate shape to the edges of the product;
• molded or shaped - to round the edge, thereby obtaining a convex shape of ¼ of the circle;
• conical – designed for chamfering at an angle, the most common option is 45 °;
• disk cutters for wood - for forming grooves in the edge part of the product;
• folded - designed for cutting out quarters in the edge part of the product;

• fillet - used to make grooves in the edge on ¼ of a circle;
• figurine - designed for making panel edges.

In most cases, edge cutters are equipped with a thrust bearing. This element limits the movement of the tool, preventing it from sinking into the wood. In this case, the cutting part of the part can be located above or below the bearing. By setting the tool support pad to a certain position, you can adjust the depth of the cutter overhang.

Helpful advice! If the cutter makes large cuts, it is advisable to carry out the processing process of the product in several stages, each time deepening it into the material until the support bearing operates.

In some cases, there is no bearing in the cutter design. To work with such a part, you will need a template and a copy sleeve or parallel stop. The size of molding cutters depends on the height of the cutting part. If the profile has several roundings, then the manufacturer indicates the dimensions of the largest diameter that can be obtained using such a part. Moreover, the distance between the cutting parts can be adjusted at your discretion.

Horizontal type figurine cutters have a large diameter and weight. Such elements require a lot of cutting force, for this reason they are manufactured exclusively with a 12 mm shank. These cutters are designed for a router with a stationary structure.

Related article:

TO accessories, operating instructions. Recommendations for choosing designs and a review of the best models.

Classification of groove cutters for wood for a manual router

The main purpose of a groove cutter for wood is to make grooves in wood - grooves.

There are several types of such cutters:

• fillets - these parts are designed for making semicircular grooves;
• conical - elements are used for applying threads to flat surfaces;
• spiral cutters for wood for a manual router - in many ways similar to end elements. However, they have a more pronounced cutting edge located on the outside. Essentially, the design of a spiral wood router is similar to a drill bit;

• T-shaped cutters for forming grooves of the appropriate shape;
• Dovetail elements;
• shaped;
• straight groove cutters for wood - cylindrical parts that form a groove with a rectangular cross-section;
• combined - cutters are used to connect large-sized wooden panels.

Combination elements include tenon/groove cutters. Most often, such elements have a monolithic design, but there are also options equipped with carbide cutting edges. They are used for joining workpieces.

Copy cutters or straight cutters are the smallest group of components for a manual router. Between themselves, these parts differ in the number of cutting edges, sizes, as well as the nature of the placement of thrust surfaces and bearings, which can be located both above and below. There are also options with double-sided placement in relation to the cutting part. During operation, the bearing moves according to a template, making it possible to obtain a part of the required configuration from a workpiece.

The head of fillet cutters has a rounded shape. The resulting groove in cross-section looks like the letter “U”. The walls of the recess can be rounded immediately at the surface or located at a right angle for some time. It depends on the depth of the cut.

Note! Although a fillet is considered a semicircular notch, cutters that form a V-shaped groove are also included in this category. If during the work you need to make grooves with different angles of inclination of the walls, it is advisable to have an appropriate set of wood cutters for a hand router, where there are cutting elements of different configurations.

Wood cutter for hand router: choosing the optimal set for the job

Buying the right woodworking tool is not a guarantee of excellent results. To ensure accurate and high-quality processing of the material, it is advisable to purchase good equipment. For these purposes, sets of wood cutters for a hand router are designed, which include a set of cutting parts suitable for performing specific jobs.

What are the best wood cutters to buy for a hand router?

When choosing equipment for a hand router, you need to pay attention to the main criteria:

1. Workmanship.
2. Thermal strength level.
3. Type of connection between the cutting part and the shank.
4. Solder material.

Before purchasing a set of wood cutters, you should pay attention to the quality of the soldering. It must be done so that during long-term operation the tool does not lose its longitudinal stability. This is especially true in cases where the work uses products made from hard wood, for example, pear, hornbeam, oak, etc.

The following grades of solder are considered high quality: PSr 37.5 and PS p40. They are characterized by a high content of copper and silver. If a material of a different brand is used for soldering the plates and shank, most likely it contains nickel, which does not provide the required level of strength of the joints. It is not allowed to use elements in sets of cutters for a hand router, in which the working cutting part is connected to the shank by welding. This kind of equipment is not the best option.

Monolithic cutters also need to be checked for the hardness of the material of manufacture. This operation can be performed at home. To do this, just go over the working part of the cutter with a calibrated file. If no visible marks remain on the surface, then the element is made of high-quality material. The optimal hardness is 58-62 HRC.

Note! The quality of work also depends on the availability of additional devices. Therefore, it is advisable to purchase a set of templates and stops.

