Having a milling machine really simplifies the work of inserting hinges, forming complex holes, recesses, wood carving, etc. But this does not mean at all that it is necessary to have professional and expensive equipment: it is enough to have a simple manual device.

The only thing you need is to be able to basicly handle wood and use power tools. In addition, you need to have a desire, otherwise without this there will never be a result. Those who have no desire to work simply buy furniture or hire craftsmen to, for example, install a new door and cut locks. Any work, especially with power tools, requires certain knowledge, and especially safety precautions.

The milling device is designed for processing both wood and metal. With its help, it is possible to form recesses or holes of any configuration. This greatly simplifies tasks such as inserting hinges and inserting locks. Doing this with a chisel and an electric drill is not so easy, and it takes a lot of time.

There are stationary milling devices and portable (manual). Hand-held electric milling machines are considered universal devices, with the help of which, in the presence of attachments, it is possible to perform operations for various purposes; you just need to change the position of the part in relation to the device or vice versa.

Stationary devices are used in factories or factories where mass production of wood or metal products is established. Under such conditions, the cutting attachment is stationary, and the workpiece moves along the desired path. When using a hand tool, on the contrary, the part is fixed motionless and only then it is processed, although there are parts that require fixing a hand tool. This is provided for in the design, therefore, it is considered more universal. This is especially true when you need to process a large number of parts, but using a stationary machine is not possible.

A homemade milling machine is a horizontal platform with a hole in the center, to which a hand-held device is attached from below.

There are many types of milling machines, but for use at home or for starting your own business, universal models are more suitable. As a rule, they are equipped with a set of cutters and various devices for performing various types of operations. The only thing is that if you have a manual milling machine, simple operations can take much longer than when using a stationary machine.

Using a manual milling device it is possible to:

• Make grooves or recesses of any shape (curly, rectangular, combined).
• Drill through and non-through holes.
• Process ends and edges of any configuration.
• Cut out complex shaped parts.
• Apply drawings or patterns to the surface of parts.
• Copy parts if necessary.

Copying parts is one of the functions of any electric milling machine.

The presence of such functions makes it possible to simplify the production of the same type of furniture or the production of identical parts not related to furniture production. This is one of the main advantages of this tool. As a rule, to produce parts of the same type, it is necessary to install copying machines, which are designed to perform only one operation, which is not always profitable, especially in small enterprises.

Getting started and caring for the tool

To understand how this device works, you should familiarize yourself with its main parts and their purpose.

Composition and purpose of main components

A manual milling device consists of a metal body and a motor, which is located in the same body. A shaft protrudes from the housing, onto which various collets are placed, serving as adapters. They allow you to install cutters of various sizes. The cutter is inserted directly into the collet, which is secured with a special bolt or button, which is provided on some models.

The main elements of a manual milling device and their purpose.

The design of the milling device includes a metal platform, which has a rigid connection to the body. It is attached to the body by means of two rods. On the outside, the plate has a smooth coating that ensures smooth movement during operation.

The manual milling device has some characteristics that can be adjusted:

• Due to the handle and scale for adjusting the milling depth. Adjustment is carried out in 1/10 mm increments.
• By adjusting the rotation speed of the cutter.

At the initial stages, when mastering the tool, it is better to try to work at low or medium speeds. Although you should always remember that the higher the speed, the better the work. Especially if this concerns critical, visible areas that cannot be masked.

In addition to these levers, there is also a button to turn the product on and off, as well as a lock button. These elements are considered basic, ensuring high-quality and safe performance of work. There is also a parallel stop, which contributes to ease of use. It can be rigidly fixed or with the ability to adjust the shift of the working area away from the center.

Caring for a hand-held milling device

Usually, a factory product falls into the hands of a person tested and lubricated, so no additional measures should be taken. Only during its operation you need to monitor its cleanliness and serviceability. At the same time, it should be regularly cleaned of dust and the lubricant should be changed, if so written in the passport. Lubrication is especially necessary for moving parts. As an option, you can use aerosol lubricants, but you can also get by with regular ones, such as Litol. The use of thick lubricants is not recommended, as chips and dust stick to them. If aerosol lubricants are used, then this factor can be eliminated.

The sole, the smooth part of the body, also requires lubrication. Regular lubrication will ensure smooth movement.

Despite this, the purchased item should definitely be checked for quality of assembly and presence of lubricant.

Unfortunately, not all manufacturers, especially domestic ones, care about build quality. There are cases when, after the first hours of operation, screws or screws are unscrewed from a product because they were not tightened properly.

