Router Bit FAQ
Everything you need to know about Router Bits.
What is a router bit, and
what is it used for?
How many types of Router Bits are there?
What does a router bit cost?
What are some typical uses for routers?
Are routers dangerous to use?
What is the difference between steel and carbide router
bits?
How do you match a custom profile?
Can you make unique router bits to match interior trim
in an old house?
What’s new in router bits?
What is a Router
Bit and what is it used for?
Router Bits
are used for wood working. A
router
bit is a cutter whose profile is cut (usually) into wood. It is used most
typically to make decorative edges.
How many types of Router Bits are
there?
That’s a difficult question to answer because the technical answer is
infinite, but realistically, most retailers of
router
bits list between 50 to 80 different router bit profiles.
What does a router bit cost?
Standard
Router Bits cost between $10 for a simple straight bit to $350 for a
complex
custom bit.
What are some typical uses for
routers?
The most popular DIY use for a router is probably to make name signs for mailboxes.
A ball end router would cut the name in to sign and roundover or other profiling
bit would be used to finish the edges. As the user gains experience with a router,
then furniture and cabinet making would be the most popular uses.
Are routers dangerous to use?
As with every power tool, there are dangers, so attention to safety issues is
very important. Always read your instruction manual, always wear safety glasses,
and always unplug your router when changing
router
bits. Never touch a router bit that’s rotating. Remember, the cutting
edge of a router bit is a wood cutting knife.
What is the difference between
steel and carbide router bits?
Historically, router bits were made from high speed steel, but as the cost of
carbide came down, more and more bits were made from carbide. Until recently,
carbide was the material of choice because it outperforms steel, meaning it
stays sharper longer. Incidently, carbide is shorthand for tungsten carbide.
How do you match a custom profile?
Either from a drawing provided by the customer or more commonly from a wood
sample containing the desired profile. Our engineers dimension the sample using
AutoCad software and send the file to the factory who copies the profile onto
a carbide blank.
Can you make unique router bits
to match interior trim in an old house?
Yes, see above
What’s new in router bits?
1. The speed with which carbide has gained market share.
2. The growing popularity of ½” shank router bits, replacing
shaper cutters that were traditionally used for cutting larger and more complex
profiles.
3. The advent of ceramics as a replacement for carbide. Ceramics are to carbide
as carbide is to high speed steel.
Contact Andrews Toolworks
Please contact an Andrews Toolworks representative.
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