Spiral cutters for Wood & CNC Milling

Looking for a high-quality CNC spiral router bit for wood and sheet material? At Veldman Slijptechniek, you'll find an extensive range that perfectly meets all your woodworking needs. Whether it's a cylindrical spiral router bit for detailed woodworking, a specific cutter for milling lock cases, or a spiral router bit with a bearing, we offer quality solutions for every job. Thanks to our production of solid carbide spiral router bits, we guarantee top quality, optimal tool life, and a superior milling result for both solid wood and various types of sheet material.

Are you looking for special spiral router bits for other materials? Then check out our range of specialized cutters for plastic, PVC, and composite.

What is a spiral router bit for wood and sheet material?

Unlike traditional straight cutters, which have a straight cutting edge, spiral router bits are characterized by their spiral-shaped cutting edges. A spiral router bit is often used in CNC machines, routers, and other milling machines to process wood and sheet material. Due to the spiral design, the waste material (chips) is efficiently removed, resulting in a cleaner cut and less heat generation.

A spiral router bit for sheet material and wood has several advantages over a normal straight cutter:

• Efficient Chip Removal: The spiral shape of a spiral router bit ensures that wood chips are effectively transported out of the groove. This prevents chip buildup, which reduces heat generation and extends the life of the cutter. With traditional cutters, chips often remain in the groove, which can lead to blockages and a less clean cut.

• Smoother Finish: Due to the upward or downward motion of the spiral, the wood fibers are cut more gradually. This minimizes the tearing of wood fibers at the edges of the cut, resulting in a significantly smoother finish, even with difficult-to-work woods.

• Less Vibration: The even cutting action of a spiral router bit results in less vibration during milling, leading to a more stable process, less noise, and a longer life for both the cutter and the machine.

Applications of our cutters for sheet material and wood

A spiral router bit for wood is used for milling wood and sheet material on CNC milling machines with high precision, a neat finish, and efficient chip removal. The unique spiral shape of these cutters makes them superior to traditional straight cutters for many applications. For example, spiral router bits for wood can be used for the following applications:

• Milling Grooves and Slots: Whether you want to make a rabbet, a slot for a drawer bottom, or a decorative groove, spiral router bits deliver clean, splinter-free edges. The up-cut spiral is ideal for deeper grooves because it effectively pulls the wood chips out of the groove.

• Contour Milling and Cutting: Spiral router bits are extremely suitable for accurately cutting out shapes and contours, both internally and externally. A compression cutter (with both an up-cut and down-cut spiral) is indispensable for milling through sheet material like plywood, veneered MDF, or laminate, as it creates a perfectly splinter-free cut on both sides of the workpiece. A down-cut cutter is ideal if only the top side of the cut needs to be perfect.

• Drilling and Deep Hole Milling: Spiral router bits are very effective for drilling blind or through-holes with a clean finish. The efficient chip removal prevents blockages and overheating, which is especially important for deeper holes.

• Milling Solid Wood and Sheet Material: A spiral router bit provides a smoother surface and less post-processing than with straight cutters. The gradual cutting motion of the spiral minimizes the tearing of wood fibers.

• CNC Machining: In CNC milling machines, spiral router bits are widely used due to their consistent performance, efficient chip removal, and the ability to deliver high-quality results without manual intervention.

• Specific Applications: Think of milling lock cases with minimal breakout, creating mortises, or working with hard and exotic woods where a clean cut is essential.

Can I use a spiral router bit for both wood and plastic?

While some spiral router bits are versatile enough for different materials, we recommend using specific cutters for optimal results. We have cutters specially designed for wood and others for plastic and PVC. Check out our range of cutters for plastic for an extensive assortment of cutters suitable for milling plastic.

Types of Spiral Router Bits for Wood

Most spiral router bits for wood are made of hard metal (HM), also known as tungsten carbide. This material is known for its extreme hardness and wear resistance, which results in a long tool life and the ability to process even the hardest woods and sheet material.

Spiral router bits suitable for milling wood come in different variants, each optimized for specific tasks. Some spiral router bits can also process plastic in addition to wood.

Up-Cut Spiral Router Bits

The cutting edges of this type of spiral router bit are shaped to pull the chips upwards, out of the groove. These cutters are ideal for deep grooves and slots because the chips are effectively removed. They have less risk of clogging, which benefits cutting speed and efficiency. Better chip removal also contributes to a cooler cutting process, which is good for the cutter and the workpiece.

This type of cutter is mainly used for milling grooves, slots, and drilling holes in solid wood and sheet material where the underside of the cut is more important than the top side. They are also often used with CNC machines where active chip extraction is important.

Down-Cut Spiral Router Bits

With a down-cut spiral router bit, the cutting edges push the chips downwards into the groove and press the wood fibers down. The advantage of these cutters is that they create a very clean and splinter-free cut on the top side of the workpiece. This is crucial when working with veneered wood, laminated sheet material, or materials where the visible side must be perfect. The downward pressure helps to press the workpiece against the spoilboard or clamps, which provides extra stability.

This type of spiral router bit is extremely suitable for milling shallow grooves, cutting contour lines in sheet material where the top side must be perfect, or creating countersinks without breakout.

Compression Spiral Router Bits (Up-Down or Compression-Cut)

This type combines the properties of both the up-cut and down-cut spirals. The bottom part of the cutter has an up-cut spiral, while the top part has a down-cut spiral. This means that the chips are pushed toward the center of the cutter. This makes this type of cutter the ultimate tool for a perfect, splinter-free finish on both the top and bottom sides of the workpiece. The compressing action of both spirals stabilizes the material during milling.

These wood cutters are ideal for milling through sheet material, such as veneered MDF, laminate, or plywood, where both sides are visible and a perfect finish is required. They are indispensable for producing high-quality cabinet doors, tabletops, or interior components.

How to choose the right CNC router bit for wood

• RPM and Feed Rate: Match the RPM of your milling machine and the feed rate to the type of wood, the diameter of the cutter, and the type of spiral router bit. Too high an RPM can lead to burning the wood and rapid wear of the cutter; too low an RPM can result in a rough finish.

• Diameter and Cutting Length: Choose the correct diameter for the width of your groove or the contour you want to mill. The cutting length must be sufficient to mill through the material without the shank hitting the workpiece.

• Sharpness: A sharp cutter is crucial for an optimal finish and safety. Dull cutters lead to poor results, overheating, and can be dangerous due to increased resistance. Spiral router bits can be professionally re-sharpened, which further extends their lifespan.

• Collet: Always use a clean, high-quality collet that perfectly fits the shank diameter of the cutter. A poor collet can lead to vibrations, inaccuracy, and even the cutter coming loose.

Spiral router bits for wood with high discounts

Are you planning to buy multiple spiral router bits? Then you can take advantage of our attractive volume discounts! With the purchase of 25 pieces or more, we offer discounts of up to 45%, ensuring you get excellent prices in addition to our high quality. This makes it extra affordable to stock up on top-quality spiral router bits for all your woodworking projects.

Custom-Made spiral router bits for wood

Every woodworking job is unique and requires specific tools for the best results. That's why we offer the option to have spiral router bits custom-made. According to your specifications, we will provide the perfect cutter for your project, tailored to the type of wood, the desired finish, and the machine you are using. Thanks to our extensive stock of high-quality base materials, we can also guarantee short delivery times, so you can get started quickly with your personalized tool.

Whether it's a cutter with a different diameter, a specific cutting length, or a unique spiral angle, we are happy to think along with you for the optimal solution. Contact us today for more information on custom-made spiral router bits for wood.