Rotation speed adjustment

The operation of any tool is associated with certain conditions related, first of all, to the nature of the material being processed. It can be plywood, composite material or regular wood. Depending on this, the rotation speed on the electrical appliance is set. As a rule, the technical data sheet always indicates the operating parameters of the device, depending on the technical characteristics and characteristics of the surfaces being processed, as well as the cutters used.

Indicators of processing speeds when using various cutters.

Fixing the cutter

The first thing the work begins with is installing and securing the cutter. At the same time, you should adhere to the basic rule - all work is performed with the cord plug removed from the socket.

The cutter is installed according to certain marks, and if they are missing, then to a depth of no less than * the length of the cutter itself. How to install a cutter on a specific model can be found in the instructions, which must be included in the technical documents for the device. The fact is that each model may have its own design features and it is not possible to talk about this in the article.

Installing the cutter on the device before starting work.

There are both simple and more “advanced” models, as they say. Some models have a shaft rotation lock button, which makes installing the cutter easier. Some, especially expensive models, are equipped with ratchets. So it won’t be possible to specifically describe the process of installing the cutter, and it doesn’t make sense, since everyone who is familiar with the operation of such devices will figure it out in a moment.

Milling depth adjustment

Each model has its own maximum milling depth. At the same time, it is not always the maximum depth that is required, but a certain depth that is set before work. Even if maximum depth is required, in order not to overload the device, the milling process is divided into several stages, changing the milling depth in steps. For adjustment, special stops are provided - limiters. Structurally, they are made in the form of a disk located under the bar, on which stops of various lengths are fixed. The number of such legs can be from three to seven, and this does not mean that the more there are, the better. It is better if it is possible to adjust each of the legs, even if their number is minimal. To secure this stop in the optimal position, you should use a lock in the form of a flag.

The process for adjusting the milling depth is as follows:

Thus, the workpiece is milled to a given depth.

On high-quality, expensive models there is a wheel for precise adjustment of the milling depth.

Using this wheel, you can more accurately set the depth without disturbing the previous setting.

This wheel (green in the photo above) allows you to adjust the depth within small limits.

Milling cutters for hand milling tools

A milling cutter is a cutting tool that can have an intricately shaped cutting edge. As a rule, all cutters are designed for rotational movements and therefore have a cylindrical shape. The shank of the cutter, which is clamped in the collet, has the same shape. Some cutters are equipped with a thrust roller, so that the distance between the cutting surface and the material being processed remains constant.

Milling cutters are made only from high-quality metals and their alloys. If you need to process soft wood, then HSS cutters will do, and if you need to process hard wood, then it is better to use cutters made of harder HM alloys.

Each cutter has its own technical characteristics, which provide it with high-quality and long-lasting work. The main indicator is the maximum speed of its rotation, which should never be overestimated, otherwise its breakdown is inevitable. If the cutter is dull, you should not try to sharpen it yourself. Sharpening of cutters is carried out using special, expensive equipment. After all, you need not only to sharpen the cutter, but also to maintain its shape, which is no less important. Therefore, if for some reason the cutter becomes dull, it will be cheaper to buy a new one.

The most popular cutters

There are cutters that are used in work more often than others. For example:

Groove molds are designed to create recesses in any location on the workpiece.

There are cutters that are simple, monolithic, made from a single piece of metal, and there are typesetters. Set cutters consist of a shank, which serves as the basis for a set of cutting elements. By selecting cutting planes and installing them on the shank, using washers of various thicknesses, you can form an arbitrary relief on the surface of the workpiece.

A set cutter is a set of cutting surfaces and washers that allows you to assemble a cutter of the desired shape.

In fact, there are a lot of cutters and this is only a small fraction of what is produced. All cutters differ in the diameter of the shank, the diameter of the cutting surfaces, their height, the location of the knives, etc. As for manual milling equipment, it is enough to have a set of five of the most common cutters. If necessary, you can purchase them at any time.

Rules for working with hand milling tools

Working with power tools requires special rules, especially when there are rapidly rotating elements. In addition, as a result of work, chips are formed that fly in all directions. Despite the fact that most models are equipped with a protective shield, this does not fully protect against the flow of chips. Therefore, it is better to work with such a tool wearing safety glasses.

The photo shows a model where a vacuum cleaner is connected to remove chips.

General requirements

If you follow the basic requirements for safe work with an electric hand router, the end result will please you with the quality of work and a safe outcome. These are the conditions:

The requirements are not very complex and quite feasible, but to ignore them means putting yourself in danger. And one more thing, no less important, is the ability to hold a milling tool in your hands and feel how it works. If serious vibrations are felt, then you need to stop and analyze the reasons. It is possible that the cutter is dull or there is a knot. Sometimes it is necessary to correctly set the rotation speed of the cutter. Here you can experiment: either add speed or reduce it.

