The angled flutes have a lot of advantages: better chip evacuation, less heat buildup, and cleaner edges — depending on the type you use.

Appreciate your advice on bits! UFor pocketing a large area of hardwood that needs to be smooth and flat on a CNC, which bit would you recommend? Appreciate also any tip on cherry, which seems to tear more easily than maple/walnut. Thanks!

Thank you for this very informative and understandable explanation. I am new to using a hand held router and this and your other videos have helped in giving confidence in its safe use. I have subscribed.😊

I’m going to explain how spiral bits work, why I prefer them over traditional straight bits, and how to get the best results with down-cut, up-cut, and compression bits.

It’s why you run a hand plane along a board sideways instead of straight on, why many table saw blades have angled teeth, and why segmented cutterheads are better on planers and jointers.

It lets you quickly switch the orientation of your workpiece so you can work with grain direction without having to change your bit or make dangerous climb cuts (here’s a video all about template routing).

It also means they aren’t great for plunging straight down. If you need to plunge with them, it’s best to do it while moving, like ramping on the CNC.

The shear cutting angle of spiral bits is way more efficient, leading to less vibration, less tearout, and less burning.

The first thing to consider when choosing a glass drill bit is the size of the hole you’re making. Pro tip: In addition to the correct size bit, buy one that's slightly smaller to drill a pilot hole. As a rule of thumb, 1/8-inch is a good pilot hole size for smaller tasks. If you’re planning on drilling especially large holes, you might need to use a hole saw. These are tube-shaped saws that actually remove a circular section of glass, instead of drilling it away.

Now that Bits&Bits and I have released a new Short Flute version, this has become my absolute go-to bit for all through cuts — especially on the CNC.

As always, your instructions are detailed, well thoughtout and practical. I am a member of The Villages Woodworkers Club [TVWC] and we recommend new & experienced member to review your videos & blogs often, especially if a member is unfamiliar or has not recently used the equipment. This makes a huge difference because this also shows how to safely use equipment and the proper methods to use for all components. It’s easy to see the members that subscribe, we all wear your aprons… Thank you.

The spear-shaped tip of this Kobalt bit allows it to power through glass safely and effectively, and the 1/4-inch size is a good all-around for a variety of household projects. The hex shank is convenient for most drills and quick-change adapters, too.

Once I started using Astra Coated bits, my consumables cost dropped by 68% in our production shop (even though they cost more up front).

They’re great for cutting grooves with super crisp edges, especially in tearout-prone materials like highly figured wood, plywood, and other veneers.

A convenient zippered storage case keeps all your bits organized and easy to find when you need them. The only caveat is that they aren’t designed for small holes.

I’ve been using Bits&Bits’ bits (seeing double?) for years — and we’ve recently partnered with them to create a line of my favorite router bits.

On a router table, that means a down-cut bit when the show face is facing down towards the router and an up-cut bit when the show face is facing up towards you.

DOWN-CUT BITS✓ Grooves in tearout-prone materials like highly figured wood, plywood, and other veneers✓ For clean edge on the tool-side of your stock✓ Cutting small parts on the CNC

All of the router bits we sell (1/4 and 1/2 inch) are Astra Coated. This is Bits&Bits proprietary heat and lubrication coating that extends tool life 2–4x longer than uncoated bits.

The short flute version we have comes in 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" widths. The new KMT compression bits are the shortest flute versions on the market — which makes them much more usable in a handheld router as well as a CNC.

Compression bits can be problematic for small parts on the CNC, as the up-cut portion can pull up on small tabs and snap them off. Make sure to thicken up or add extra tabs in your CAM file.

Appreciate your advice on bits! UFor pocketing a large area of hardwood that needs to be smooth and flat on a CNC, which bit would you recommend? Appreciate also any tip on cherry, which seems to tear more easily than maple/walnut. Thanks!

Thank you for this very informative and understandable explanation. I am new to using a hand held router and this and your other videos have helped in giving confidence in its safe use. I have subscribed.😊

This 10-piece hole saw set offers an impressive range of bit sizes for a lower price than similar diamond sets. They’re easy to use as well, thanks to the included foam guide. It helps to keep your saw from moving around while you work and contains water being used as lubricant.

What router bit did i need for a mortise lock in a wooden door for deep cuts , please let me buy the right one thank you .

Spiral bits (the straight bit’s younger, better-looking cousin) cut faster, cleaner, and stay sharp longer than traditional bits.

For those who use a Dremel to work on glass crafting projects—like sea glass or beads—these extra-small drill bits and included collet will have you covered. With 20 identical 2mm bits, this set is perfect for busy craft or jewelry makers who don’t want to worry about replacing worn-down bits. Keep in mind that these bits must be used with water as a lubricant and are not for dry drilling.

We’re also big fans of the large, clear size markings on the sides of the bits that make it easy to find the one you want.

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In addition to ¼, ⅜, and ½ inch spiral bits in up-cut, down-cut, and short flute compression — we have a brand new type of ¼ inch flush trim bit.

Wow ! What great information on the proper way to use a router, and also advice on what bits to use, and how to use them. Much appreciated !

Although not technically “bits,” these Milwaukee hole saws are still great for drilling or working with glass. Thanks to large slug ejection slots it’s easy to clear them out after each hole, and the 1/4-inch quick-change hex shank is super convenient. They’re also heat-resistant so they’re designed to last, even when cutting extra-hard materials.

For more great drilling tools, check out our top picks for the best masonry drill bits, cordless drills, and impact drivers.

