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Working with a hand router on wood. Wood cutters for a manual router: types, features, application Wood cutters diameter

If you quite often make various wooden products for your home, then sooner or later you will acquire a hand router. Of course, some types of manual milling work can be done using an electric drill, which is available in almost every home workshop.

You can read about different cutters for drills.

But the main difference between a router and a drill, besides the presence of an adjustable support platform, is its high speed (from 10,000 to 30,000 rpm), which even the most high-speed drill cannot boast of. But this is precisely what determines the level of quality of the result obtained. But, you will also need the right equipment - cutters, and a great variety of them are produced for this tool.

Helping you understand their varieties and types is the goal of this article.

What types of cutters are there for a hand router?

To get started, we suggest watching the video:

And according to the design of wood cutters there are:

monolithic;
compound;
mounted.

Monolithic cutters do not need a detailed description.

But compound and mounted ones are often confused. Composite cutters are cutters in which two or more types of cutters are combined into a single unit on one shank. In them you can change the order of the cutters and the distance between them, insert intermediate bushings or bearings.

And the attachment ones have a large hole in the center and are mounted on the shaft of the milling machine.

A according to the nature and place of application of the cutter for manual milling cutters there are:

end;
edge;
grooved;
copying.

This video will help you better understand their diversity and purpose:

Let's consider in order.

Their main feature is the presence of cutting edges at the end of the working part.

This does not mean that they only work with axial loads. They can also have side edges that allow you to move the cutter in the plane of the router's support pad, making various grooves and cuts in the material. They may have a different number of cutting edges, and, accordingly, different cleanliness of material processing.

End mills are most often monolithic, but there are also composite ones. A striking example of this can be core cutters, more often used with a drill.

Edge cutters for wood

This is the most widely represented range of this tool, due to the most frequent use of hand routers specifically for forming various edges on wooden products.

Even in large sets of cutters, which it is preferable for a home craftsman to have rather than buying a large number of cutters randomly, the main part is edge cutters.

And their classification is much wider than that of other types of cutters. They are:

profile– giving the processed edge an intricate figured shape;

molding– rounding the edge with a convex shape to a quarter of a circle;

conical– chamfering at an angle (more often it is at 45°);

disk– for grooves in the edge;

folded– selecting a quarter in the edge;

fillets– making quarter-circle grooves in the edge;

curvaceous– for forming the edges of panels.

As a rule, all edge cutters for wood have a thrust bearing that limits the penetration of the tool into solid wood. The depth of the cutter's reach is regulated by the position of the support platform of the router itself.

And the methods of working with such cutters are the same. If the cutter removes a large mass of wood at once, then it is better to carry out the processing in several passes, gradually deepening it into the wood until the thrust bearing starts working. You can watch the video:

Groove cutters for wood

Their main purpose is to form grooves, but most often they are used for carving wood using a hand router.

And there are quite a lot of varieties:

spiral– similar to most end mills with a more formed external helical cutting edge, reminiscent of a drill;

fillets– making semicircular grooves;

conical– often they are used for carving on a plane;

T-shaped;

dovetail type;

shaped;

combined– used for gluing large wooden panels.

Groove cutters that work on the surface of wooden products are most often monolithic, but they also come with carbide cutting edges.

This is the smallest subgroup of cutters for a hand router. The main difference between such cutters is the overall dimensions, the number of cutting edges and the location of the thrust bearings or thrust surfaces: above, below or on both sides of the cutting part.

They are the ones that come into contact with the template, according to which the milling shape of the workpiece is copied. The principle of their operation will become clearer after watching a short video:

Functional sets of cutters and more

Quite often, manufacturers create sets of cutters designed to perform the same type of work, with a completed cycle of processing wooden products or producing the same type of joints.

This set of 2 cutters not only forms the inner edge of the frame product, but also makes the groove part of the corner joint in this frame. It is easy to understand that it can also be used to join boards into panels.

This set is used for making thin wooden window frames and other similar works.

But each of its cutters, of course, can act as an independent tool for performing a number of other types of wood processing.

The composite cutter shown in the following photo, depending on the sequence of assembly of its constituent elements, is used to form both edges of the wooden lining.

And by using a metal sleeve of the appropriate size instead of one of its components, this cutter can become either a moulder or a disk edge cutter.

Of course, as with other hand-held power tools, you can greatly expand the capabilities of a hand router by building a table for it.

By attaching movable stops to it, you will turn the hand tool into something like a milling machine. And with its help and a set of cutters, like the ones mentioned above, you can do very interesting things:

Dear readers, if you still have questions, ask them using the form below. We will be glad to communicate with you;)

Wood processing at home has become much easier thanks to the advent of new tools. One of the most popular of them is the manual router. But to choose the right consumable tools, you need to familiarize yourself with the types of wood cutters and their functional features.

Working principle of cutters

The purpose of this type of woodworking tool is the formation of recesses of a certain shape or fine processing of the surface of a workpiece. To perform these functions they have individual design features.

Currently, there are several fundamental differences between wood cutters for various purposes. To complete a manual router, so-called finger models are used. Structurally, they are similar to drills - they have a tail, main and working part. However, this is where the similarities end. The main difference is the type of movement of the part and the tool. The processing part for wood has a rotational moment, and the workpiece has a translational moment.