Edge processing: using templates

It is better to process the edges of a wooden board using a surface planer. If this is not possible, then you can use a hand router, although this will take some time. These works are carried out both without a template and with a template. If there are no skills or very few of them, then it is better to use a template. For processing edges, straight edge cutters are used, both with one bearing at the end of the cutting part and with a bearing at the beginning (see photo).

Edge cutters.

You can use an already processed board or other flat object as a template. Moreover, the length of the template must be greater than the length of the workpiece, both at the beginning and at the end of the workpiece being processed. This will avoid unevenness at the beginning of the edge and at the end. The most important thing here is that the template or object acting as a template has a smooth and even surface. In addition, its thickness should not be greater than the gap located between the bearing and the cutting part.

The width of the part is less than the length of the cutting part

Moreover, the longer the cutting part, the more difficult it is to work with the tool, since more effort is required. In this regard, it is better to start working with cutters that have average length cutting part. The operating principle for edge processing is as follows:

• The template is attached so that it is at the desired height and has a flat horizontal surface.
• The template is firmly mounted to a table or other surface.
• The cutter with the roller is installed so that the roller moves along the template, and the cutter (cutting part) moves along the workpiece. To do this, perform all the necessary manipulations with the template, workpiece and tool.
• The cutter is installed in the working position and clamped.
• After this, the tool turns on and moves along the template. In this case, you should decide on the speed of movement, which is determined by the depth of processing.
• The milling unit can be either pushed or pulled, depending on what is convenient for you.

After the first pass, you should stop and evaluate the quality of the work. If necessary, another pass can be made by adjusting the position of the tool. If the quality is satisfactory, then the clamps are removed, freeing the workpiece.

Using this approach, it is possible to remove a quarter along the edge or in some of its parts. This is done by setting the cutting edge so that it extends to the required depth into the part.

Quarter shot on a furniture façade.

If you replace the cutter with a shaped one and move the guide, as well as use a stop, you can actually apply a longitudinal pattern to the part (pictured below).

Applying a longitudinal figured pattern to the workpiece.

If you use a similar milling technique (with a template), you can easily master the technique of working with wood in general. After some time, you can abandon the templates, since their installation takes a lot of useful time.

How to make a straight edge without a template: you can’t do this without experience.

The width of the part is greater than the length of the cutting part

Quite often, the thickness of the workpiece is greater than the length of the cutting part of the cutter. In this case proceed as follows:

• After the first pass, the template is removed and another pass is made. In this case, the template will be the already processed part. To do this, the bearing is guided along the machined surface. If the cutting part was again missing, then another pass will have to be made.
• For final processing, you should take a cutter with a bearing at the end, and the workpiece should be turned upside down, after which it is secured with clamps. As a result, the bearing will move along the machined surface. This approach makes it possible to process thick parts.

The bearing is guided along the machined surface, and the cutting edge processes the rest of the workpiece.

In order to master the work of a hand milling tool, you will need a lot of rough blanks, which you don’t mind throwing away later. No one succeeded the first time. To achieve anything, you need to train hard.

Achieving Various Shaped Edges

If a figured edge is required, which is most likely necessary, then first pay attention to the condition of this edge. If it is uneven, then you will have to level it and only then begin to form a curved edge by selecting the appropriate cutter.

Rounded edge.

It is necessary to prepare the surface so that the cutter does not copy the curvature along which the roller will move. In this case, a sequence of actions is needed, otherwise a positive result will not work.

Milling cutters for a hand router are presented at modern market in a wide variety, which makes it possible to select such a tool to perform specific technological operations. It is difficult to imagine that relatively recently, several decades ago, cutters designed to equip a hand router were considered scarce goods.

Using a hand router, you can create all kinds of profiles, recesses or grooves using a wide range of attachments

Today there is no problem in purchasing both the manual router itself and the working attachments that turn such a device into multifunctional equipment. At the same time, they are available for free sale for hand-held milling machines, as well as for processing wood and other materials. Sometimes such a variety of power tools and working attachments for them makes it difficult to choose, so the buyer should have a good understanding of the design features of these technical devices and the areas of their use.

Design features

The design of any milling cutter attachment includes two main elements: the shank and the working part.

