103 – Intro to Flush Trim Bits

Video - October 15, 2009

A brief introduction to the world of flush trim bits. Flush trim bits come in all shapes and sizes, but they all share the same basic anatomy. After watching this video, you’ll have a much better idea of which ones to buy and when to use them. I also do a quick demo using a pattern bit (a variation of the flush trim bit).

This video accompanies an article what was published in Popular Woodworking Magazine called “Get the Most From Your Router”. You can download that here!

And if you are interested in that big fat pattern bit, you can get those in William Ng’s Store.

Products Used

Big Daddy Pattern Bit

Resources

Popular Woodworking Router Article

Discussion

Brandon October 15, 2009 10:38 am

Another great video! Can’t wait to see the Podcast on the keepsake box!

Reply
AnthonyBklyn October 15, 2009 10:40 am

Hey Mark!

Great video, I’m a big fan of flush trim and pattern bits I pretty much use them on every box I have made. Doing dovetails and box joints they are great to clean up the excess on the joints. I also use them to flush up the lids too. I thought it was interesting how you hogged out the material in your box design which was good for future reference.

Be well.

Reply
Jonathan October 15, 2009 10:41 am

Wow. That is the coolest pattern bit ever! Does it actually fit in a router? It looks like it was made for a larger machine.

Reply
- thewoodwhisperer October 15, 2009 4:22 pm
  
  Yup. Has a 1/2″ shank.
  
  Reply
Aggie83 October 15, 2009 10:58 am

More power! Ugh! Ugh!

This reminds me that in the more recent Eagle America catalog that I received they had their dado cleanout bit on sale for less than $10, about 50% off.

Top bearing, 1/2′ cutting and bearing diameter, 1/4″ cutter length, 1/4″ shaft diameter.

I believe it was this one http://www.eagleamerica.com/pr....._bits_-_pc

Reply
Lone_Wolf October 15, 2009 12:00 pm

Marc,

You gave me tool “wood”. Very nice. Do you have a link to that “mother-of-all” flush trim bits? I would like to get one. Another great video. Thanks!

Reply
- thewoodwhisperer October 15, 2009 4:24 pm
  
  Yes, its in the write-up. You have to contact William.
  
  Reply
Denis Rezendes October 15, 2009 3:17 pm

very nice marc…. dont know if you know this but the have spiral top bearing flush trims also… just like the spiral plunge bits but flush cuts… those are amazing… you probably knew about them but i figured since it wasnt in your video id mention it

Reply
Dean October 15, 2009 3:17 pm

I enjoyed your intro to flush trim bits Marc. Thanks.

The large flush trim bit looks like an annular cutter like the one shown in this link:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0016J5EKU

However, the annular cutters I saw online don’t have a 1/2″ shank as a router would need. Also, I haven’t seen any with a shank bearing. It looks like William Ng is the way to go for those who want one. Besides, after looking at annular cutter costs, even if you could adapt one for use, it’s doubtful if you would save any money.

Reply
Darren Chapman October 15, 2009 4:13 pm

Hi Marc,

I have to get one of those helical bits; I develop a lot of my designs using gnarly highly figured Australian hardwoods and have never had much luck with standard flush trim bits.

Regards Darren

Reply
Joe Corda October 15, 2009 6:18 pm

Marc
Nice mini video..I especially like the 2 step process of routing out the deep hole. That really thinking “outside the box” or in :-)

Oh and BTW that is another great Tee-shirt!
Joe

Reply
Doug McPherson October 15, 2009 6:38 pm

Ummm. Great video, but I the still picture viewable before you click play scared me a bit. I feared that when the camera panned wide I was going to get to learn some new working technique from Sasquatch! Those hairy arms. Marc, you are a man’s man.

Reply
- thewoodwhisperer October 15, 2009 6:45 pm
  
  That’s how they make ’em in Jersey baby!
  
  Reply
  - Mark Williams October 18, 2009 9:43 am
    
    Marc,
    
    A few things.
    
    1. Great video I just picked up a router this week used and have been playing with it. So now I will by some flush trim bits.
    
    2. My wife loves the tee, there is no dunkin doughnuts in MN, and she misses it very much. So now she offically is a WW fan even though she is not interested in wood working.
    
    3. I read the “sasquatch” comment to her an your response she just said it’s because Marc is a paesano. (She is Italian and we are from NY) She then made comments about the superiority of Italian Americans.
    