Using finger tools, you can perform the following types of processing of wooden workpieces:

edge processing. Necessary for interfacing various workpieces with each other. In effect, a tenon/groove assembly is formed;
insertion of hinges or other fittings;
decorative function. Using a hand-held wood router, you can make three-dimensional shapes on the surface of flat products or workpieces with complex configurations.

In practice, any professional craftsman can list several dozen ways to use finger cutters on wood or metal. But to correctly select a specific set of tools, you need to familiarize yourself with the official classification.

In addition to the processing tool, the quality of work is affected by the configuration and type of hand router. In particular, a set of additional stops and templates.

Classification of cutters

The determining parameter for cutters is the types of work that can be performed with their help. For a small furniture production, a set may consist of several edge processing tools. Professional carpentry shops will require more tools.

Profile cutters

They are among the most popular tools for processing wooden products. They can be used to form grooves, quarters and grooves. One of the methods of application is the production of curves on the ends of the workpiece.

Depending on the area of application, processing tools of this type are divided into the following categories:

For rounding edges. Structurally, they can consist of cutting parts with different radii. In this way, a complex figured edge is formed in one pass;
For chamfering. They differ in the angle of inclination of the chamfers (from 45° to 60°), as well as their number. In their design, the working edges are only lateral. To improve positioning accuracy, they contain a thrust bearing in the lower part;
Grooving. In many ways similar to models for forming chamfers. The difference lies in the presence of a cutting part at the lower working end.

The most popular area of application for this type of tool is furniture production and the production of decorative frames of various types.

Grooved

Designed for the full implementation of the cutting part into the workpiece and the subsequent formation of grooves or grooves with a complex configuration. Groove models consist of main working parts (side) and auxiliary (end). The latter is needed to deepen the tool into a wooden part.

After installing the tool on a hand router, you can make grooves of various shapes in wood. The configuration of groove models depends on the design and shape of the cutting parts. Based on these parameters, the processing tool can be divided into the following groups:

straight edges. They can have a diameter ranging from 2 to 30 mm. Well suited for primary processing;
spiral configuration of the cutting part. Their size varies from 3 to 8 mm. Designed for processing soft wood. Their shape allows for good removal of chips from the processing area;
for cutting tenons;
finger-type disc instruments. Designed for making grooves on the end parts of products. To ensure accurate groove formation, it is recommended to make multiple passes of the cutting part.

When choosing grooving tools, you need to pay attention to the size of the rotation angles of the edges being machined. Additionally, the parameters of the templates and stops of the hand router are taken into account.

Rebate selection (quarters)

Their configuration is in many ways similar to finger cylindrical models. The difference lies in the presence of thrust components located at the bottom of the structure. They may take the form of thrust pins. An alternative option is to install a bearing.

This addition is necessary for precise positioning of the edges at the end of the workpiece. In this way, the same groove width is achieved. Depending on the configuration, the following types of cutting tools with a lower stop are distinguished:

fit. The diameter of the bearing and working edges is the same. Designed for flush processing of the edge part of the workpiece;
prefabricated Several cutting parts can be installed on the tool shaft, thereby changing the configuration of the future groove or quarter. This function is necessary for connecting several parts with complex shapes.

When choosing models that use a rotating thrust pin as a stop, it should be taken into account that it will leave an uneven surface after processing. But at the same time, the processing speed of such models is much higher than that of tools with thrust bearings.

Special

In most cases, special-purpose models are used to improve the aesthetic qualities of processed products. With their help, you can form complex convex patterns on the end and front parts of the workpieces.

To form the ornament, you can use V-shaped tools. In addition, they will perform the function of engraving. Changing the position of the tool on wood often occurs not according to a template, but freely - by hand. In addition to this model, the following special types of wood cutters are used:

for forming holes for dowels;
for installation of furniture fittings - hinges, locks and similar elements;
formation of two matching profiles. One of them serves as a response.

These are just typical cases of using special woodworking tools. To create truly complex designs without a lot of time, special one-piece models are often developed.

Additionally, when choosing a milling tool, it is necessary to take into account not only its configuration, but also the material of manufacture. For processing hard wood, it is recommended to use models with carbide tips. They will not only quickly complete the required work, but will also ensure high quality. To increase functionality, you can use models with removable cutting edges.

From this article you can find out what a cutting element such as a wood cutter for a hand router is. The text sets out a detailed classification of products: the main types and features of parts, their technical characteristics and practical use. The article contains useful recommendations that will help you decide on the choice of cutters for hand tools.

A hand router is a convenient and effective tool designed for processing lumber, including shaped, as well as flat surfaces. In addition, this device is suitable for forming various technological recesses, for example, grooves, ridges, recesses for installing hinges. To do this, it is enough to buy cutters of the appropriate configuration. Each such element has individual design features and is used to perform specific functions.

Purpose of a hand cutter for wood:

Edge processing - involves the use of a cutter for merging wood for a manual router, when it is necessary to connect various workpieces together by connecting a tongue/groove.
Insertion of hinges and other fittings.
Decorating - in this case, cutters are used to form three-dimensional shapes on the surface of flat products, as well as for the production of wooden blanks with complex configurations.

Professionals know dozens of options for using cutters on a manual router. However, in order to correctly determine the choice of cutting parts for a tool, it is advisable to study the official classification of existing products. Once you understand what cutters are and the features of their use, it will be much easier to make a choice.