• The shank allows you to fix the cutter in the chuck of the equipment used. According to its design, the shank of a tool for a manual milling cutter can have a cylindrical or conical shape; in addition, there is often a flat on the shank that prevents it from slipping in the equipment chuck. In addition to reliable fastening in the chuck of a hand-held router, the shank also ensures that the tool penetrates the material being processed to the required depth. A bearing is installed on the shanks of individual models, which acts as a stop that goes around the template during processing. Thanks to the use of this design, the edge of the part processed using a manual milling machine is given the required configuration, and the device itself, the bearing in which is easy to replace, is subject to minimal wear. In addition, such an attachment, equipped with a bearing, does not need to be installed on a manual router with a copy ring, which greatly simplifies the work.
• The working part of the tool for a manual milling machine performs the main job - it determines the shape and quality characteristics of the surface being processed. This element has a monolithic design (made entirely of high-speed steel) or is equipped with replaceable dial disks mounted on the central axis. The second design option has a higher cost, but is more practical, since it allows, using one shank, to create on its basis tools with different configurations of the working part (the so-called attachment cutters).

Based on the material used, tools for hand routers are divided into two main types.

• Milling cutters made from high-speed steels are marked HSS. Tools made from this material perform well when processing soft wood with a hand router, but when working with hard wood they quickly overheat and become dull. The big advantage of this type of cutter, among other things, is its low cost.
• Tools for a wood router may have a cutting part made of carbide inserts. You can recognize such products, which are used primarily for processing hard wood, by the designation HM. Despite the fact that they wear out more slowly, when used for processing soft wood, it is quite difficult to obtain a high-quality cut. Milling should be performed at a slower speed than when using high-speed steel cutters.

Wood cutters for a hand router also differ in the shape of the sharpening of their cutting teeth, which can be straight or helical. Tools with straight cutting teeth, although easier to maintain, become dull faster. In addition, when using such cutters to process wood with a heterogeneous structure, chips and gouges may occur on it.

You can get an almost perfect milled surface with tools for a hand router, the cutting teeth of which are located along a helical line. Meanwhile, the use of such cutters is associated with certain difficulties, which consist in the fact that for sharpening it is necessary to use special equipment, therefore, if they lose their cutting properties, they are most often simply replaced with new ones.

The angle at which the working edge is sharpened is also important. This angle, the value of which is selected depending on the characteristics of the material being processed, usually does not exceed 90°. The design of the cutting edge, in addition to the front and back relief surfaces, also includes a rather complex surface configuration, which is responsible for the effective removal of chips from the processing zone. It should be borne in mind that without a properly formed chipbreaker, high-speed milling will not be possible.

Set milling tools (mounted cutters) are often made with double sharpening of the cutting part, which allows them to double their working life. After one of the working elements that make up the cutting part becomes dull, it is simply turned over 180°. Meanwhile, working milling attachments with double sharpening, due to the peculiarities of their design, cannot be made in a complex configuration, which significantly reduces the efficiency of their use and, accordingly, the quality of the processing result.

Areas of application

To equip a manual wood router today, various tools are offered, each of which is designed to perform specific technological tasks.

End mills

End mills in their design are very similar to conventional drills, the working end of which does not have a conical part. The design feature of wood end mills is that their end part, located at an angle of 90° to the sides, also has cutting teeth. This design feature allows the use of cutters of this type to perform various technological operations, which, in particular, include:

1. drilling;
2. creating grooves on the surface of the workpiece, including through-type ones;
3. quarter sample;
4. cutting blanks;
5. edge processing.

In addition, with the help of such a universal tool, you can process stepped surfaces, cut grooves for door locks and hinges, and also solve many other technological problems.

Slot cutters

Groove cutters for wood, in full accordance with their name, are used to create grooves of various shapes and sizes on the workpiece. Depending on the design, slot cutters are divided into the following categories:

1. straight cutters for cutting grooves of a rectangular profile (this also includes a finger cutter for wood for a manual router);
2. shaped cutters for woodworking, with the help of which grooves of a shaped configuration are made on the surface of the workpiece (a shaped cutter, in particular, allows you to imitate a panel pattern on the surface of the workpiece);
3. cutters for creating grooves with a dovetail configuration (such a technological operation requires the use of a special template);
4. structural cutters, which are used to select grooves in a T-shaped configuration (in this case, it is necessary to ensure effective removal of chips from the groove being formed);
5. cutters with a cone-shaped working part (with their help, engraving work is performed with a manual milling cutter, and grooves of a V-shaped configuration are created);
6. fillet tools used to select grooves of a semicircular configuration on the surface of the workpiece (a fillet cutter is often used to perform decorative processing of wood products).

