I've been looking for Spiral Upcut and Compression router bits for my hand-held routers, but I noticed that many manufacturers only mention CNC machines in their catalogs. Does this mean these spiral bits can only be used in CNC routers? Are there any limitations I should know about when using them in my hand-held router? I'd really appreciate any insights on this!
3 Answers
I've used spiral bits designed for CNC in my standard 1/4" Makita palm router without any issues. They work similarly to regular bits, just with a bit more finesse since they’re made for precision. But yeah, they are pricier and might be overkill if all you're doing is handheld routing.
While spiral bits are indeed better suited for CNC use, they can totally be used manually. Just think of it as mimicking a CNC machine while you're routing. You'll get the hang of it with practice!
You can definitely use spiral router bits with hand-held routers as long as you have the right collet size. Just make sure to spin them at the recommended RPMs and avoid pushing too hard, or you'll risk damaging the bits. Just a heads-up, some spiral bits come in sizes that don’t fit the standard collets like 1/4" or 1/2". But generally, they work fine as long as you stay within their specifications.
Also, just keep in mind not to remove too much material in one go; take it easy!