So, I laughed as I gave away most of my 1/4″ shank bits. I mean, I was on a mission to eliminate them from my router bit collection. After all, they were inferior, right?

Formed in 2013, ITP Packaging began as a supplier of industrial covers to manufacturing industries in the UK. In 2019 the business expanded its product range significantly, supplying its growing customer base with a range of drums, IBC’s and liners. As well as this, the company moved into the online marketplace with its primary objective to become ‘The number one supplier of Industrial, Transit and Protective Packaging through high quality customer service’.

Not so fast. I have recently come to kick myself for giving up the nice collection of bits I had amassed. I bought one of these – a DeWalt 611 multi-base trim (or compact) router. It’s called a trim router because, way back in the day, they were really only used by cabinet installers to trim laminate and do some light work on a job site. That was until woodworkers discovered just how handy these little babies really are.

David was very clear when he explained that 1/2" shanks were far more preferable when removing larger amounts of material. And, even though some manufacturers do make bits such as stile and rail sets that have 1/4" shanks, it’s better to have more mass and strength in the bit to reduce chatter and prolong the life of the bit.

However, if you don’t know how to operate a saw safely, the best safety advice is to reach out to a professional with the expertise.

Although your choice of saw will depend on your abilities, there are some universally applicable guidelines meant to assist you on how to cut plastic pallets effectively.

Another situation comes into play when you're trying to use edge-molding bits. For simple, small-radius roundovers, chamfers and the like, there is very little wood being removed. Since that is the case, the router doesn’t need to be a full-powered animal – a smaller, more maneuverable router could do the job just as well.

And, in many cases, proprietary router bits for jigs sometimes are available only with 1/4″ shanks. The Keller Dovetail Jig, for instance, uses 1/4″-shank bits for both the tails and pins. Since that's the case, replacement bits for these jigs need to be made to match.

OK, maybe the announcement of the demise of the 1/4″-shank router bit was a bit premature. With this new generation of fully-featured compact routers, the 1/4″-shank router bit will probably see a renaissance. And, that’s OK with me!

The wrong tool will not only result in an uneven cut or a damaged pallet but can be dangerous to the person handling it.

Once you begin using the saw, the vibrations can shift the pallet or the saw, which could result in accidentally cutting yourself.

Given their shape, size and conventional usage, it’s easy to restrict the use of plastic pallets to the manufacturing and shipping industries. Truth be told,

With these routers, you can rout small dadoes with just one hand. You can put a profile on an edge. You can do a ton of different jobs that would be too small, too delicate or too restricted for a bigger unit. The DeWalt also has some sweet features that other routers in its size range just can’t touch – LED lights in the base and both a plunge and fixed base. It’s router nirvana.

Contact our team today to learn more about the properties of plastic pallets, and how you can use them in your next project.

For instance, I asked why anyone still made 1/4″-shank router bits at all. David Venditto, owner of Infinity Cutting Tools and an old hand at router bit technology, was able to explain that for small-diameter router bits, it would be wasteful to make those with a larger shank. For instance, we were using the instructor’s DeWalt 611 (no wonder I wanted one so badly) to do some hinge mortising. So, we went with a small down-cut spiral bit. That’s when I asked why spiral router bits that were 1/4" or 1/8" cutting diameter didn’t come with half inch shanks. He told me that there would be so much material removed from the shank, it would drive the cost up considerably, yet not provide any advantage.

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It’s also important to use gloves and safety goggles as protection against debris. Clearing away the debris and keeping a clean workstation is also a necessary safety measure.

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However, the speed of the blade and the thickness of the blade’s teeth are also considerations for how to cut plastic pallets.

Until everything I read said that no, you don’t want to use 1/4″ shank bits. The 1/2″ shank bits have more metal in them, meaning they are far more stable, stronger and able to give cleaner cuts.

If your business is considering the switch from wooden to plastic pallets, you would be well aware of the benefits of plastic pallets. From their

I have had to find some good advice on going back to the 1/4″bits that I so hastily disposed of. Fortunately, I was recently at the Infinity Cutting Tool’s router basics class last month, where I had a lot of time to ask a bunch of what I thought were stupid questions, but were pretty darned smart after all.

In the world of construction, there are hacksaws, bandsaws, circular saws, and table saws to name a few. Jigsaws are recommended when cutting curved shapes such as circles.

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Another important feature to consider is the shape of the blade. For an even cut, a serrated edge with teeth evenly spaced apart is recommended.

Formed in 2013, ITP Packaging began as a supplier of industrial covers to manufacturing industries in the UK. In 2019 the business expanded its product range significantly, supplying its growing customer base with a range of drums, IBC’s and liners. As well as this, the company moved into the online marketplace with its primary objective to become ‘The number one supplier of Industrial, Transit and Protective Packaging through high quality customer service’.

Plastic pallets are versatile tools used across several industries. One of the credits to their versatility is that they are available in numerous sizes and

Choosing the right pallet for your needs sometimes requires scrutinising every detail, including how the pallet is made and from what material. This article will

Their durability, load-bearing capacity, and ability to withstand temperature changes have made them a useful tool in shipping and distribution.

In the same way you can reach out to an expert to help you cut your plastic pallet, you’ll want to depend on experts to source quality pallets.

When my mom gave me my first router for my birthday a bunch of years ago, it had a 1/4″ collet. She gave me a collection of some pretty useful 1/4″ shank bits to go along with it. That was totally awesome.