Spiral router bits have numerous uses in your woodworking projects. Master woodworker George Vondriska shows the two types of spiral router bits and the advantages of each over traditional straight bits. A WoodWorkers Guild of America (WWGOA) original video.
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Funny they look surprisingly like the fluted end mills I used for decades as a machinist. Which I always thought would work just fine in wood.
George, I am going to cut a table top from heart pine. It is 3/4″ thick, actually heart pine flooring that has been glued together to make 45″ square. Using a Rockler circle jig to cut the circle which has a pin to hold the center. Will be cutting from the bottom side. What is best router bit for job, straight, spiral upcut, downcut? I am thinking after watching video sprial upcut since I am cutting from underside. Appreciate your advice. Thanks you
Solid carbide bits will hold up better for demanding cutting operations like this. Upcut spiral bits clear chips faster, which I believe makes them a better choice for your application. Downspiral bits leave a cleaner bottom in a dado or groove, but since you are using it to cut all the way through I don’t believe that will be a factor.
-Paul
Woodworkers Guild of America
One type you didn’t talk about was the combination spiral bit.I hope you’ll redo this video to include the combination bit.
One quick note, it’s a bit annoying not to end the ad after the 1st 4-5 seconds like we can with the Titebond ads.
George…It may just have been light reflection on the bit but, it looked like the spiral bits had serrations similar to a metal milling machine bit. Additionally, do they make a router bit with serrated edges for use in mortise machines for hard wood?
What you’re seeing on the spiral router bits are mill marks, not serrated edges. I used to purchase serrated router bits like this http://store.castleusa.com/products/b00338-solid-carbide-3-8-three-flute-rough-mill-router-bit.html (http://store.castleusa.com/products/b00338-solid-carbide-3-8-three-flute-rough-mill-router-bit.html) for a screw pocket machine at a commercial cabinet shop. But I find that for making mortises with a router, a standard carbide spiral router bit is fine. (ZD: 3599)
It works fine for me.
George, this is (only half) funny – idk if u r aware that this video u posted is incomplete. Ive seen a few vids of yours end abruptly like this, but this is my first time commenting on one of them. I’d like to make the obvi request of u updating it, or enter in a new one, named part 2 or something. I know u wanna empower us w/this knowledge that u intended to convey to us, & we would like to utilize that knowledge just as much! Thank you… ;-)
Thanks. I’m looking into it.
G