A brief overview of the catalog of Encor cutters for a manual router

Very often, manufacturers offer craftsmen to purchase a ready-made set designed to perform the same type of work. For example, some Encor wood cutters for a manual router are combined into kits that allow you to achieve a certain result. Such sets are used to make identical joints or wooden products. Moreover, in the second case, the cutters allow you to complete a full processing cycle.

In the catalog of Enkor cutters there are sets with different numbers of elements. For example, a set consisting of two combination frame cutters with a 12 mm shank can be used to create frame products. These elements are designed not only to form the inner edge. They can be used as corner joint cutters for a hand router.

Using this set, you can create not only frame products, for example, thin window frames, but also join wooden boards into large panels.

Of course, each of the cutters in this set can act as an independent element with which you can perform other operations on processing wooden products.

Consumers can buy a set of Enkor wood cutters for making lining. Using these elements, you can form the edge of wooden products, which can subsequently be used for interior finishing work. In addition, the manufacturer offers sets of decorative cutters, which can include from 4 to 12 elements with different configurations. The average price of sets ranges from 1370 to 8300 rubles.

Review of the catalog of wood cutters for the SMT manual router

The products of the Italian manufacturer SMT are in high demand among consumers. On sale are individual cutting elements and entire sets designed to perform various jobs.

The catalog contains the following types of SMT cutters for wood for a manual router:

• groove and end;
• overtaking;
• for furniture strapping and splicing;
• disk;
• T-shaped and Dovetail;
• paneled;
• edge molding;
• profile;
• jointing and chamfering.

The kits offered by the manufacturer are designed to perform certain types of work or to form specific connections. The buyer can purchase a ready-made kit designed for the manufacture of doors, furniture facades, lining, trim and various bindings. The cost of the sets varies between 5610-63000 rubles.

Buying hand cutters for wood: prices for popular types of products

Wood cutters are suitable not only for making products from solid wood. These elements can be used for processing lumber such as plywood, chipboard, veneer, fiberboard, etc.

Average prices for Enkor cutters:

Type of cutters	Type	price, rub.
Grooved	V-shaped fillets	from 185
	Direct	from 189
	Shaped	from 190
	Structural T-shaped	from 202
	Structural	from 206
	Fillet	from 212
Edge	Direct	from 220
	Mouldings	from 287
	Conical	from 352
	Folded	from 405
	Half-rod	from 519
	Fillet	from 550
	Curly	from 615
	Adjustable moulders	from 1500
	Multidisciplinary	from 1570
Combined	Universal	from 1130
	Framework	from 2160

The existing range of components for a hand router has several classification options. These products differ in design, tooth structure, and material of manufacture. By selecting a cutter with the necessary characteristics, you can create an edge, grooves, ledges, grooves and other elements of the desired size and configuration in a wooden workpiece. In addition, cutting parts are used to install various functional and structural elements. For example, hinges, locks, latches.

If you quite often make various wooden products for your home, then sooner or later you will acquire a hand router. Of course, some types of manual milling work can be done using an electric drill, which is available in almost every home workshop.

You can read about different cutters for drills.

But the main difference between a router and a drill, besides the presence of an adjustable support platform, is its high speed (from 10,000 to 30,000 rpm), which even the most high-speed drill cannot boast of. But this is precisely what determines the level of quality of the result obtained. But, you will also need the right equipment - cutters, and a great variety of them are produced for this tool.

Helping you understand their varieties and types is the goal of this article.

What types of cutters are there for a hand router?

To get started, we suggest watching the video:

And according to the design of wood cutters there are:

• monolithic;
• compound;
• mounted.

Monolithic cutters do not need a detailed description.

But compound and mounted ones are often confused. Composite cutters are cutters in which two or more types of cutters are combined into a single unit on one shank. In them you can change the order of the cutters and the distance between them, insert intermediate bushings or bearings.

And the attachment ones have a large hole in the center and are mounted on the shaft of the milling machine.

A according to the nature and place of application of the cutter for manual milling cutters there are:

• end;
• edge;
• grooved;
• copying.

8

This video will help you better understand their diversity and purpose:

Let's look at it in order.

Their main feature is the presence of cutting edges at the end of the working part.

This does not mean that they only work with axial loads. They can also have side edges that allow you to move the cutter in the plane of the router's support pad, making various grooves and cuts in the material. They may have a different number of cutting edges, and, accordingly, different cleanliness of material processing.

End mills are most often monolithic, but there are also composite ones. A striking example of this can be core cutters, more often used with a drill.

Edge cutters for wood

This is the most widely represented range of this tool, due to the most frequent use of hand routers specifically for forming various edges on wooden products.

Even in large sets of cutters, which it is preferable for a home craftsman to have rather than buying a large number of cutters randomly, the main part is edge cutters.