Edge milling tool

Edge cutters, which are among the most common tools used for hand router work, are also divided into several categories:

1. straight cutters, also known as copy cutters and often equipped with a guide bearing (they allow you to create perfectly straight edges on the workpiece);
2. shaped edge cutter, or profile cutter, with the help of which the edge of the workpiece can be given any configuration;
3. figurine cutters used for making door panels and baseboards;
4. a cone-type tool for hand-held milling cutters, with the help of which the edge of the workpiece is cut at the required angle (a design feature of cutters of this type is that they are almost always equipped with guide bearings);
5. edge molding cutter, used to give the edge of the workpiece a rounded shape (edge ​​molding cutter, as a rule, is also equipped with a guide bearing);
6. a fillet tool, like an edge molding cutter, allows you to process the edges of a product in an arc, but give them a concave rather than a convex shape (by design, such a tool and an edge molding cutter are mirror image each other; like the edge molding cutter, the fillet cutter is most often equipped with a guide bearing);
7. microtenon cutter, which allows the formation of thin triangular tenons on the surface of the workpiece, used to create a connection between two joined wooden parts.

Using a milling tool to remove a quarter

To cut a quarter groove (rebate) on the edge of a wooden product, a rebated edge cutter is used. As a rule, when it is necessary to perform a sufficiently large volume of such work, manual milling cutters equipped with an edge rebate cutter are used in conjunction with a special device that is easy to make by hand. The need for it is explained by the fact that creating quarter grooves is a rather labor-intensive operation, so for its accurate and high-quality implementation it is better to use additional equipment.

A real helper in the house is a hand router with a variety of cutters. Their use turns wooden blocks into real works of art. Let's get acquainted with the most popular wood cutters, purpose and application.

What is a manual milling machine

Small wooden parts are processed at home using a manual milling machine. Let's look at what types of cutter sets there are and what they are used for.

Main Application:

• For installing doors
• For mounting window frames (frame cutters)
• When turning small bars and planks
• When creating holes for installing door and window locks

The router is used only for spot work on small wooden areas.

The power of the tool is:

• Easy

The lightweight model has a power of up to 750 W. Suitable for small jobs at home.

• Average

With a power of 750–900 W, the model is in demand. This is an indispensable assistant during the installation of furniture frames and the creation of shaped parts from wooden blocks.

• Heavy

The heavy model is used to make professional products. It has a power of 900–1200 W.

Classification of wood bits for a hand router

Regardless of the technical characteristics, equipment can be divided according to the specific use.

• Spiral

The spiral cutter allows the tool to be in constant contact with the wood material. This results in a smoother cut.

• Profile

Using profile tools, corners are rounded, chamfered and grooves are made. Microtenon cutter is one of the varieties. It has side and end edges. Using this cutter, a tongue-and-groove joint is formed;

• 45˚ cutters

An edge type of cutter that gives the edge an aesthetic appearance. There are no knives at the end, and the presence of a bearing on the structure helps to cut the edge of the tabletop according to patterns and obtain a chamfer on the edge of the product.

Important! To prolong the life of the bearing, it must be lubricated regularly with machine oil.

• Extended

To make wooden workpieces look clean - with grooves and grooves, you should opt for long grooved cutters. They can be either a carbide monolith or a steel tool with high-speed cutting tips. MDF and chipboard boards are processed with an elongated cutting tool for a hand router.

• Round

Ball cutters for wood have a round shape. They are used to process the ends of wooden parts and create grooves. Distinctive feature This type of cutter is the presence of a cutting part along the entire circumference. This advantage allows the tool to work at any angle, both on the entire working surface and in individual areas.

How to choose slot cutters. Their main types

• Direct

The cylindrical shape of the cutter leaves a rectangular cross-section in the groove after work. This is the simplest tool.

• Fillet

Milling cutters with a rounded cutting head are used for shaped processing of carpentry blanks. They are used for decorative processing of furniture elements, and the cross-section of the groove resembles the configuration of the letter U.

• V-shaped 90˚

Cutters are used to create a small V-shaped groove on a wooden piece. Its side walls have an angle of 90˚ between themselves.

• Structural

The cutter in the workpiece forms an inverted letter T. Its base has the shape of a regular trapezoid. This is a very reliable connection. If the workpieces move together, there is no other way to separate them.

• Shaped

The tool is used for decorative and edging work. They are also called paneled. The cross section of the groove produces the shape of a curly brace. Not only the center, but also the edge of the workpiece is milled.

Important! Milling cutters are consumables. It is necessary to make a supply of cutters, since they are worn out during processing of wooden blanks.

• Finger

Finger (overrunning) sharpening consists of a tail, main and working part. Using the tool, a recess of a certain configuration is formed, the edge is processed, and hinges or other fittings are cut in. And on the surface of the block you can make decorative elements of volumetric shapes.