    Reply
    - thewoodwhisperer October 18, 2009 9:46 am
      
      Haha, sounds like someone I would get along with Mark! :)
steven October 15, 2009 6:39 pm

i have a very similar bit, but i got mine from my work it is a high speed steel endmill that i put a matching size bearing on…….it will trim everything up smooth

Reply
- Nelson May 18, 2010 4:45 am
  
  Hey Steven, that’s exactly what I was thinking! I’m a machinist also.. About to make a solid oak cover for my 18×12″ granite plate :^D Thinking about making a Mitutoyo logo inlay on the top.. ;^)
  
  Reply
Ken_in_kanata October 16, 2009 3:23 am

Great Video as always Marc but I love the shirt!

Reply
Harry October 16, 2009 6:16 am

Marc A other Great information filled Video Many Thanks
A question I have is How Long Do they Make the Flush bits do the go to say 6 inches or longer if not can you give me advice on taking material off a project I am planning when I get my shop up and running

Kind Regards to Nicole and your self
Harry& Sandra

Reply
- thewoodwhisperer October 17, 2009 12:25 pm
  
  I honestly not know what the longest bit is. But they don’t get too much longer than that blue one in the video. But you can adapt the technique I showed in the video to flush trim thicker pieces.
  
  Reply
JIm October 16, 2009 9:41 am

Marc,

Thanks again for another interesting and informative video. I look forward to them.

Still waitin’ for the plans for the box(s):-)

Jim

Reply
Rob October 16, 2009 3:16 pm

That’s not a flush trim bit…
THAT’S a flush trim bit.

(or better still)

That’s no flush trim bit…it’s a space station.

Seriously, though. How much did the good folks at Dunkin’ pay you to wear that shirt?

Nice work, as always.

Reply
- thewoodwhisperer October 16, 2009 3:26 pm
  
  lol Good old Crocodile Dundee!
  
  You know, I wish they DID give me something for the advertising. Instead I payed THEM $10 for the shirt plus the cost of a cup of coffee! haha!
  
  Reply
Jeremy Meeks October 16, 2009 3:44 pm

Great video! I just got my first router and have been reading everything I can find on using it.I think I’ll need to find a good flush trim/pattern bit. By the way, if anyone would like a bucket full of routed scrap wood and junk, i have plenty.

Reply
Dan Pleska October 17, 2009 12:46 am

Hi Marc,
I do more work on the shaper with jigs and rub collars, than flush trim bits and the router, but when you brought out that monster flush trim bit I was impressed. WOW! That looks like something I could use. Keep up the good work. I enjoy it all.

Reply
Anthony Martinez October 17, 2009 12:22 pm

Greetings!
I noticed you had a large 2″ flush trim bit in your video. Can this be used to joint a side with that width or less? I do not have a jointer yet but wonder if this is possible.
I always look forward to your tips and videos.

Reply
- thewoodwhisperer October 17, 2009 12:24 pm
  
  Yup. As long as you have a good reliable straight edge, you can joint a board using a flush trim bit.
  
  Reply
Chad Tennant October 19, 2009 6:47 am

I think it is great that we woodworkers get so excited about router bits….especially the monster of all flush trim bits. Maybe you could interview the creator about the design (i.e. angle of helical design, number of cutters, diameter of bit, etc.)

Cheers.

Reply
Shawn October 25, 2009 6:33 am

Marc,

Thanks for the great video. I haven’t done much with templates yet, so this is certainly useful. Of course, I just recently bought a few of these! Glad some of my choices are reinforced.

—
Shawn

Reply
James October 26, 2009 9:36 pm

Hey Marc,

Just wondering what the brand name of the grey bit on the left during the bit presentation. Not the monster bit, but the more standard one with helical blades.

Thanks man,
James

Reply
- thewoodwhisperer October 27, 2009 12:09 am
  
  If I am not mistaken, that was an Amana bit. Picked that up prior to our relationship with Eagle America.
  
  Reply
Matt November 1, 2009 7:28 am

Great post! I just got a flush trim bit and have some plans to use it and I think your tips will save me some time and frustration. Thanks!

Reply
kosta November 1, 2009 11:32 am

yo whats up marc the red bit on the right what size shank was that

Reply
- thewoodwhisperer November 1, 2009 11:44 am
  
  1/4″ yo
  
  Reply
David Hite November 16, 2009 3:06 pm

I wrote to William Ng and got a quick response:

We custom made those bits and sell them here. They’re $130.00. It’s made of cobalt, 1/2″ shaft, 1-1/8″ diameter, 2″ cutting length, 6 flute spiral, 3/8″ bearing, overall height is around 4-1/2″. We take MC and Visa, just give us a call when ever you’re ready. 714-993-4215. Thanks.