You should also think about what type of glass drill bit is best for you and your project. There are standard tungsten carbide glass drill bits with spear-shaped tips and diamond-coated glass drill bits are more durable, but typically more expensive. If you plan on doing a lot of glass drilling and don’t want to worry about wearing out your bit, go with a diamond option.

If I’m cutting a groove or dado in straight grained hardwood like walnut or maple (which are less prone to tearout), I’ll use my up-cut bit.

This six-piece bit set is designed for tackling a wide range of small drilling tasks — and costs less than $10. The spear-pointed design allows for use on range of materials in addition to glass, and reduces the chance of breakout on the rear of the workpiece. The bits are available in five- and eight-piece versions, as well.

For example, if you have a compression bit with a 1/4" up-cut portion, then your first pass needs to be at least .05" deeper than 1/4".

Alex Rennie is a freelance writer who specializes in the Home Improvement, DIY, and Tool space. As a former residential and commercial carpenter, Alex uses his hands-on experience to write practical buying guides, how-to articles, and product reviews. His work has also appeared in Business Insider's Insider Picks, and before his writing career, he was a full-time carpenter living in New York City. There, he worked as part of a team designing, building, and installing large furniture pieces, as well as performing a variety of home repair and maintenance projects. Alex currently lives in Los Angeles, CA, and spends his free time exploring the beaches and mountains with his fiancé and their dog Louie.

We’ve used several types of glass drill bits for stained glass projects and to create outlet holes in glass work desks, and have come to understand what makes them so valuable. Our experience and comprehensive knowledge of drill bits in general informed our selection. We did our best to choose brands that we have come to know and trust over the years, like Milwaukee and Bosch, and exclude any that we have had quality control issues with in the past. We also made sure to include a good variety of types, sizes, and prices, so hopefully you’ll be able to find the one that best suits your needs.

When we say the cutting direction is “up” or “down,” we’re talking about the direction the blades cut in relation to the tool — not the piece of wood.

These carbide Bosch bits and their self-centering tips are the perfect choice for those looking for an effective bit set that's relatively inexpensive. Their tips reduce the chance of any frustrating “walking” on your project, which is especially useful when working with decorative or stained glass.

Spiral router bits have angled cutting edges, called flutes, that wrap around the bit in a spiral (who would’ve guessed).

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We’ve partnered with Bits&Bits to release a line of Katz-Moses Tools Astra Coated Bits. These are my favorite bits — with an added Katz-Moses twist (dad-level pun intended).

UP-CUT BITS✓ Grooves in straight grained hardwoods like maple, walnut, or oak✓ For clean edges on opposite side of your stock from the tool✓ Plunge cutting

They can be advantageous with small parts on the CNC because they pack sawdust into the kerf, helping parts stay where they are.

On a handheld router or CNC, down-cut bits do in fact cut “down.” But throw that same bit on a router table, and now it’s technically cutting “up.”

As I always preach, investing in high-quality consumables will cost you significantly less time and money down the line.

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In our new lineup, we have ¼ inch up-cut, down-cut, and compression bits (as well as a 3 pack of all of them) that solve this issue.

They’re my go-to bits on the router and CNC for everything from shallow grooves, to full depth cuts, to edge-jointing and flush trimming.

What router bit did i need for a mortise lock in a wooden door for deep cuts , please let me buy the right one thank you .

Creating a hole in a piece of glass might seem difficult, but with a power drill and glass drill bit, it’s actually pretty easy to accomplish. Unlike typical drill bits that can easily crack or shatter your workpiece, glass drill bits are designed with extremely hard tips. They're made with either tungsten carbide or a diamond coating to create uniform holes in glass, as well as in other brittle materials like ceramic, stone, or tile. Glass drill bits require a little more finesse to use than wood or masonry drill bits (having a good cordless drill helps) but with a little practice you’ll be prepared to tackle a wide variety of craft and home DIY projects.

Just remember that you should use the bit that cuts away from your show face (assuming you don’t have a compression flush trim bit).

The plunging ability lets you quickly hog out material. And for through mortises, you’ll get a clean edge on the show face for exposed tenons.

In the past, good ¼ inch spiral bits were really hard to find. It’s tough to make a bearing that small capable of spinning at 12k-24k RPMs.

Spiral bits can be used on a handheld router or CNC for a range of cuts, including dados, rabbets, grooves, plunge cuts, and through cuts.

For any material that’s liable to chip out — like highly figured wood, plywood, and other veneers — you’re better off using a down-cut bit (or compression, but we’ll get to those in a minute).

As always, your instructions are detailed, well thoughtout and practical. I am a member of The Villages Woodworkers Club [TVWC] and we recommend new & experienced member to review your videos & blogs often, especially if a member is unfamiliar or has not recently used the equipment. This makes a huge difference because this also shows how to safely use equipment and the proper methods to use for all components. It’s easy to see the members that subscribe, we all wear your aprons… Thank you.

You can run them about 50% faster on the CNC. We have a video coming out soon about feeds and speeds, but for now we have recommended settings in the description of all out bits

This 3/8-inch bit is a great all-around choice for glasswork — and bonus, it's also designed for use with tile and natural stone. Unlike more delicate options, this bit can be used in hammer mode when working with stone, making it even more functional (just don’t use hammer mode with glass).

Kobalt's 1-year warranty against manufacturing defects is a definite plus. Be sure to lubricate with water to extend the bit's lifespan — and ensure the best results.

Wow ! What great information on the proper way to use a router, and also advice on what bits to use, and how to use them. Much appreciated !