Edge Router Bits
Edge Router Bits Buying Guide
Table edge bits by M3Tools feature outstanding tool longevity, a tendency to stay sharper, mirror like carbide finish, excellent carbide brazing, a broad selection of sizes and most importantly quality of cut. M3Tools router bits cut a variety of materials from wood, plywood, MDF and other wood composites, plastics, and solid surface. Router cutters are available in a range of shank sizes ¼" through ¾".
Rounding over an edge
Step 1 - Set up the router
Insert the round over cutter of your choice in the router's collet. Position your router on the edge of the workpiece and adjust the height of the cutter to alter the cutting depth. Large cutters will need to be higher than the final cut at first. They need to be set for making progressive cuts which remove a few millimetres of material with each pass until the final depth is achieved.
If you want to cut a shoulder in the top of your rounded edge, you should lower the bit until the straight edge at the top protrudes from the base. How much of the straight edge you use will depend on how large you want the shoulder to be. If you simply want to round the edge, expose only the curved section of the router bit.
Step 2 - Begin routing
With your cutting depth set, switch the router on, plunge the router until the depth stop stops it and lock it in this position. Move the router so that the router cutter's guide bearing is touching the edge of your workpiece. Then, move the router around the workpiece, keeping the guide bearing in contact with the edge. Repeat the passes, resetting the cutter lower each time, until you have the size of rounded edge you want.
Step 3 - Finish
When you've rounded the desired edges, switch the router off and set aside. Now inspect your workpiece to check for any areas that may need going over again.
Burgess Edge Router Bits Set
The Burgess Edge Set consists of two mating cutters—one to machine a curved recess in the edge of the plywood, and another to shape the solid-wood banding that fits into that recess. To use them, cut your plywood panel to finished size, and then rout the recess. Next, rout the bullnose on a blank of the same thickness as your panel, and glue it into the recess. Finally, trim your panel to finished size, removing the excess banding. The banding nests between the outer veneers of the plywood, virtually eliminating any sign of a joint line.
Edge V-groove bits
Think of this bit set as a low-tech, lower-priced version of the Burgess Edge Set. Instead of a cove and bullnose, however, these bits create a V-shape groove and solid-wood piece of banding to match.
- Same "pros" as Burgess Edge Set.
- No shimming is needed to adjust for differences in plywood thickness.
- The V-groove leaves a little more plywood supporting the veneer—and a little more gluing surface—than the cove made by the Burgess bit.
- Works equally well with 1⁄2 " and 3⁄4 " plywood.