The CMT 190.505.11 Solid Carbide Up/Downcut Spiral Bit is a professional-grade compression router bit engineered for clean, tear-out-free cuts on both faces of the workpiece simultaneously. With a 1/2 in. cutting diameter, 2 + 2 upcut and downcut spiral flutes, and full solid carbide construction, this bit is purpose-built for CNC routing operations where surface quality on both the top and bottom face of the material is critical. Whether you are routing through plywood, MDF, melamine, laminates, or solid hardwood, this right-hand compression spiral bit delivers consistent chip-free results that reduce or eliminate sanding and secondary finishing steps.

Key Features

• Solid Carbide Construction (HWM Grade) - the entire bit is machined from premium micrograin carbide, providing superior wear resistance and hardness compared to carbide-tipped designs, so you get longer edge life between sharpenings and more consistent cut quality over the life of the tool.
• Up/Downcut Compression Geometry (Z2 + 2) - two upcut flutes and two downcut flutes work together simultaneously to shear both the top and bottom faces of the workpiece cleanly, eliminating tear-out on both surfaces in a single pass - ideal for through-cuts in veneered panels, melamine, and laminate-faced sheet goods.
• 1/2 in. Cutting Diameter with 1 in. Cutting Height - the full 1 in. cutting height accommodates common sheet material thicknesses, while the 1/2 in. diameter provides rigidity and reduces deflection during demanding CNC routing passes.
• 1/2 in. Shank - the larger 1/2 in. shank maximizes grip in CNC collets and router table collets, reducing vibration and improving cut accuracy compared to smaller shank sizes.
• Right-Hand Rotation (RH) - designed for standard right-hand CNC spindles and routers, ensuring compatibility with the widest range of CNC routing machines, router tables, and handheld routers on the market.
• 3 in. Total Length - the overall 3 in. length provides practical reach for typical sheet goods operations while maintaining tool stiffness for accurate, chatter-free routing.
• CMT Orange Coating - the distinctive orange non-stick coating helps prevent pitch and resin buildup on the flutes, reduces heat generation during cutting, and protects the carbide body against corrosion, extending usable tool life between cleanings and sharpenings.

Why This Product

• The 2 + 2 compression flute geometry solves the most common CNC routing problem - tear-out on the top or bottom face of veneered plywood, melamine, or laminate panels - by cutting both surfaces simultaneously, so no secondary cleanup is required on either face.
• Full solid carbide construction means this bit stays sharper longer than carbide-tipped alternatives and can be resharpened more times, making it a cost-effective choice for production CNC environments where uptime and edge quality both matter.
• The 1/2 in. shank and 1/2 in. cutting diameter combination provides the stiffness and collet grip needed for aggressive feed rates on CNC machines, reducing deflection and improving dimensional accuracy in production routing applications.
• Compatibility with CNC routing machines, router tables, and handheld routers gives this bit versatility across a range of shop setups, making it a single solution for both production and bench-top routing of hardwood, softwood, plywood, MDF, chipboard, plastics, and laminates.

Specifications

• Manufacturer Part Number: 190.505.11
• Brand: CMT Orange Tools
• Product Type: Solid Carbide Up/Downcut Spiral Router Bit
• Diameter: 1/2 in.
• Cutting Height: 1 in.
• Cutting Height (I1): 15/32 in.
• Total Length: 3 in.
• Shank Diameter: 1/2 in.
• Number of Teeth: 2 + 2
• Blade Material: Solid Carbide (HWM)
• Rotation: Right-Hand (RH)

Approved Applications

• CNC Routing
• Through-Cuts in Plywood and MDF
• Two-Face Finish Cuts in Veneered Panels
• Routing Melamine and Laminate-Faced Sheet Goods
• Solid Hardwood and Softwood Routing
• Plastic and Chipboard Routing
• Router Table Operations
• Handheld Router Operations