Flush Trim Router Bit: What is it used for?

 

As the name implies, flush trim means to make a surface smooth and level. The flush trim router bit does precisely that and it is used to trim the edge of a material so that it is flush with the edge of another material. It is one of the most utilized router bits in a woodworking shop. You can use it to trim a veneered surface to make it flush with a substrate and you can also use it to cut out pattern templates.

Description

A flush trim router comprises of an electric rotor, a cutting blade and a pilot bearing. The router bit is usually guided by the pilot bearing which is the same diameter as the cutter. The electric rotor supplies the power which rotates the blade at high speed and the spinning blade will trim the surface or corners of the wooden work piece. The bearing may be at the top of the bit, at the bottom or in both places. The upcut bit pulls the material towards the router motor while the downcut bit pushes the material away from the router motor.

Upper Ball Bearing Router bit

Lower Ball Bearing Router Bit 

Upper and Lower Ball Bearing Router Bits

How to use the flush trim router bit

Make sure the router is switched off and disconnected from the power source before you start. Set up the router bit by adjusting the height. You can do this by twisting the thumb screw left or right. To change the router bit, use a pair of wrenches with a locking shaft. Set one wrench on the spindle and the other one on the screw. Remove the bit in position from the spindle and insert a new one. Tighten the locking nut to secure the bit to the router. Using your wooden template, trace around the wooden board you wish to duplicate and roughly cut the outline. Now, power-on the flush trim router and trim the roughly cut wooden work piece.  

The upcut router bit is very useful in a router table as you would have a clear view of the template with the work piece on the table and the template on top. It is great for pattern routing with the template above the material. A downcut flush trim bit with the bearing at the bottom of the bit rides along the base material. It is very useful for trimming laminates because the shearing action of the bit pushes the laminate down to produce clean, splinter-free results.

Spiral flush trim router bits

Spiral bits are more expensive because they are machined from solid carbide which is harder and has its sharper edge longer, which is why they are very useful for abrasive materials such as laminates and MDF. Their spiral nature produces a shearing, cutting action which creates smooth cuts and prolongs the life of the router bit. A half-inch upcut spiral flush router bit can enable you to use your router table as a jointer.

Spiral flush trim router bits are available not only in ½ inch diameter but also in ¼ inch diameter bits which can squeeze into the tightest of places that other bits cannot get into. They are great for making projects with curves and those which require the cleanest cut possible. This is why spiral upcut and downcut flush trim router bits are very popular among high-end furniture makers. They simply produce very professional results. Click here for high quality flush trim and template router bits.

Final thoughts

The flush trim router bit provides a lot of versatility in the woodworking shop because it serves as a third hand for the woodworker and makes it possible to accomplish a wide variety of tasks with ease. You can use it to cut out pattern templates, trim shelve edges, plywood or fibre boards. You can also use it to trim laminate or formica countertops, drill holes and do several other things.