• Radial

The cutters are convex and concave with reverse rotation, which makes them universal. They perform complex or figured processing of wooden blanks.

• Profile

The cutter has a cylindrical shape, a cutting edge, and additional end elements that protect the bottom of the groove. They come with interchangeable knives. Process recesses and concessions. The sharpening penetrates deeply into the workpiece, processing the hole and plane, which are located at an angle of 90˚ to each other.

• typesetting

The construction industry offers cutters in sets of 10, 12, 50 and 60 pieces. You need to choose a tool according to technical parameters.

• Profile–counter-profile

With the help of some cutters it is possible to form two mutually matching profiles, one of which is a counter profile. This can be a set of two separate cutters that complement each other (“profile-counter-profile”).

• Corn

The planing cutter is made of a light but durable alloy, equipped with four-sided carbide knives, designed for planing smooth surfaces of soft and hard wood or milling curved workpieces made of wood, plywood, MDF on single-spindle milling machines with manual and mechanical feeding of workpieces.

You need to pay attention:

• for soldering, which may lose its longitudinal stability during long-term operation;
• on a plate with a shank, which must be firmly soldered with article material PSR 40 or PSR 37.5 with silver and copper;
• for thermal strength, which is checked by heating to a temperature of 200–250˚ C. In this case, the longitudinal axis should not be bent by more than 0.05 mm.

Cutters made from high-speed steel have better strength compared to monolithic cutters made from tool steel.

• Conical

Used to obtain 3D reliefs on the surface of workpieces. The shank in a cone cutter can have a diameter of 4, 6 and 8 mm. The depth of the relief depends on the selected shank diameter. It is used to process external edges, decorative chamfers, and furniture parts, which will subsequently be joined into a round shape.

These cutters perform slotting and grooving work in wood blanks. Manufacturers use high-strength steel with anti-corrosion protection.

Wood cutter sizes

The main parameters of the equipment are length and diameter. The most popular shank diameters are 6, 8 and 12 mm. It is key to the tool. The store sells cutters with a diameter of ¼ inch - 6.35 mm and ½ - 12.7 mm. They do not fit 6 and 12 mm collets.

Important! The diameters of the shank and collet must be the same size. A small difference will not give the expected result in your work.

Conclusion

Having familiarized ourselves with the types of cutters, we can conclude that milling has great capabilities - it forms edges, panels, grooves, grooves of different depths and configurations. Each type of tool is designed for a specific type of work. The seam cutter is used to produce window grooves for glass in wooden frames. The production of furniture facades using façade cutters, plinths, parquet boards, handrails, and baguettes is possible in other ways. You can see how much wood cutters cost in any hardware or specialty store. A separate product group is diamond wood cutters. They are distinguished by the highest strength, but the price is several times higher. There are cutters for aluminum, stone, and metal, but that’s another topic.

When working with a hand router, you must follow safety precautions. Special clothing and a respirator are required.

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, which 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:

1. 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.
2. Insertion of hinges and other fittings.
3. 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: typesdesigns

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:

1. Prefabricated - look like blanks with welded cutting edges. These cutters are very easy to manufacture, which is why most products on the market have a similar design.
2. With replaceable edges – products are equipped with replaceable cutting edges that have double-sided sharpening. When the knife becomes dull on one side, the cutter can be turned over and used further.
3. 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, increasing 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:

1. High-speed (HM) - used on surfaces made of soft wood.
2. 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 limits 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 depth of the cutter overhang.

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

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 a 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 manufactured 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:

• fillets - these parts are designed for making semicircular grooves;
• conical - elements are used for applying threads to 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 groove obtained as a result of its use 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:

1. Workmanship.
2. Thermal strength level.
3. Type of connection between the cutting part and the shank.
4. 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 Enkor 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 intended 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
Edge	Direct	from 220
	Mouldings	from 287
	Conical	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
	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.

Processing manufactured parts with a milling machine offers many possibilities. Parts with the necessary grooves and grooves of various shapes are necessary for high-quality finishing. Operations involving manual woodworking equipment are performed with a special tool - cutters. Each type of action involves a separate type of equipment used.

Classification and types of cutters for wood processing

A power tool for working with lumber – a manual router. The surfaces of parts made of wood are subject to work performed using special devices. The manufacture of products that require the necessary grooves, recesses and recesses involves the use. Before you begin, you need to purchase equipment designed for specific purposes according to the product configuration.

