When it comes to woodworking with hardwoods such as oak, maple, walnut and cherry, having the proper router bits type can significantly improve the tools performance. Whether you’re edging, forming joints or creating detailed work, you can find just the right type of router bits to help you make clean, polished cuts, and protect your tools from unnecessary wear.
Hardwoods are harder and more dense than softwoods and require superior-grade router bits that have a sharp edge that lasts longer and holds up against chipping. In this guide, we will take a look at the best types of router bits for hardwoods and provide you with expert tips on how to select and use them properly.
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Why The Right Router Bit Makes A Difference For Hardwood
Low quality bits will dull fast in hardwood and cause tear out, burning and poor cutting edges. For dense wood routing, you want the right router bit types that will cut smooth, provide minimal heat & friction buildup. Selecting a well made router bit is also helpful in meeting your needs and is also ideal for preventing your router motor from blowing out on you!
Top 5 Best Router Bits for Cutting Hardwood Products
To help you narrow down the options, we have provided some of the Best type of router bits for hardwood below:
Straight Bits
Straight bits are necessary for nearly any woodworking project. These are ideal for grooving, dado and rabbet cuts. Use carbide-tipped straight bits for hardwoods, because they remain sharper longer and can tolerate heat better than bits made of high-speed steel.
Pro Tip: When milling grooves in hardwood, run the bit at a slower feed rate, taking more, shallow passes, to avoid burning and maximize bit longevity.
Flush Trim Bits
A flush trim bit trimming the edge of a piece of material used for replacement of a window sill. For hardwood, you’ll want bits with a solid carbide body or tips of high-quality carbide. The cutting edge is all the more stable as the angle in the body is only half of what it was before This is saw is perfect for every imaginable use around the yard and garden.
Pro Tip: The router should always be moved against the bit’s rotation to keep your cut under control and producing a clean, smooth edge.
Round-Over Bits
Excellent for rounding off sharp edges and make a decorative edge. The round-over design adds an attractive edge to theses types of jobs, including tabletops, shelving and cabinetry. For hardwoods, a bit with ball-bearing guide and carbide cutting edge is best.
Pro Tip: Select the size radius based on the look you want – larger radii will project a bigger, classic look.
Chamfer Bits
Chamfer bits create an angled edge, usually of 45 degrees, which is excellent for decorative purposes or for creating a beveled edge during the joining of two pieces. In hardwood, these bits make beveled transition and create a smooth, beveled edge.
Pro Tip: Chamfer bits soften hard edges on hardwood furniture- it’s both easy on the eyes and the knees!
Rabbeting Bits
Rabbetting bits are made to cut shoulders at the edge of a workpiece. They are popular in cabinet-making and joinery. A carbide-tipped rabbeting bit can process hardwoods with good effectiveness and with a long lasting edge .
Pro Tip: These bits include replaceable bearings to accommodate various cut widths-use the proper bearing size for the job at hand.
Cove Bits
Cove bits are used to create concave, rounded profiles, and commonly used in molding or decorative trim. A sharp cove bit makes a nice curve in hardwood without chattering or burning.
Pro Tip: On deeper coves, take several small passes, so you’ll have control and won’t stress the bit.
V-Groove Bits
V-groove bits – These router bits create decorative V-shaped cuts, and are perfect for sign-making or panel detailing. With hardwoods, they will produced a crisp, clean groove that follows the grain pattern. Pro tip: Use these bits with a plunge router to create a clean start and eliminate any splintering at the edges. Here are some other tips for using router bits on hardwood: carbide-tipped bits are more suitable, as they’re generally more robust and stay sharper than steel bits; process in a cautious manner – while overheating of the bits is a common issue for hardwoods work with the carbide-tipped bits, stick to the small passes and use the heat break, allowing the bit to cool down in between. It’s also crucial to keep all of the bits extra sharp, as dull bits are not only dangerous but also make poor-quality cuts.
End Note
Be sure to inspect the bits daily and sharpen or replace them as needed. Slower speeds should be used for large bits to maintain control while cutting and reduce burning. Finally, make sure to secure your work material properly by clamping it. VectorCut – Whether you’re making furniture, cabinets, or trim, the right tools and bits can upgrade the quality of your products. Who says you can’t get professional results every time you work with hardwood?