First of all, you need to pay attention to the unit of measurement for the diameter of the shank. This can be done in millimeters or inches. The unit of measurement depends on the type of collets that are included with the router. These components are designed to clamp the shank. If the size is calculated in millimeters, then the most common options will be products with a diameter of 6, 12 and 8 mm. If inches are taken as the unit of measurement, in this case it will be possible to buy cutters for a hand router in only two sizes - ½ and ¼.

Note! You cannot combine a millimeter shank and an inch collet and vice versa. This may cause the tool to break.

Types of cutters for a manual wood router: typesstructures

There are dozens of product options on the market with different purposes and costs. If we consider the design features of cutting elements, we can distinguish the following types of wood cutters for a hand router:

Prefabricated - have the form of blanks with welded cutting edges. These cutters are very easy to manufacture, which is why most products on the market have a similar design.
With interchangeable edges - the products are equipped with interchangeable cutting edges with double-sided sharpening. When the knife becomes dull on one side, the cutter can be turned over and used further.
Monolithic - cutters with cutting edges machined at the base. They rarely break, but after several sharpenings the part will have to be replaced.

Types of wood cutters: classification of products by blade type

Milling cutters can have vertical, spiral or inclined blades. Products with straight edges will cut pieces of wood from the workpiece, which increases the likelihood that chips will appear during the cutting process. As a result, the quality of milling is significantly reduced. This does not happen with angled blades.

Consumers can buy wood cutters with two types of blades:

High-speed cutting (HM) - used on surfaces made of soft wood.
Carbide (HSS) – used for machining hard surfaces.

Products with carbide blades have a higher temperature coefficient and have improved characteristics, which affects their cost.

Classification of cutters: overview of the main types of products

Milling cutters are rotating parts studded with teeth. These elements are available in various configurations. Milling cutters can be used for processing metal and plastic surfaces, but they are most often used for working with wood.

The following types of products are distinguished:

end;
end;
cylindrical or slotted straight;
shaped elements, which can be both groove and edge;
disk, etc.

Helpful advice! If you periodically lubricate the support bearing, you can increase the life of the part.

Features of wood end mills for hand tools

Wood end mills for a hand router have cutting edges on the end side of the working part. Moreover, they work not only through the application of axial load. These cutters also use side edges, which makes it possible to move the rotating element in the plane of the support pad on the router. As a result of this, it is possible to obtain various selections and grooves in the wood. Such parts may have a different number of cutting edges, which affects the cleanliness of the processing.

In most cases, end mills have a monolithic design, but sometimes you can find composite ones, for example, hole saws, used as cutters for a wood drill. This option is used in cases where there is no manual router at hand.

end;
spiral;
burrs;

profile;
conical;
spherical.

Wood end mills are used to form grooves of various configurations and sizes. They are suitable not only for making wooden products, but also for creating tongue and groove joints. Therefore, end mills are often classified as slotted products.

Profile cutters represent a wide group of components for performing the following tasks:

end processing;
formation of grooves with a complex configuration;
decorating the surface with ornaments.

Wood burrs have another name - cutters. They are designed for making holes with a specific configuration. Such cutters are used at the intermediate stage of processing. In addition, they can be used to finalize the configuration of some parts.

Classification of edge cutters for wood for a manual router

Edge cutters are the most common group, since hand tools are most often used for making edges on wood products. Even in large sets, the bulk of the parts are edge cutters. This option is more preferable for home craftsmen. It is easier to buy a set of wood cutters for a hand router than to select these elements one by one.

This group includes:

profile - to give an intricate shape to the edges of the product;
molded or shaped - to round the edge, thereby obtaining a convex shape of ¼ of the circle;
conical - designed for chamfering at an angle, the most common option is 45 °;
disk cutters for wood - for forming grooves in the edge part of the product;
folded - designed for cutting out quarters in the edge part of the product;

fillet - used to make grooves in the edge on ¼ of a circle;
figurine - designed for making panel edges.

In most cases, edge cutters are equipped with a thrust bearing. This element restricts the movement of the tool, preventing it from sinking into the wood. In this case, the cutting part of the part can be located above or below the bearing. By setting the tool support pad to a certain position, you can adjust the cutter overhang depth.

Helpful advice! If the cutter makes large cuts, it is desirable to carry out the processing of the product in several stages, each time deepening it into the material until the thrust bearing is triggered.

In some cases, there is no bearing in the cutter design. To work with such a part, you will need a template and a copy sleeve or parallel stop. The size of molding cutters depends on the height of the cutting part. If the profile has several roundings, then the manufacturer indicates the dimensions of the largest diameter that can be obtained using such a part. Moreover, the distance between the cutting parts can be adjusted at your discretion.

Horizontal type figurine cutters have a large diameter and weight. Such elements require a lot of cutting force, for this reason they are made exclusively with a 12 mm shank. These cutters are designed for a router with a stationary structure.

Related article:

TO accessories, operating instructions. Recommendations for choosing designs and a review of the best models.

Classification of groove cutters for wood for a manual router

The main purpose of a groove cutter for wood is to make grooves in wood - grooves.

There are several types of such cutters:

fillet - these parts are designed for the manufacture of semicircular grooves;
conical - elements are used for threading flat surfaces;
spiral cutters for wood for a manual router - in many ways similar to end elements. However, they have a more pronounced cutting edge located on the outside. Essentially, the design of a spiral wood router is similar to a drill bit;

T-shaped cutters for forming grooves of the appropriate shape;
Dovetail elements;
shaped;
straight groove cutters for wood - cylindrical parts that form a groove with a rectangular cross-section;
combined - cutters are used to connect large-sized wooden panels.

