Flush Trim/Pattern Bit & Dado Clean Out Recommendations

[Jeffrey Schronce]

Title pretty much says it all. I will likely stick with Whiteside bits unless I hearing compelling reason not to do so.

I am thinking a 1/2" shank, 2" cutter length and 1/2" diameter with a double bearing on top would be pretty good choice. Would you recommend spiral trim bit? This will be mounted in a table, so up or down spiral? Or stick with pattern bit?

Also, don't seem to be able to find a dado cleanout bit on Holbren or Hartville. Anyone have a part number for Whiteside dado clean out?

[RodKirby]

IMHO - Router table, upcut spiral (to pull the waste down).

If I ever have a choice I will ALWAYS go spiral - slice is better than scrape

[Jeffrey Schronce]

IMHO - Router table, upcut spiral (to pull the waste down).

If I ever have a choice I will ALWAYS go spiral - slice is better than scrape

Thanks for confirming my thought. I am having problem finding a 1/2" shank spiral upcut with bearing on top and bottom. Anyone know if there is such a beast?

Thanks

[Pappy]

I looked at Amana, Whiteside, and MLCS. The only double bearing trim bits I found were staight cut. FWIW, I have both the 1/2" and 1/4" spiral flush trim bits from Whiteside. The trimmed edge on plywood is better than you could get by sanding!

[Tom Slick]

take a look at onsrud, they make some very good spiral bits.

[drumpriest]

Spiral is what I use most of the time. I do a fair amount of work with curly materials, and it does a great job. I have a whiteside in the router right now for that purpose.

It makes less of a difference for Dado though, IMO.

[RodKirby]

Thanks for confirming my thought. I am having problem finding a 1/2" shank spiral upcut with bearing on top and bottom. Anyone know if there is such a beast?

Thanks

Couldn't find one with top+bottom bearings but...

http://www.woodhaven.com/detail.aspx?ID=2073

[Jeffrey Schronce]

I looked at Amana, Whiteside, and MLCS. The only double bearing trim bits I found were staight cut. FWIW, I have both the 1/2" and 1/4" spiral flush trim bits from Whiteside. The trimmed edge on plywood is better than you could get by sanding!

Cool, I am glad to hear that. Guess I will end up with flush upcut spiral from Whiteside with 1/2" cutter diameter and 2" cutter length.

Edit : BTW, I am amazed at how much less the Whiteside bits are than some of the others out there. Other than Holbren kit and Freud raised panel set I pretty much have stuck with Whiteside. I figured they were priced about the same as the other players. Amazing that the price is better and they generally are rated the highest.

[cabinetman]

As usual, I'm throwin' in a thought here. Depending on the type of material and its thickness, I may pattern out the layout and cut it close on the BS or jig saw first, so that there is only about an 1/8" to finally rout off to the pattern. For that a plain 'ole flush 3 flute with a bearing works pretty good in a table. Of course with a top bearing the pattern has to be on top of the stock. FWIW,

[Pappy]

I asked one of my tool dealers about it today. He handles both Whiteside and Amana and said he has never seen anything like that in a spiral cut bit. Said if anyone has it, it would probably be CMT.

[Jeffrey Schronce]

I asked one of my tool dealers about it today. He handles both Whiteside and Amana and said he has never seen anything like that in a spiral cut bit. Said if anyone has it, it would probably be CMT.

Thanks for the info. I checked all CMT sources and didnt find anything. I just went with the Whiteside with bearing on top.