Router Bits Basics

A router bit is a tool for woodworking giving a quality finish to woodwork. It cuts wood providing a way to give a clean and even a decorative edge to woodwork. The following is some basic information about router bits to get you started in your woodworking efforts.

The Parts of a Router Bit

Here are the there main parts of a router bit:
1) The shank- the part of the router bit that is inserted into the collet (the sleeve of the router).
2) The cutting edge- this part cuts and removes the wood. They are available in several sizes and shapes.
3) The pilot- the guide for the router in order to make a correct cut. It can be an extension of the shank or a ball bearing attachment.

The Different Kinds of Router Bits

While there are over 50 router bit profiles, here are the four basic types of router bits:
1) Grooving Bits- These bits make a groove in the piece of wood. This type of bit is commonly used for street address signs for homes. Different types of grooving bits include the V-Groove, the Round-Nose and the Straight Bits.
2) Joinery Bits- Router bits that help make several different types of joints. This type of router bit includes the Finger Joint, the Drawer Lock, the Rile and Stile, and Dovetail Bits.
3) Edge Bits- Bits used to create different-shaped edges in woodwork. Examples of these types of bits include the Beading, Flush, and Round-over bits.
4) Specialized Bits- These bits do not fit into one of the above categories and have more specialized purposes including the Key Hole, Raised Panel, and T-Slot bits.

Carbide versus HSS bits

Most of the bits you will find available in hardware stores are carbide (short for tungsten carbide) tipped. These router bits are made of a very hard material that stays sharp longer than steel and is resistant to heat. However, this type of router bit can chip and is very expensive (this is why most of the bits are tipped and not made completely of carbide).

High Speed Steel (HSS) bits have been around longer but are not as readily available as the carbide bits. An HSS router bit is not as expensive but will dull fairly quickly. The HSS router bit is more suited for occasional work while a carbide router bit is meant for greater use, lasting 20 times longer than the HSS router bit.

How to Take Care of Router Bits

To keep your router bit set in good shape, you will want to do small amounts of cutting at a time. This not only keeps you away from overheating, but will also extend the life of the router bit. Always use the shortest and widest bit possible for your project. This will again prevent overheating and will also avoid chattering.

Always keep your router bits clean and free from pitch and in good condition to avoid dulling. Remove any pitch and tar from the router bit (if not removed, it will cause the bit to unevenly bounce on the surface). Commercial bit cleaner can be used to remove pitch and tar; however, a scrap piece of wood will usually do the trick. This will help keep your router bits in good working order.

The parts of a router bit, the types of bits, the difference between HSS bits and carbide bits, and the proper care of router bits are all important concepts to understand when selecting your own router bit set. This basic knowledge will help you know what you need in a router bit set and how to use it properly.

Kaitlin Carruth is a client account specialist with 10x Marketing - More Visitors. More Buyers. More Revenue. For more information about router bits, please visit Tool America.

In The News:


Google News
Updated : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 14:49:35 GMT

Police say Kentucky woman kills self, daughters - Forbes


WNCT
Police say Kentucky woman kills self, daughters
Forbes - 1 hour ago
AP 10.07.08, 9:30 AM ET Police were still trying to determine Tuesday why a Louisville woman apparently stabbed her two school-age daughters to death and then shot herself.
Police say Kentucky woman kills self, daughters The Daily Advance
Police say Louisville woman kills self, daughters KVOA.com
The Associated Press - AHN - Louisville Courier-Journal - WLKY
all 282 news articles

Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 13:38:46 GMT

Senator Warned a Friend That Jail Was a Risk - New York Times


New York Times
Senator Warned a Friend That Jail Was a Risk
New York Times - 2 hours ago
By NEIL A. LEWIS WASHINGTON - The day after the FBI confronted Bill Allen, an Alaska oil services millionaire, with evidence that he had tried to bribe state lawmakers, he reached out to Senator Ted Stevens by telephone to discuss how their ...
Stevens unplugged: a defiant, salty health nut The Associated Press
“I Love You, You Know,” and More Revelations from the Stevens Trial Wall Street Journal Blogs
Anchorage Daily News (subscription) - Los Angeles Times - Bradenton Herald - CNN
all 485 news articles

Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 12:35:08 GMT

McCain, Obama question each other's character in latest campaign ads - Baltimore Sun


BBC News
McCain, Obama question each other's character in latest campaign ads
Baltimore Sun - 3 hours ago
By Paul West | paul.west@baltsun.com Washington - The presidential contest turned increasingly nasty yesterday as Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain launched new personal attacks ahead of the second presidential debate.
Video: AP Campaign Minute AssociatedPress
The Note: McCain Brings Attack to Second Debate ABC News
Los Angeles Times - New York Times - BBC News - Reuters
all 4,527 news articles

Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 11:47:50 GMT

OTC Cold Medicines to Be Relabeled for Young Children - Wall Street Journal


ChattahBox
OTC Cold Medicines to Be Relabeled for Young Children
Wall Street Journal - 33 minutes ago
By JENNIFER CORBETT DOOREN WASHINGTON -- Companies making over-the-counter cold and cough medicines have agreed to stop marketing the products to children younger than 4 as part of an effort to reduce accidental overdoses, an industry trade group said ...
Video: Cold Meds Under Fire, Again CBS
ALERT: Drug Companies Warning to Parents WXYZ
SYS-CON Media - Washington Post - WebMD - Bloomberg
all 850 news articles

Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 14:15:50 GMT

Study: Using fan on sleeping baby reduces risk of SIDS - San Jose Mercury News


ChattahBox
Study: Using fan on sleeping baby reduces risk of SIDS
San Jose Mercury News - 2 hours ago
By Linda Goldston Ayde Gonzales's mother was surprised when she insisted that her newborn son must sleep on his back, not on his side.
Fans May Reduce Babies' Risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Bloomberg
Fan in Room Seems to Cut Infants’ Risk of Crib Death New York Times
Wall Street Journal - Chicago Sun-Times - eFluxMedia - U.S. News & World Report
all 573 news articles

Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 12:46:19 GMT

Kenya Detains US Author Critical of Obama - New York Times


Malaysia Star
Kenya Detains US Author Critical of Obama
New York Times - 1 hour ago
By JEFFREY GETTLEMAN NAIROBI, Kenya - The American author of a best-selling book highly critical of Senator Barack Obama was detained by Kenyan immigration agents on Tuesday as he prepared to give a press conference in Nairobi.
Kenya Detains Author of Anti-Obama Book Voice of America
US anti-Obama book author faces Kenya deportation: officials AFP
The Associated Press - CNN International - CollegeOTR - Right Pundits
all 351 news articles

Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 13:00:27 GMT

IMF Urges Coordinated Action, Sees US Losses at $1.4 Trillion - Wall Street Journal


BBC News
IMF Urges Coordinated Action, Sees US Losses at $1.4 Trillion
Wall Street Journal - 1 hour ago
By TOM BARKLEY WASHINGTON -- With losses on bad US assets alone expected to top $1.4 trillion, the International Monetary Fund urged global policy makers Tuesday to coordinate a response to an unprecedented financial crisis that continues to spread.
IMF warns of deeper slowdown amid crisis Reuters
IMF in 'severe downturn' warning BBC News
ABS CBN News - AFP - International Monetary Fund - Times Online
all 383 news articles

Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 13:21:55 GMT

Clickbank RSS Feeds
Earn Money With Surveys


PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts, Websites, and more...

Adsense websites

A Carefully Planned Outdoor Kitchen is Worth the Investment

Do you have any idea how popular outdoor kitchens are... Read More

?5 Fast Ideas to Freshen the Look of your Room

"Company's coming and my place doesn't look right?"You know how... Read More

Bamboo Flooring for the 21st Century

Bamboo flooring has emerged as a new material for the... Read More

Installing Vinyl Replacement Windows In A Wood Frame Opening

When we left off last week, we had removed the... Read More

Grandfather Clocks Bring a Sense of Awe?Theyre So Tall

Standing tall and big are the stately grandfather clocks. They... Read More

All You Need To Know About The Feng Shui Bagua Map

The feng shui bagua map is an octagonal shaped map... Read More

Aluminium Window Frames

When double glazing first became a popular window choice in... Read More

Spring Home Projects in Northern New England

As I sit on a plane in route from Chicago... Read More

The Next Revolution in Home Entertainment - IP Based Multi-Room Distribution

The Holy Grail of distributed audio; unlimited zones and unlimited... Read More

How About a Jungle Mural to Put Some Swing Into Your Child?s Room?

If your child loves all different types of animals, a... Read More

Geothermal Heat Pumps 101

It seems like about three million of you have asked... Read More

A Checklist for Bathroom Remodeling Plans

Careful planning is the key to a successful bathroom-remodeling project.... Read More

How to Build a Home Sauna - Three Important Questions to Answer Before Building

Considering that home saunas are believed to produce numerous health... Read More

Mexico: Who Farted?

Do you have embarrassing gas problems? Do you find this... Read More

Apartment Inspection Checklist

You have found an apartment you like and you are... Read More

The Top 10 Mistakes to Avoid When Shopping for a Mattress

Buying a new mattress is a daunting task that few... Read More

Vinyl Replacement Window Terminology

With so many homeowners in the market for more energy... Read More

Planning Permission Tips UK - Two Story Side Extensions - The Common Mistakes

Probably the most common type of residential extension is the... Read More

Get New Floors And Save A Bundle When You Do It Yourself

After years of use, your floor will need to be... Read More

Are Showers Harmful to Your Health?

The last thing you would think about when you are... Read More

Laminate Flooring - Cleaning & Maintenance

One of the biggest advantages of laminate floors is that... Read More

A Guide to Commercial Steel Buildings

Commercial steel buildings are prefabricated and custom-designed for use as... Read More

Complete Home Rehab In 10 Days

This report is about taking a house and restoring it... Read More

Age Old Question: Buy New or Remodel Existing Home?

Your house doesn't have enough storage space, bathrooms, or counter... Read More

The Art of Power Washing Siding

Some of the most common mistakes to avoid made by... Read More