Combination elements include tenon/groove cutters. Most often, such elements have a monolithic design, but there are also options equipped with carbide cutting edges. They are used for joining workpieces.

Copy cutters or straight cutters are the smallest group of components for a manual router. Between themselves, these parts differ in the number of cutting edges, sizes, as well as the nature of the placement of thrust surfaces and bearings, which can be located both above and below. There are also options with double-sided placement in relation to the cutting part. During operation, the bearing moves according to a template, making it possible to obtain a part of the required configuration from a workpiece.

The head of fillet cutters has a rounded shape. The resulting groove in cross-section looks like the letter “U”. The walls of the recess can be rounded immediately at the surface or located at a right angle for some time. It depends on the depth of the cut.

Note! Although a fillet is considered a semicircular notch, cutters that form a V-shaped groove are also included in this category. If during the work you need to make grooves with different angles of inclination of the walls, it is advisable to have an appropriate set of wood cutters for a hand router, where there are cutting elements of different configurations.

Wood cutter for hand router: choosing the optimal set for the job

Buying the right woodworking tool is not a guarantee of excellent results. To ensure accurate and high-quality processing of the material, it is advisable to purchase good equipment. For these purposes, sets of wood cutters for a hand router are designed, which include a set of cutting parts suitable for performing specific jobs.

What are the best wood cutters to buy for a hand router?

When choosing equipment for a hand router, you need to pay attention to the main criteria:

Workmanship.
Thermal strength level.
Type of connection between the cutting part and the shank.
Solder material.

Before purchasing a set of wood cutters, you should pay attention to the quality of the soldering. It must be done so that during long-term operation the tool does not lose its longitudinal stability. This is especially true in cases where the work uses products made from hard wood, for example, pear, hornbeam, oak, etc.

The following grades of solder are considered high quality: PSr 37.5 and PS p40. They are characterized by a high content of copper and silver. If a material of a different brand is used for soldering the plates and shank, most likely it contains nickel, which does not provide the required level of strength of the joints. It is not allowed to use elements in sets of cutters for a hand router, in which the working cutting part is connected to the shank by welding. This kind of equipment is not the best option.

Monolithic cutters also need to be checked for the hardness of the material of manufacture. This operation can be performed at home. To do this, just go over the working part of the cutter with a calibrated file. If no visible marks remain on the surface, then the element is made of high-quality material. The optimal hardness is 58-62 HRC.

Note! The quality of work also depends on the availability of additional devices. Therefore, it is advisable to purchase a set of templates and stops.

A brief overview of the catalog of Encor cutters for a manual router

Very often, manufacturers offer craftsmen to purchase a ready-made set designed to perform the same type of work. For example, some Encor wood cutters for a manual router are combined into kits that allow you to achieve a certain result. Such sets are used to make identical joints or wooden products. Moreover, in the second case, the cutters allow you to complete a full processing cycle.

In the catalog of Enkor cutters there are sets with different numbers of elements. For example, a set consisting of two combination frame cutters with a 12 mm shank can be used to create frame products. These elements are designed not only to form the inner edge. They can be used as corner joint cutters for a hand router.

Using this set, you can create not only frame products, for example, thin window frames, but also join wooden boards into large panels.

Of course, each of the cutters in this set can act as an independent element with which you can perform other operations on processing wooden products.

Consumers can buy a set of Enkor wood cutters for making lining. Using these elements, you can form the edge of wooden products, which can subsequently be used for interior finishing work. In addition, the manufacturer offers sets of decorative cutters, which can include from 4 to 12 elements with different configurations. The average price of sets ranges from 1370 to 8300 rubles.

Review of the catalog of wood cutters for the SMT manual router

The products of the Italian manufacturer SMT are in high demand among consumers. On sale are individual cutting elements and entire sets designed to perform various jobs.

The catalog contains the following types of SMT cutters for wood for a manual router:

groove and end;
overtaking;
for furniture strapping and splicing;
disk;
T-shaped and Dovetail;
paneled;
edge molding;
profile;
jointing and chamfering.

The kits offered by the manufacturer are designed to perform certain types of work or to form specific connections. The buyer can purchase a ready-made kit designed for the manufacture of doors, furniture facades, lining, trim and various bindings. The cost of the sets varies between 5610-63000 rubles.

Buying hand cutters for wood: prices for popular types of products

Wood cutters are suitable not only for making products from solid wood. These elements can be used for processing lumber such as plywood, chipboard, veneer, fiberboard, etc.

Average prices for Enkor cutters:

Type of cutters	Type	price, rub.
Grooved	V-shaped fillets	from 185
	Direct	from 189
	Shaped	from 190
	Structural T-shaped	from 202
	Structural	from 206
	Fillet	from 212
edging	Direct	from 220
	Mouldings	from 287
	Cone	from 352
	Folded	from 405
	Half-rod	from 519
	Fillet	from 550
	curly	from 615
	Adjustable moulders	from 1500
	Multidisciplinary	from 1570
Combined	Universal	from 1130
Combined	Framework	from 2160

The existing range of components for a hand router has several classification options. These products differ in design, tooth structure, and material of manufacture. By selecting a cutter with the necessary characteristics, you can create an edge, grooves, ledges, grooves and other elements of the desired size and configuration in a wooden workpiece. In addition, cutting parts are used to install various functional and structural elements. For example, hinges, locks, latches.

