What different V-groove router cutter

sizes are available?

The different types of v-groove router cutter will have different sizes.

What chamfer and V-groove router cutter sizes are available?   

V-groove router cutters are most often sized according to the following dimensions:

Shank diameter of chamfer and V-groove router cutters

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

V-groove cutters are available with ⅜", ¼", ½" and 8mm shank diameters. 

Overall length of chamfer and V-groove router cutters

The overall length of a cutter is measured from the top of the shank to the bottom of the cutting edges or guide (if there is one).

V-groove cutters range in length from 41mm (1⅝") to 90mm (3 9/16").

Cutting diameter of chamfer and V-groove router cutters

The cutting 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 bit. 

V-groove router cutters have diameters ranging from 9.5mm to 76mm in metric sizes and from ½" to 1¼" in imperial sizes.

For wider grooves, select a cutter with a larger cutting diameter; for narrower grooves, select a cutter with a smaller cutting diameter. 

Cutting edges of chamfer and V-groove router cutters

Length

The cutting edge length is the maximum length of the full cutting edge of the V-groove router cutter. It is measured from the top of the cutting edge to the bottom. 

V-groove cutting edge lengths in metric sizes range from 5mm to 28mm, and in imperial sizes from 7/16" to ½".

Angle

This is the angle of the cutting edges in relation to the horizontal plane. V-groove cutters have angles ranging from 45 degrees to 67.5 degrees. 

You can use this figure to determine what angle of V-shaped groove that particular cutter will produce, using the following calculation: 

180 - (cutting edge angle x 2) = V-groove angle

The larger the V-groove cutter's angle, the narrower the V-shaped groove will be. 

Guide diameter of chamfer and V-groove router cutters 

Self-guided chamfer router cutters are supplied with a guide pin or bearing located beneath their cutting edges. 

With both bearing and pin-guided cutters, the distance between the outside edge of the guide and tip of the cutting edge will determine the maximum width of chamfer that cutter will produce.

Bearings

With most models, the bearing guide can be removed and replaced with a larger or smaller one to alter the cutting depth, and therefore, the width of the chamfer. A larger guide will create a narrower chamfer while a smaller guide will produce a wider chamfer.

If you want to work out the width of the cutting edge on a chamfer cutter with a guide (the maximum possible width of chamfer you could create using that cutter), you can do so using the following formula:

(cutter diameter - guide diameter) ÷ 2 = length of cutting edge

The ball-bearing guides supplied with chamfer router cutters range from 9.5mm (⅜") to 25.4mm (1") in diameter.

Pins

Chamfer router cutters are available with pins of 5.5mm (7/32") in diameter.

What bevel router cutter sizes are available?

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

Including Professional TCT bevel cutters and CraftPro bevel cutters.

Shank diameter of bevel router cutters

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

Bevel cutters are available with ¼", ½" and 8mm shank diameters.

Diameter of bevel router cutters

The diameter is the maximum width of the router cutter, and is measured from the outermost point of the cutting edges through the centre of the bit. 

For cutters without a guide beneath their cutting edges, the diameter also tells you the maximum width of the path made by the router cutter in one pass.

Bevel router cutters have diameters ranging from 7mm to 53mm in metric sizes. ½" imperial size bevel cutters are also available.

Cutting edges of bevel router cutters

Length

The cutting edge length is measured from the top of the cutting edge to the bottom.

Bevel cutting edge lengths range from 7mm to 35mm in metric sizes.

Angle

This is the angle of the cutting edges in relation to the horizontal plane. This figure will tell you what angle the cutter will leave on the edge of your material. 

Bevel cutters have angles ranging from 25 to 80 degrees.

Undercut bevel cutters are typically for use with solid surface materials and have cutting angles of 78 to 105 degrees.

Guide diameter of bevel router cutters

Some bevel router cutters are supplied with a bearing guide located beneath their cutting edges. 

The distance between the outside edge of the guide and tip of the cutting edge will determine the cutting depth. 

Bearings range from 9.5mm (⅜") to 12.7mm (½").

With most models, the guide bearing can be removed and replaced if it becomes broken or damaged. 

What engraver router cutter sizes are available?

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

Shank diameter of engraver router cutters

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

Engraver cutters are available with shank diameters of ¼" and ½" in imperial sizes and 3mm and 8mm in metric sizes. 

Overall length of engraver router cutters

The overall length of a cutter is measured from the top of the shank to the bottom of the cutting edges or guide.

Engraver cutters range in length from 39mm (1 17/32") to 70.5mm (2 25/32").

Diameter of engraver router cutters

The diameter is the maximum width of the router cutter, and is measured from the outermost point of the cutting edges through the centre of the bit. 

Engraver router cutters have diameters ranging from 3 to 14.5mm in metric sizes and 19/32" only in imperial sizes.

Cutting edges of engraver router cutters

Length

The cutting edge length is measured from the top of the cutting edge to the bottom. Engraver cutting edge lengths range from 3 to 15mm in metric sizes only.

Angle

This is the angle of the cutting edges in relation to the horizontal plane. This figure will tell you what angle the cutter will leave on the edge of your material. 

Engraver cutters have angles ranging from 45 to 82.5 degrees.