What are rebate router bits?

Rebate router cutters are typically wide straight cutters that usually have a guide bearing located beneath their cutting edges, and they're generally much shorter and wider than a straight bit. Some of the rebaters in the Professional TCT range have a pin guide instead of a bearing. There are also recessing rebaters that produce a double rebate and have no guide at all.

These cutters are used to produce rebates, a type of groove used in woodworking, which is usually produced on the edge of materials.

Design

Flutes

Most rebate cutters have two flutes and so should produce a reasonably clean finish.

For more information, see:  What are the parts of a Trend router cutter?

Bottom cut

Most rebate cutters do not have a bottom cut facility, as they are designed for edge-forming rather than plunge-cutting applications. The exception to this is the recess cutting rebaters that are designed to cut rebate grooves rather than edges.

Guides

Rebate router cutters normally come with either a pin or ball bearing guide located beneath the cutting edges. Some models have two guide bearings at the tip, one on top of the other. This type of rebate cutters is adjustable, as an alloy ring can be fixed between the two bearings to vary the size of rebate that the tool will cut. The larger the alloy ring, the smaller the rebate, as the cutting tip will be held further away from the workpiece by the ring.

Applications

Below are some of the most common applications for which rebate router cutters are used.

Joint-making

Rebates are needed to form some woodworking joints. End joints involve fitting two pieces of material together to form a 90-degree angle. These are typically used for constructing boxes or cabinets. Lap joints involve joining two materials by overlapping them. These are often used for framing applications. A groove joint consists of one material (usually quite thin) slotting into the groove on another material. These are commonly used in the construction of drawers.

Making picture frames

The internal edges of picture frames often need rebates in order to accept the sheet of glass and back of the frame.

Fitting box lids

You may wish to rebate the inside edge of a box construction so that once fitted, the lid sits flush with the box surface. 

Ranges

Rebate router cutters are available in the following Trend ranges:

• Professional HSS router cutters

• Replaceable tip cutters