A milling cutter is a cutting tool with which a manual milling machine or a stationary unit processes the surface of various materials (wood, plastic, metal). Since the equipment is designed for rotational movement, its basic shape will be disc-shaped or cylindrical. At the same time, the cutting edges of the tool can have a rather intricate shape. Hand milling cutters are divided into several types. The most common among them are for wood processing. At the same time, wood cutters also have their own classification. Let's look at what types of cutters are designed for processing wooden surfaces, and how to choose them correctly.

If needed select groove any depth and width, then a groove cutter is ideal for this purpose. Its design allows this operation to be performed both on the face (face) of the part and on its edge. A groove cutter is mainly used when joining parts into a tenon. Also, using attachments for a wood router that follow a ruler, you can cut even grooves of any width.

Shaped

Allows you to give the groove certain shapes, similar to braces. The tool not only selects grooves inside the workpiece, but also changes the shape of the edge ribs. When making a complex pattern on the surface of a workpiece, a straight cutter (groove) is first passed through it. In the future, this simplifies the alignment of the shaped equipment.

The following pictures show the main types of slotted router bits.

Structural

After processing the workpiece with this equipment, a groove is obtained that looks like a trapezoid (dovetail) or an inverted letter “T”.

This method of connecting parts is considered one of the most reliable, since the tenons are pushed into grooves of the same shape, and they cannot be separated by any other method.

V-shaped fillets

Although the word “fillet” refers to a semicircular notch or groove, V-cutters also fall into this category. The tool allows you to select not only vertical grooves, but also grooves at a certain angle. Also, a fillet cutter is often used for decorative carvings and changing the geometry of edges in furniture production.

Fillet

They have a rounded cutting part. If you look at the groove after it has passed through the section, it will resemble letter “U”.

The cutter is used for decorative finishing of the edges and ends of wood products, creating complex patterns on the face of the workpiece or various fillet recesses (grooves) on the face of the product and on its edges.

Direct

This is the simplest tool, shaped like a cylinder. The groove obtained in the workpiece has a rectangular cross-section.

The equipment is most often used with plunge routers.

Straight groove (finger) cutters are used if you need to select a rectangular groove with a clean bottom, for example, for inserting door locks and hinges.

Edge cutters

In most cases, edge cutters have thrust bearing. Thanks to it, it becomes possible to guide the tool along the template, processing the edges and edges of the workpiece.

Half-rod

The tool creates semi-circular ridges on the edges of the workpieces.

If you use a half-rod cutter in combination with a molding or fillet cutter, you can make hinged joints. Also, rods of round section are made with a semi-rod tool. In this case, the workpiece is processed on both sides.

curly

These curly cutters are also called multidisciplinary. Depending on the tasks, the master can use part of the equipment profile or use it completely. In the second case, you will need to install the tool in a unit that has a power of at least 1600 W.

Fillet

Designed to give the workpiece ribs an internal radius or to make grooves with a circular cross-section.

Fillet cutters are equipped with one or two bearings, eliminating tool distortion.

Cone

Using cone cutters you can:

chamfer on the edge of the workpiece;
decorate the edge of the tabletop;
create an angular cut on the edges of the workpiece before gluing them (polygonal-shaped products can be obtained).

Folded

Apply to quarter samples and grooves of rectangular section. Thanks to the thrust bearing, the rebate cutter can be used on both straight and curved workpieces.

To adjust the groove depth, thrust bearings of different diameters are used.

Mouldings

Moulder cutters allow you to obtain an arched, straight, or shaped edge on a workpiece. Working with any part of the same equipment, you can:

round the edge of the part;
get a rebated edge;
make a semi-rod protrusion;
get edge with sponge;
make decorative processing of the ribs, for example, making window frames.

You can also use molding cutters to create complex shaped ornaments on the edges and ends of a wooden part.

The equipment in this series can also be double, as shown in the following figure.

On double cutter The distance between the elements can be changed in accordance with the thickness of the workpiece. Thanks to two elements, the workpiece is processed in one pass, simultaneously on both sides.

Direct

A straight edge (overrunning or end) cutter is used for finishing the ends of a workpiece or creating an ideal 90 angle between the face of a part and its edge (end). The bearing can be installed at the top or bottom of the tool.

With the lower position of the bearing, the template is fixed under the workpiece, and with the upper position - above the workpiece.

In addition to the facing function, the equipment with the upper bearing can be used as a groove tool and cut a rectangular groove on the workpiece face, of course, using a template of a certain height. The diameter of the bearing is usually equal to the diameter of the tool, meaning it is flush with the cutting edge. But in some cases it is changed to a smaller or larger diameter in order to expand the capabilities of the equipment.

The corn cutter is also an edge cutter. Its main purpose is to grind and align the edges of the workpiece according to the template. Thanks to the special arrangement of the knives (in a spiral), easy chip removal and smooth running of the tool.

Combination cutters

Splicing workpieces is considered most effective if combined equipment is used. These types of cutters consist of both tenon and groove elements: thanks to this design, the equipment produces both profiles in one pass. As a result, the area of the edge intended for gluing increases, which has a positive effect on the strength of the connection.

Framework

Frame cutters are compound tools. All cutting elements are installed on the base, and the master can place them in the desired order. Type-setting cutters have the following components:

base;
cutting elements;
bearing;
washer;
fixing nut.

When changing the location of the cutting elements, it is not necessary to remove the shank from the collet of the unit. It is enough just to unscrew the fasteners located at the bottom of the equipment, and all its elements are removed. Thanks to collapsible design The tool overhang remains the same, and re-adjustment is not required.