And their classification is much wider than that of other types of cutters. They are:

• profile– giving the processed edge an intricate figured shape;

• molding– rounding the edge with a convex shape to a quarter of a circle;

• conical– chamfering at an angle (more often it is at 45°);

• disk– for grooves in the edge;

• folded– selecting a quarter in the edge;

• fillets– making quarter-circle grooves in the edge;

• curvaceous– for forming the edges of panels.

As a rule, all edge cutters for wood have a thrust bearing that limits the penetration of the tool into solid wood. The depth of the cutter's reach is regulated by the position of the support platform of the router itself.

And the methods of working with such cutters are the same. If the cutter removes a large mass of wood at once, then it is better to carry out the processing in several passes, gradually deepening it into the wood until the thrust bearing starts working. You can watch the video:

Groove cutters for wood

Their main purpose is to form grooves, but most often they are used for carving wood using a hand router.

And there are quite a lot of varieties:

• spiral– similar to most end mills with a more formed external helical cutting edge, reminiscent of a drill;

• fillets– making semicircular grooves;

• conical– often they are used for carving on a plane;

• T-shaped;

• dovetail type;

• shaped;

• combined– used for gluing large wooden panels.

Groove cutters that work on the surface of wooden products are most often monolithic, but they also come with carbide cutting edges.

This is the smallest subgroup of cutters for a hand router. The main difference between such cutters is the overall dimensions, the number of cutting edges and the location of the thrust bearings or thrust surfaces: above, below or on both sides of the cutting part.

They are the ones that come into contact with the template, according to which the milling shape of the workpiece is copied. The principle of their operation will become clearer after watching a short video:

Functional sets of cutters and more

Quite often, manufacturers create sets of cutters designed to perform the same type of work, with a completed cycle of processing wooden products or producing the same type of joints.

This set of 2 cutters not only forms the inner edge of the frame product, but also makes the groove part of the corner joint in this frame. It is easy to understand that it can also be used to join boards into panels.

This set is used for making thin wooden window frames and other similar works.

But each of its cutters, of course, can act as an independent tool for performing a number of other types of wood processing.

The composite cutter shown in the following photo, depending on the sequence of assembly of its constituent elements, is used to form both edges of the wooden lining.

And by using a metal sleeve of the appropriate size instead of one of its components, this cutter can become either a moulder or a disk edge cutter.

Of course, as with other hand-held power tools, you can greatly expand the capabilities of a hand router by building a table for it.

By attaching movable stops to it, you will turn the hand tool into something like a milling machine. And with its help and a set of cutters, like the ones mentioned above, you can do very interesting things:

Dear readers, if you have any questions, please ask them using the form below. We will be glad to communicate with you;)

The Mnogofrez online store offers you ARDEN cutters for hand routers at affordable prices.

The website catalog presents a wide range of products, so you will definitely be able to find a suitable model for yourself.

Furniture cutters for a manual router include tools of different purposes and shapes. The most common of them:

• overtaking;

  for chamfering;

  profile;

  for grooves and tenons.

Our catalog of hand cutters from Arden offers a wide variety of cutting tools, so you can choose the product of the desired configuration to perform specific technological tasks: forming grooves, ridges, etc.

Selection of wood cutters for a manual router in the Mnogofrez store

Hand router bits come in different designs to perform specific functions. In the right hands, these carpenter's assistants can transform an ordinary block of wood into a real work of art.

Choose the right tool based on the purpose. For example, hand router bits are most often used to create grooves, tenons, holes, slots, etc., while a mortise bit is designed for cladding work (sometimes called a “fitting bit”). The tools differ in the following parameters:

cutter shape;

working diameter;

• length, etc.

Professionals know dozens of options for using cutting tools, but if you are a non-specialist, feel free to seek advice from our employees. Once you understand the classification and features of use, you can buy a wood cutter for a hand router to suit your needs.

Varieties of designs of manual types of cutters

Prefabricated

The most common product model. It consists of a blank with sharp cutting edges welded to it.

With ergonomic replaceable edges

The cutters are characterized by a long service life, which is due to the presence of knives on both sides.

Monolithic

This type is characterized by high strength and durability. There is no risk that the knife will unexpectedly break off. However, after several sharpening procedures, the product will need to be replaced.

Types of tool blades

Experts distinguish between types of cutters for hand routers and by blades. They are:

high-speed (HM) – for professional work with soft wood or aluminum;

carbide (HSS) – used by craftsmen for high-quality processing of hard materials, they have improved characteristics compared to high-speed blades.

Our catalog contains cutting tools for working primarily with soft and hard wood. You can buy ARDEN cutters for a manual router with delivery in Moscow and other cities of Russia. We also ship orders to Belarus and Kazakhstan.