The choice of tools for processing wood occurs according to the specifications of the crafts. Professionals have sufficient experience and skills to use the right equipment. A wood cutter has many purposes:

• In edging, it is used to join workpieces together by splicing grooves.
• Making recesses for use, installation of hinges, and other devices.
• Making decor - in this case, a cutter is used to make a design or in woodworking processes with a complex configuration.

The tool differs greatly in the type of configurations and purpose. Before starting any actions with wood, it is necessary to determine the type and types used for the preparation. The unit of measurement for the tail is calculated in millimeters or inches, depending on the type of router used. Common options are types of cutters with a diameter of 6 to 12 mm. It is worth focusing attention that the use of an inch collet and a millimeter tail is unacceptable, as this can cause equipment failure or injury.

Manufacturers of the kits provide various modifications. On the construction market there is a large selection of types of hand router bits, depending on the purpose and the material used in the manufacture. The hand-held device can be used for processing plastic and metal, but is most widespread in wood processing. The main types of wood working.

1. The production of grooves and the formation of recesses are carried out using end milling cutters.
2. Grooved, the cylindrical wood cutter used cuts the required rectangular groove.
3. Shaped wood tools are used in shaped recesses and edges, allowing you to add uniqueness to the product.
4. The edges are made in a bearing design, which allows the product to be manufactured according to a template.

It is important to remember that the presence of a bearing in a hand router involves maintenance. It is necessary to lubricate the rotating element with a thin layer; this action is performed in order to ensure a long service life of the tool.

End mills

The end devices are similar in design and appearance to a conventional drill. A distinctive feature is the absence of a conical part at the end of the cutter. On the end part, located at an angle of 90 degrees to the sides, cutting teeth are made. The design feature allows you to perform various operations. The main types of work performed include:

• Manufacturing of products with grooves of a certain depth and through holes.
• Cut out the products.
• Drilling or processing the edges of a part.

The main functions of a hand-held end milling router include obtaining grooves for locks and hinges installed in doors into parts. The kit is multifunctional; with the help of prepared equipment and a competent approach, you can perform many interesting elements.

Edge cutters for wood

Edge tools are used to produce various types of edges and recesses. Wood products can be processed using a manual router with edge cutters and fully processed. The edge type is the most common in use and has many modifications:

• Profile sets process parts in such a way as to give the required shape to the edges.
• With moulders, it is possible to round the edge of a part by a quarter of a circle.
• Conical ones remove a chamfer, the angle of which is often 45 degrees.
• Disc machines are used to produce chamfers in parts, making subsequent connections possible.
• Folded ones process the part from the edge, leaving a quarter of the height.
• Fillings are necessary for making a groove, which is drawn into a quarter circle.

Wood edge cutters used for hand routers are often equipped with a bearing, the function of which is to limit the depth of processing required. The overhang of adjustment of the processing area is made by adjustment on the tool itself. Machining large parts requires many attempts. A hand router is used to work on wood in several stages until the thrust bearing begins to operate.

Groove cutters for wood

The main purpose of the type of grooves for wood is to make grooves using hand-held power tools. There are enough varieties of devices; a groove cutter allows you to perform operations on wood with a hand router. Main types of slot cutters:

• Spiral, drill-like, formed with an outer type helical edge. They make it possible to produce parts with recesses and grooves with right angles.
• Fillet - made with a rounded tip.
• Conical ones are often used for operations with planes.
• Shaped ones allow you to make recesses of the required structure.
• "T" shaped, dovetail cutters.
• Combined ones are used when joining large wooden parts.

Most types are made in a monolithic format; accessories made of carbide metal are less common.

Copy cutters

The least common type of attachment when performing woodworking tasks with hand tools is copy cutters. Distinctive features are the numerous types of cutting elements, different locations of thrust bearings and small sizes. The milling head for wood crafts is arranged in the shape of an arc. The depth into the part depends on the machining angle.

Using a tool according to a template allows you to achieve the desired result when working with wooden workpieces. It is necessary to use a hand router with precision and caution; failure to comply with the requirements may lead to damage to the part or electrical equipment.

Designs of cutters and their influence on the technology of milling operations

The instruments under consideration are divided into several main categories, classified by type and purpose. They perform their functions not only under axial load, but have the ability to move during operation due to the presence of side edges. Cutting edges, or rather their number, directly depends on the quality of the actions performed by a manual router.

The tool used for processing is considered to be a manual milling cutter. There are crown-type tools; they allow you to perform work with an ordinary drill. In this case, the milling head used for wood performs the role of processing edges and making simple holes.

The design and production of products with grooves of the required depth and size is carried out using end mills. Knives used for wood milling are subject to considerable loads. Preventing unnecessary machining is achieved through the use of bearings. Hand router end mills allow you to create joints in wooden structures using a tongue/groove system.