Tongue-and-mortise

The kit contains 2 cutters, one for grooving and the other for the tenon.

Tongue-and-mortise cutters have a mirror-identical profile of the cutting elements, thanks to which the processed parts are joined as accurately as possible.

The only disadvantage of this equipment is that the grooves and tenons are made with different cutters, which have to be changed and again their offset relative to the base of the unit must be adjusted.

For the manufacture of lining

Milling cutters for making lining are similar in their operating principle to a tongue-and-groove tool, but with the only difference that when connecting parts, a V-groove between them to simulate a beam. A set of 2 pieces is also required to make the connection.

Universal

After passing the tool, 2 planes are obtained, completely compatible with each other, having a groove and a tenon. Both of the latter are located at an angle to each other.

A microtenon cutter is also used to splice parts.

The equipment can be used both for longitudinal splicing of workpieces (in the manufacture of panels) and for end splicing of parts.

For corner jointing of wood, equipment from a series of combined ones is also used, which makes it possible to prepare joints at an angle of 45 degrees.

It should be noted that the same combination cutter is used to process workpieces that need to be joined. The original design of the equipment makes it possible to achieve maximum quality of joining of parts, and also significantly saves time, since there is no need to change the tool.

Apply a tool in the manufacture of panels, namely for decorative processing of the edges of parts. All equipment has a thrust bearing fixed at the bottom. A cutter with a bearing can process not only rectangular workpieces, but also shaped ones. You should know that paneling tools have a diameter of 50 to 70 m, so in order to use them effectively, you must have a device with a power of at least 1500 W. For a household router, processing panels with this type of equipment will be an impossible task.

To make doors using a manual milling cutter (meaning kitchen facades), you will need to purchase a special set consisting of three elements.

The set contains the following facade cutters: one panel cutter and two accessories for furniture trim (profile-counter-profile).

Horizontal

Apply for pre-treatment panels. To form a tenon for insertion into the frame groove, additional processing of the edge will be required.

vertical

Most often, vertical figurine cutters are used for making plinths.

Horizontal double-sided

This type of equipment significantly simplifies the production process, since in one pass of the tool a connecting tenon and part of a panel of a certain configuration appears on the edge.

In addition to the above types of equipment, many craftsmen also use homemade cutters. They are usually standard plumbing drills, sharpened in a special way. You can learn how this is done at home from the video.

Criteria for choosing a cutting tool for wood

When choosing wood cutters for a manual unit, you should pay attention to the following equipment parameters.

Shank diameter and size

It should be taken into account that some foreign manufacturers of cutters may indicate the diameter of the shank in inches. In most cases, if a collet clamp is installed on the unit, then there will be no problems with installing the equipment, of course, provided that the diameter of the collet matches the diameter of the shank.

It is important to know that the collet of a hand-held unit is not a drill chuck into which you can clamp tools of different diameters. The inner diameter of the collet must strictly correspond to the diameter of the tool shank. Difficulties may arise if you buy equipment with a 1/2ʺ (12.7 mm) shank and try to insert it into a collet with a 12 mm diameter. At the same time, a shank with a diameter of 6 mm will be clamped in a collet at 1.4 inches (6.35 mm) without any problems.

Before purchasing a cutter, especially an expensive one, read the instructions for the unit and find out which collet is installed on it.

Shank length rigging is also of great importance. Not all of them have elongated shanks, and sometimes their size is not enough to use the tool, for example, when expanding deep grooves. Also, long shanks of the equipment may be needed when securing the unit under the table. In this case it is customary to use cutter extension, which is clamped in the collet of the unit.

Blade material

This is an important criterion when choosing equipment. The product can be made of high-speed steel (HSS) or carbide (HM). Blades from high speed steel Can easily cope with soft wood of low density. But these cutters are not suitable for processing hard wood. In this case, they can be replaced with equipment with carbide blades.

Location of cutting elements

The blades on the tool can be positioned vertically, that is, parallel to the axis of the shank, or at a certain angle to it. Vertically located the blades work like a plane and cut wood more than they cut it. Therefore, if the blades are a little dull, they will leave marks on the surface they treated, which will have to be sanded.

Blades located at an angle to the tool axis, they work much cleaner and do not form chips.

Stone cutters

To process artificial stone with a milling cutter (manual), you can use traditional types of cutters designed for wood, but only with carbide blades. There is one nuance here: artificial stone is a composite material containing tiny abrasive particles. Therefore, no matter what carbide material the cutter is made from, it will only be enough to process no more than 10 linear meters of stone workpiece. Further, dull blades will not provide the required cleanliness, for example, of the bonded surfaces, which will affect the quality of the connection.

Therefore, professionals advise using the best cutters from well-known manufacturers such as Festool, Leuco, Titman, Leitz, Dimar. The service life of cutting tools manufactured by these enterprises is 5-10 times higher than that of conventional carbide tools. With “branded” equipment it is already possible to process from 60 to 100 meters of composite.

Cutters for wood and stone are similar in appearance and even have the same names. Some of them are very often used for stone cutting operations. But there are cutters specially designed for processing composite products.

Using this stone cutter you can create drip edges on kitchen (toilet) sinks and composite countertops. Typically, complete bead formation occurs in 2 passes of the tool.

There is also a modification of the cutter “anti-overflow”, which has a thrust bearing.

