Pick One from Our Two Raised Panel Router Bits Review
It may be expensive to set up a woodworking workshop as you have to invest in various tools that can help you save money, as well as time and energy. Anyway, it doesn’t matter whether you’re a beginner or a master as long as you’re eager to know some tricks of the trade or maybe just want to collect versatile tools.
Perhaps, one of the tools that any workshop needs is a raised panel router bit. This is a multi-purpose tool employed for trimming laminates, decorating edges, and cutting various wood joints. It is useful for hinge mortises too. But for you to appreciate its ease of use and versatility, you may need to choose only the best.
Our Two-Raised Panel Router Bits Review
In this guide, we will compare two of the best router bits for raised panel doors. Each item may have the same functionality but provides unique features that may be ideal for your project. Let us find out!
Yonico 12151 3-1/2-Inch Diameter Bevel Raised Panel
The Yonico 12151 is a tool that you can comfortably and confidently employ on any project with its 3½ inches bevel panel raiser. Its cutting depth is up to 1½ inches making it useful in creating a panel for your cabinet doors. Furthermore, the 5/16 inches fillet allows you to develop attractive effects on your project.
With a total cutting height of 5/8 inches, you can have wider discretion on the deepness of your panel raise. These raised panel door router bits are affordable enough to make beautiful center panels for your stile and rail cabinet doors. You can use this to minimize the thickness of the panel while maintaining its aesthetics.
Moreover, the blades are made of optimum C3 micro-grain tungsten carbide. This only means that you are ensured of its durability due to its long-lasting and sharper edge. In addition, the silver induction brazing is included for maximum strength and longevity. But then, you need a steady table mount to secure it in place.
That being said, this is not ideal for handheld routers. Anyway, it fits with standard radial bearings, so you don’t have to worry about making further adjustments to the router table. Due to its large diameter as well as its functions to remove numerous materials, you may need a powerful router, one with higher horsepower, to handle various works.
- Made of optimum tungsten carbide blades
- Equipped with silver induction brazing
- Can create up to 5/8 inches panel raise
- Affordable
- Ensures durability
- Not ideal for handheld routers
- Requires powerful routers
Freud 3-1/2” Raised Panel Bit w/Backcutters and Shank
Using this allows for greater compatibility and versatility with its adjustable tongue thickness due to the inclusion of shims. You can use this from 7/32 inches to ¼ inches, which only means that you have greater options when it comes to the size of your raise. Its patented design gives a wide reveal of 1 ½ inches and a flawless finish.
This comes with a 54-562 radius back cutter to create a double-sided appearance. More, this is replaceable with a 54-560 square back cutter so you can establish a work that provides for a more contemporary finish. The Freud raised panel bit can be employed in various composition materials, including hardwoods, plywoods, and softwoods.
Just like any raised panel door router bits set by Freud, this is engineered with TiCo Hi-Density carbide. Specifically, it is made of cobalt, tungsten, and titanium carbide to ensure maximum performance. It comes with a protective coating that can resist corrosion and heat.
Not to mention, it features a quadra-cut allowing you to create a work that shears upward and downward, thereby producing a splinter-free result. Its back-cutting design warrants a smooth and professional paneling. But then, just like the first raised panel router bit, you also need a table-mounted router.
- Designed with four cutters
- Made of TiCo carbide
- Coated with perma-shield
- Comes with back-cutting design
- Durability
- Requires a table-mounted router
What to Look for Before Buying?
Not all router bits may be better than you think. That is why, before choosing one, you need to consider various features, including the following:
Construction Material
The performance of your router bit may depend upon its construction. Since it is mainly used for cutting, you should always look for a sharp cutting edge. Usually, the best raised panel router bits contain materials such as solid carbide, carbide tip, and high-speed steel. But then, each material also comes with major drawbacks.
Quality
In choosing a router bit, you should consider the quality regardless of its physical appearance. You should opt for a product that is durable enough so you can use it without replacing it oftentimes.
If you worry about the price, it is worth noting that even low-priced items can provide better quality. This is usually determined by its material.
Shank Size
You can opt for ½ inch or ¼ inch router bits. That means that irrespective of your project, you only have two choices when it comes to the size. You should bear in mind that each router bit is compatible with a certain shank size. But, the smaller bit shank size applies to both router bit sizes.
Most experts would recommend having the ½ inch shank since it provides more stability. This further means that you will not be exposed to vigorous vibrations, thereby enhancing precision. Also, it can help produce smoother cuts so that you will have a beautiful finish!
Affordability
In general, cheap router bits may have lesser performance and quality and vice versa. However, this is not true for all. It is not a guarantee that high-priced router bits can provide you with supreme quality. Moreover, there are some features of low to mid-ranged router bits that you may need and cannot be found in high-priced.
This means that depending upon your preference and your budget; you can choose one that may suit you best!
Frequently Asked Questions
- Do I still require re-sharpening router bits even if made with carbide tips?
Of course, no matter how durable the router bit is, it will eventually lose its sharpness. Don’t worry, though. You can re-sharpen it yourself or ask for assistance from an expert.
- What are the different types of router bits?
The common types of router bits include straight, rabbeting, flush trim, chamfer, edge forming, molding, stile and rail, raised, joiner, and more.
- What do router bits for?
Usually, router bits are used in shaping pull handles found in the front of cabinet doors and drawers. They are designed to shape and make cabinet doors, entry doors, and even glass doors as well as establish the woodwork around the said doors.
- Are our router bits universal?
No. Router bits come in two sizes- ½ inches and ¼ inches. Although some router bits are interchangeable, others only accept either size.
- Can you use a router bit in a drill press?
It depends. Some small router bits can fit on a drill press. However, it is quite impossible in larger bits such as raised panel router bits as the drill press is not capable of generating enough speed for efficient operation.
Final Words
Both Yonico and Freud raised panel router bits can provide the same functionality- to create a raised panel for cabinet doors. But choosing one depends upon your preferences and needs. Hopefully, after you have gone through the pages, you already have one in mind!
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