To make the necessary hole in the tree, you will need a burr. In most cases, such a tool is used for intermediate processing. The cutters allow you to “open” the hole to the required depth, after which further actions are performed.

Types of cutter design

There are many designs and varieties of equipment for a manual woodworking machine. When choosing a tool, you should pay attention to the purpose and design of the equipment. The sharpening shape of cutters can be of two types - screw and straight. Using a straight sharpening form can lead to rapid damage to the equipment, and the final product may end up with gouges and burrs.

For woodworking with a hand router, the best option is to use a tool with a helical line of teeth. The only drawback is that sharpening is impossible with improvised means; to restore its former sharpness, you need to use special equipment. When using cutters for working with a hand router on wood, you should pay attention to the sharpening angle. A wooden surface is best processed with a tool whose sharpening angle is no more than 90 degrees. The design provides for efficient chip removal, thereby achieving maximum tool performance.

Prefabricated

The most common type on the market is prefabricated. Consists of a blank with welded edges on top. Simple manufacturing makes them most attractive to the manufacturer. The relatively low price allows you not to waste time on sharpening, but simply replace it with a new one if it loses its sharpness.

With replaceable cutting edges

Cutters with replaceable edges. They have replaceable cutting edges; when the knife loses sharpness on one side, it is possible to turn the tool over and continue working.

Monolithic

Monolithic type cutters have cutting edges at the base. They are characterized by increased strength, however, after short work and subsequent sharpening, the part quickly loses its cutting properties.

Types of cutter blades

The materials used in the manufacture of wood cutters differ in some characteristics. The first type of material is high-speed steel. Products made from this material are marked with HSS symbols. With hand tools, using this type of equipment, it will be easy to process soft wood. Thanks to the sharpened properties, the working speed increases in relation to the solid cutter.

The cutting part can be made of carbide metals. Such products are designated HM and are primarily used in the processing of hardwood. A distinctive feature is strength and resistance to elevated temperatures. It will be difficult to qualitatively process soft wood with such a cutter, since the frequency of actions performed is noticeably different from high-speed materials.

Functional cutter sets

You can often find functional sets on sale that consist of two or more elements. This set includes accessories and attachments for a wood router. The main purpose of such kits is to process two or more parts to obtain similar connections. For example, there is a set of 2 cutters, one of which forms an edge inside the product, and the second allows you to make a groove part.

There are universal options that, thanks to their design, can be used for various purposes. The collapsible part involves replacing the cutter blades, after which work with wood is carried out.

It is worth noting that the presence of a table for storing all types of equipment accessories will reduce the time for the actions performed, and it is also possible to build something like a milling machine. By installing movable stops on the table, the master expands the range of possibilities of the tool for woodworking.

Areas of application

The use of any type of equipment involves dangerous work with rotating elements. When working with wood, you must remember safety precautions. Complex elements cannot be completed in one approach; the edges of the cutter must be sharpened for the best result.

Wood carving with a router

When getting started, you should understand what type of cutter you need to use. Tools of the edge category have become very widespread. This category makes it possible to perform almost all types of woodwork with your own hands. Slotted or cylindrical cutters are used mainly for making recesses at the ends of the material.

How to choose a wood cutter for a hand router

The choice of cutters on the building materials market is very rich. The price range is varied; it is not always possible to determine whether the purchase is being made correctly. It is necessary to adhere to several basic conditions for choosing the right wood cutter.

1. Quality. It is worth paying attention to appearance details. The product must be free of burrs, have high-quality threads and seats.
2. Thermal strength is indicated in the passport; the higher, the better and more reliable for further use.
3. The solder material, as well as the connection between the tail and the part responsible for cutting.

The quality of soldering of the product plays an important role when working with lumber. Then, when working with hard wood, a certain margin of safety of the tool is required. Solder is divided into types and brands; when purchasing, you need to pay attention to its quality in the cutter. It is advisable to pay attention to a tool whose solder grade is not lower than PSR 37.5. The higher the number, the better the reliability and quality of the part. The brand is indicated by the amount of copper and silver in its composition. When connecting by welding, using a router becomes unsafe and pointless.

Monolithic cutters must be inspected before use. The quality of the metal is determined by the cut. If noticeable scratches or cracks appear, then you should put this tool aside. The optimal metal hardness is from 58 units. The quality of work performed with a manual router directly depends on the availability of devices and kits.

Selection of the necessary tool the right way to good results when working with wood. A cutter made for a wood router must meet all standards and be of high quality. There are many kits that are designed for woodworking. A high-quality kit guarantees not only completed tasks, but also safe operation.