This tool is designed for preparing surfaces before splicing. The cutting part of the equipment has a wavy profile.

Using the equipment, a groove is selected, which is subsequently intended for inlaying with composite materials.

This set is used to repair damage to the surface of artificial stone products. The set contains 2 elements. One makes the cork, and the second makes a hole for it.

You can also use cutters from CERATIZIT for processing composites.

This diamond cutters, which are distinguished by their wear resistance. They are made by sintering several layers of diamond chips. The multi-layer coating allows you to extend the service life of the tool, since during its operation new layers of abrasive appear to replace worn-out layers.

Metal cutters

There is no specially created metal equipment for a hand router. Typically, craftsmen use equipment designed for machine tools with a suitable shank diameter. Most often, end mills are used on hand-held units to create grooves. But you should know that the router is a high-speed machine, which is not very suitable for end cutters. Therefore, the metal must be removed in minimal layers, a few tenths of a mm thick, and in several passes. The following photo shows a spiral cutter for metal.

You can also install on milling cutters burrs of various configurations, which can easily handle steel, cast iron, stainless steel, brass and even titanium. But since they most often have a small shank diameter (6 mm), an adapter will be required for installation in an eight-mm collet.

Burrs for metal come in the following types.

Disk. You can make all kinds of cuts and process grooves.
Conical (60°). Used for countersinking holes.
Conical with reverse taper. The equipment is used for grinding grooves, processing sharp corners of the workpiece, removing welds in the corners of the product, and processing hard-to-reach holes.
Conical with rounding. Used for processing joints, cleaning welds, and processing planes.
Conical pointed. The tool can handle sharp corners, joints of parts, and also perform milling in hard-to-reach places.
oval. They process and expand holes, and also align welds in the corners of parts.
Flame-shaped. Thanks to its universal shape, the tool is used for creating fillets, as well as for processing them.
Spherical. The tooling can be used for machining holes, creating semicircular mates and machining grooves.
Spheroconic pointed. You can process honey with planes connected at an acute angle.
Spheroconic rounded. Mates with internal radii are processed.
Spherocylindrical. You can process edges, profiles, welds, radius grooves. This equipment also removes chamfers and burrs and prepares the surface for welding.
Cylindrical with a smooth end. Used for processing contours, seams after welding, edges, for chamfering and deburring.
Cylindrical with teeth. Equipment with teeth on the end is used for the same purposes as equipment with a smooth end. Only this type of tool can work simultaneously in two planes at right angles.

Devices for a manual router

The main task performed by various devices for this unit is to expand the functionality of the device. Some of the accessories are included with the device, but other attachments for the router must be purchased separately or made by yourself.

This device is available in standard equipment any router.

The stop allows you to make straight cuts on workpieces. The edge of the workpiece or the guide rail is used as a basic guide.

The tire acts as a guide along which the device stop moves. Using this device, they produce straight-line milling of workpieces.

This device is attached to the sole of the unit and allows you to produce radial milling and cutting out circles.

Grooving

For making grooves a certain width, use the router attachment shown in the following figure.

The width of the groove is adjusted by one platform. In this case, a straight groove cutter with an upper bearing is used.

Copier

To transfer any complex ornament or pattern special devices are used for the workpiece - copiers (pantographs).

The copier works as follows:

the workpiece is placed under the unit installed in the pantograph;
at the right distance from the copier, an ornament or pattern is placed that needs to be copied;
the pantograph pointer is set to the initial position, after which the engine of the unit is turned on;
all movements of the pointer along the pattern are transmitted with accuracy to the milling cutter, and it cuts out a copy of the required pattern on the workpiece.

The copy sleeve is needed, first of all, to protect the template from the impact of the tool blades. In addition, the copying ring, moving along the edge of the template, transfers all its forms to the cutter, which processes the part under the fixture.

If the hole in the template exceeds the dimensions of the sole of the device, then it can be installed on a platform of suitable sizes.

This simple device allows you to cut transverse and longitudinal grooves in cylindrical workpieces (turned table legs, pillars, balusters).

To make tenons for box connection, straight or dovetail, use a tenoning device.

The use of this attachment allows you to produce tenons with equal distances between them, so that the parts are connected in an ideal way.

Tenon-groove device

The tongue and groove connection is the most common in carpentry.

To make this connection, there are special devices called pantorouters.

Despite the apparent complexity of the design, this machine can be easily made with your own hands according to drawings, which are abundant on the Internet.

By installing a manual unit in the table, you get stationary mini machine. With its help, it is convenient to process small and long parts that cannot be clamped with clamps. There are ready-made milling tables on sale that are specifically designed for mounting hand-held milling machines. Below is a table produced by the Corvette company.

But as practice shows, most craftsmen prefer to make milling tables do it yourself, since their design is not complicated. The table for the router can be made from thick plywood or chipboard with a thickness of 16 mm or more.

If you cut an isosceles triangle, for example, from plywood, and attach it to the sole of the router, as shown in the following figure, you will get a simple device for processing door panels.

This overlay allows for additional decoration of already finished doors without disassembling them, without the use of templates.

How to sharpen a cutter at home

Sharpening of a cutter should be carried out only after complete removal of carbon deposits and contaminants from its body and cutting elements. For these purposes, it is better to use a special cleaning liquid (shown in the figure below).

Apply the product to the cutting parts of the equipment and wait a few minutes for it to dissolve the carbon deposits. Then you should take a regular toothbrush and thoroughly clean the blades of any remaining dirt. After cleaning, you can begin the sharpening process itself. To carry out this operation at home, you will first need to purchase set of diamond stones, differing in grain size.