William

Reply
Geno February 19, 2010 10:38 am

Ah, very helpful Marc. I try to ask for a flush trim bit with a bearing at the shaft and nobody knows what I’m talking about. Pattern bits, I’m having a trying time finding them. $35 for a single bit makes me want to frame it. Cool shirt as always. Thank you.

Reply
jHop April 14, 2010 2:11 pm

Can anyone answer why the “top-mounted” bearing is between the cutter head and the shaft, while the bit with the bearing at the end of the whole shebang is not called “top-mounted”?

Marc, I noticed your top mounted bit was only 1/4″ shaft: was that because it was just an example, or is that because of product availability?

Reply
- thewoodwhisperer April 14, 2010 2:50 pm
  
  Think of the router bit inside a hand-held router. Then the directionality starts to make a little more sense.
  
  As for the 1/4″ shaft, that was just what I happened to have on hand.
  
  Reply
Nelson May 18, 2010 4:55 am

I got shivers when I saw that red bit.. nearly lost my thumb when I worked at a plastic machine shop about 5 years back with nearly the same bit. We used air to blow the chips away (owner was too cheap [read: old and stubborn] to get proper dust collection). Open top, two station, no fence melamine router table, checking air flow towards the bit with my hand.. thumb played “doe-see-doe, ’round we go” with the bit for a split second.. I got lucky.. just tore up my thumbnail!

Oh.. I think it’s ironic that a Starbucks ad ran before the video started! heheh

Reply
Todd Beaulieu November 16, 2010 11:24 am

These videos get me all hopped up!

Marc, to be clear, you aren’t just teaching technical tips. You’re inspiring us. You do a better job at that than anyone else I’ve come across. Thank you!

You’ll laugh … I was just staring blankly at a flush trim bit in my starter set this past weekend, wondering what the heck it even did. I could NOT figure it out! How could the bit cut, if the bearing was parallel to it???? I suspect the bit is actually a bit wider than the bearing.

Reply
Brandon December 24, 2012 10:35 pm

Looks like another set of bits I need to add to my list. The router is quickly becoming my favorite tool in the shop. Just lack some of the bits necessary to do some of these types of projects. But, I agree with some of the other posters, in that these videos get you all worked up and ready to route!

Reply
Mike Pierson August 17, 2014 4:29 pm

My workpiece is getting “thrown” by the router table flush trim bit set-up. I’ve tried the different feed directions… any ideas?

Reply
- Marc Spagnuolo August 18, 2014 6:39 am
  
  Well there really is only on direction you should be going (right to left). If the piece is still getting pushed , you probably either have a dull bit or you are trimming too much at once.
  
  Reply
  - Joe Beazelman April 5, 2017 1:15 pm
    
    I’ve experienced this consistently when trying to pattern route end grain, especially on oak. It throws the board with unbelievable force. I tried to use two different bits both 1/4″. One was a two flute top and bottom bearing and the other was a spiral with a bearing. It is half frustrating and half scary.
    
    Interestingly, routing with a 1/2″ roundover has never given me any problems on the same piece even with a dull bit. My guess is that the flush trim bit’s geometry makes it so that the flutes are attacking the end grain with the under cut flats instead of the tip, causing it to knock against the fibers like a hammer.
    
    Reply
John Stevens August 25, 2014 6:02 pm

Marc.
I just received my Big Daddy patten trim bit from the William Ng’s Store. What a wonderful tool. Very smooth cuts. I have always liked using a spiral bit yet this thing is unreal. I turned down the speed and it cut into some Zebra wood like butter. Thanks for the recommendation.

John

Reply
- Marc Spagnuolo August 28, 2014 8:12 am
  
  Awesome to hear! That bit is a beast but I love it!
  
  Reply
Stephan Schwan February 4, 2017 11:09 pm

How do you smooth out the bottom of the bowl after? The forstner bit leaves the small indents in the middle and Ian having a hard time getting a smooth bottom.

Reply

Cookie	Duration	Description
cookielawinfo-checbox-analytics	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checbox-functional	11 months	The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checbox-others	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy	11 months	The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.

103 – Intro to Flush Trim Bits

Products Used

Resources

Advertisers