What are the different types & sizes

of panel moulding router cutter?

There are four main types of panel cutters:

Radius and dished panel cutters 

These cutters resemble large radius cutters and are designed to rout large curves in the surface of materials. They are typically used on kitchen and cabinet doors. 

Classic panel cutters 

These cutters rout traditional moulding profiles, usually consisting of one or two convex and concave curves. They are typically used in drawer fronts and cabinet doors. The ogee panel cutters from the CraftPro range include two cutters with classic profiles and the Professional TCT range includes classic decor panel cutters and classic and cove panel cutters.

Ogee panel cutters

Ogee cutters with bottom cut are often called ogee panel cutters and are commonly used to produce decorative cupboard doors and furniture embellishments. The CraftPro range contains a selection of 16 ogee panel cutters and the Professional range has three ogee panel cutters.

Panel and veining panel cutters

These cutters are smaller than other panel cutters. They can be used for producing panels and some veining tasks.

Which one should you choose?

As panel router cutters are designed to produce purely decorative cuts, the style you choose is down to personal preference.

When deciding, you should look for the profile that will complement your project in the best way.

What panel moulding router cutter sizes are available?

Panel moulding router cutters are most often sized according to the following dimensions:

Shank diameter of panel moulding cutters

The shank diameter is measured across the centre of the shank from any point on its circumference.

Panel cutters are available with ¼" (6.35mm), 8mm (5/16"), and ½" (12.7mm) shank diameters.

Diameter of panel moulding cutters

The diameter is the maximum width of the path made by a router cutter in one pass, and is measured from the outermost point of the cutting edges through the centre of the cutter.

Panel router cutters have diameters ranging from 12mm (½") to 73mm (2⅞"). 

Cutting edges of panel moulding cutters

Length

This is the maximum length of the full cutting edge of the router cutter. It is measured from the top of the cutting edge to the bottom.

Panel moulding router cutting edge lengths range from 7mm (9/32") to 22mm (⅞"). 

Radius

Panel moulding router cutters have concave or convex cutting edges designed to rout curves in the face of the panel. 

Some cutters have two or more different radii ground into their cutting edges to produce convex and concave curves, often of different sizes.

Panel cutter radii range from 0.8mm (1/32") to 50mm (1 31/32").

Guide diameter of panel moulding cutters

Some panel router cutters are supplied with a shank-mounted ball bearing guide above their cutting edges.

The bearings are always the same diameter as the cutters themselves and are designed to run along the edge of a template mounted above the workpiece, producing cuts to follow the template shape. There are 22mm (⅞") and 35mm (1⅜") bearings for the respective diameter cutters.