For rough sharpening, bars with larger grains are used. But the process of straightening blades should always be completed by polishing with the finest abrasive.

To sharpen a cutter, follow these steps:

Place the block on the edge of the table and moisten it with water. If necessary, fix the device;
lay the equipment on the block so that its cutting edge is in contact with the block along its entire length;
move the cutter along the emery with smooth movements with equal pressure, periodically wetting it with water;
Make the same number of movements for each blade of the rig so that the edges are stitched evenly.

If the equipment prepared for sharpening has a thrust bearing, then it must be removed before starting the process.

Of course, if there is such an opportunity, it is better to submit the cutter for sharpening to a specialized workshop, where it will be restored using precision equipment. This procedure is inexpensive when compared to the cost of diamond stones.

Just a couple of decades ago, a simple cutter from a hand router for cutting quarters was considered to be in short supply.

They were rented from each other for "magarych", and the craftsmen at the factory tried to make them themselves, converting them from machine tools, adapting them to home instruments.

Currently, the types of wood cutters for a hand router amaze the imagination with their diversity.

Wood cutters for hand routers of various types

The wide selection of existing equipment requires some systematization; today we will analyze the main types of wood cutters, their division into groups and types.

Typical cutter design and blade options

The design of wood cutters for a manual router is typical: the shank and cutting part, dimensions and appearance, which depend on the tasks assigned. Let us consider their structure in detail.

Shank - attached to the router chuck

It can have a different design - cylindrical, conical, sometimes a flat is machined on it to prevent slipping in the chuck.

The tail is cylindrical

The main task of the shank is to ensure reliable fastening to the required depth of penetration of the equipment into the material.

It is possible to install a guide bearing on the shank. It serves as a kind of stop for bending around the template or moving along the guide edge of the workpiece.

The advantages of this design are that it wears out less and the bearing is easy to replace. The bearing attachment does not require installation of a copy ring on a hand router, which simplifies work with the template.

Cutting part

Determines the shape of the milled surface. It can be made both in the form of molded grooves on the main body of the tool, and carbide brazing on a softer base.

The cutting part is either monolithic or consists of replaceable dial disks mounted on an axis. For example, like on a microtenon cutter.

Microtenon is used in tenon joints, consists of stacked disks

The stacked version is more practical because it allows you to create different configurations on the same shank. However, due to the complexity of manufacturing, they have a higher cost. Replaceable disks have a second name - attachment cutter.

Replaceable disk

According to the type of material, cutters are divided into two groups

High speed, HSS classification. They mill soft wood very efficiently and at high speed. On hard rocks they overheat and quickly become dull. Advantages - low cost.
Carbide, HM classification. Designed mainly for processing hard wood. They wear out more slowly, but are more fragile and on soft wood it is difficult to achieve a perfectly flat surface. The processing of the workpiece takes longer. The cost of these attachments is higher than high-speed ones.

The working surface (sharpened edges or cutting teeth) can have different shapes. Straight ones are easier to maintain, but get dull faster. When passing through, dissimilar wood can cause chips and gouges.

note

Helical-shaped edges provide an ideal milled surface, but sharpening them requires special equipment, so as they become dull, as a rule, a new attachment is purchased.

Sharpening angles for different attachments

Much depends on the angle at which the working edge is sharpened. Usually it does not exceed 90 degrees and is selected according to the type of material with which the nozzle will work. After the rear platform of the cutting edge comes a complex-shaped structure called a chipbreaker.

Without proper removal of chips from the working area, high-speed rotation of the equipment will become impossible.

Set cutters often have double-sided sharpening. This allows you to use one disk twice as long. When one side becomes blunt, the element simply flips 180 degrees.

But this design does not allow the use of a system of complex trailing edge angles and grooves for chip removal. As a result, the efficiency and quality of work of the nozzle decreases.

Slot cutters

They are also called end saws, can withstand radial loads, and are designed for milling slots of various sizes and configurations.

They are divided into separate types:

Straight – designed for making rectangular grooves.
Triangular - they are used to mill V-shaped grooves.
Shaped - give the groove a figured shape; you can imitate a panel pattern on the surface.
Dovetail, a type of structural cutter, is used to make tenon joints with the same name. Milling is possible only with the use of a special template.
Structural - choose grooves in a “T” shaped configuration. During operation, it is necessary to ensure that chips are removed from the groove.
Fillet - cut semicircular grooves, used in surface decoration.

Examples of slot cutter grooves

For very deep grooves

The photo shows an example of a groove cutter for very deep grooves; it is used for inserting locks and making grooves for hinges in doors and openings.
The equipment is available in diameters of 16, 20, 24 mm, the length of the working part is 50 mm. Carbide knives are secured with screws. They can be purchased separately as a set of main ones, trimming ones and, if necessary, replaced independently.
The cutters are designed for the Festool OF 2200 router and are used together with the KR-D 30/21.5 / OF 2200 copying ring. Thanks to the non-sharpening inserts, they have a constant diameter, which is very important when working with templates.
In addition to the separately sold attachments, there is a set HW KN D20/D24 WP/K, consisting of cutters D 20x50 and D 24x50, a copy ring, two replacement knives, four screws, two scoring knives, Topx T15 wrenches and a socket wrench 22. The set is supplied in the Festool Systainer.