What are chamfer and V-groove

router cutters?

These router cutters have V-shaped bodies of different angles. They're designed to produce V-shaped grooves, chamfers, and bevels for a wide range of applications. 

Design

Flutes

Chamfer and V-groove cutters can have one, two or three flutes. For more information, see: 

For more information, see:  Trend router cutters flutes

Bottom cut

Some models have cutting edges that extend to the tip of the cutter, allowing them to be used in a plunge router to cut into the surface of materials.

Self-guided cutters can not be used to plunge, or bottom cut, as they are designed for edge-forming rather than plunge-cutting applications.

Guides

Chamfer and V-groove router cutters that do not have a guide pin or guide bearing require a side fence, back fence, or other device to guide them, though they can also be used freehand for some specialist applications. 

Cutters that have a guide attached are often referred to as self-guided. This guide is most often a bearing guide that's attached at the tip, although cutters with tip-mounted pin guides and shank mounted bearing guides are also available. 

Applications

There are four main types of Chamfer and V-groove cutters: chamfer cutters, bevel cutters, V-groove cutters and engravers, so each type is usually used for slightly different applications. Common applications for these cutters includes: 

V-shaped groove

A V-groove bit, as the name suggests, can be used to make V-bottomed grooves in the surface of materials. Chamfer and V-groove cutters that don't have tip-mounted guides have the bottom cut facility, so they're suited to general purpose V-grooving tasks. 

Plunge-cut

Most V-groove bits can be used to plunge-cut (cut into the material from above) as they have a pointed tip.

Please note: Plunge-cutting should only be done with a plunge router.

Engraving or lettering

By making very shallow cuts with a V-groove bit, you can complete very delicate applications such as engraving or lettering. This can be done free-hand or with the aid of a template. CraftPro engravers have three flutes for a clean cut with a fine V-groove point. The Professional TCT engravers are solid carbide for extra long life.  

Chamfer cut

With the aid of a fence - a kind of guide rail that keeps the router parallel to edge of the workpiece as it moves along - you can use a V-groove bit to angle the edge of materials. This is known as a chamfer cut. A cutter with a guide will allow you to make a chamfer cut without the aid of a fence. These bits are referred to as chamfer bits. When working, the non-cutting guide rides along the edge of the material, keeping the router bit cutting at a consistent depth throughout.

Ranges

Chamfer and V-groove router cutters are available in the following Trend ranges:

• Professional TCT and STC router cutters

• Trade router cutters

• CraftPro router cutters

• Replaceable tip cutters