CMT Mortising Router Bit - 1/2" Diameter x 1/4" Cutting Height, 1/4" Shank is a precision carbide-tipped routing tool engineered for clean, flat-bottom mortise cuts in solid hardwood, softwood, and wood composites. Designed by CMT with a negative shear angle geometry and thick carbide tips, this 2-flute right-hand bit delivers splinter-free hinge mortises, tight lock pockets, and accurate template-guided profiles. Whether you are routing hinge recesses by hand, running repetitive passes on a router table, or executing precise cuts on a CNC machine, this mortising bit gives woodworkers and cabinet makers consistent results with no rough bottoms or torn grain.

Key Features

• Thick carbide tips with negative shear angle design - shear geometry slices across wood fibers cleanly rather than tearing them, producing splinter-free edges and smooth flat bottoms on every mortise pass.
• 2-flute right-hand rotation - dual cutting edges balance chip load and produce efficient material removal, making hinge mortising and slot routing faster and cleaner in both natural wood and engineered wood composites.
• Top-mounted bearing guide - lets the bit follow a template or pattern precisely, making it the ideal choice for sign making, template routing, and repeatable production work without the need for fences or layout lines.
• HW (carbide) blade material - hard-wearing tungsten carbide maintains a sharp cutting edge far longer than high-speed steel, reducing the frequency of resharpening and keeping cut quality consistent over extended use.
• 1/4" shank - fits a wide range of standard collets on handheld routers and router tables, giving this bit broad compatibility with common workshop setups.
• Compact 1 5/8" total length - the short, rigid profile minimizes deflection and vibration during cutting, contributing to accurate depth control and a cleaner mortise floor.

Why This Product

• The negative shear angle and thick carbide tips work together to eliminate the splintered edges and rough bottoms that plague standard straight bits - a critical advantage when routing hinge mortises on finished door faces or cabinet frames where surface quality matters.
• The included top bearing guide makes this bit equally capable as a pattern-following template router, expanding its usefulness beyond hinge work to sign lettering, inlay pockets, and fixture-guided production routing.
• The 1/4" shank and 1 5/8" overall length make this bit compatible with lightweight trim routers as well as full-size router tables and CNC setups, giving it flexibility across multiple machine types in one shop.
• Hardwood carbide (HW) construction sustains cutting performance through both solid hardwood and demanding wood composites like MDF and chipboard - materials that quickly dull lesser tooling.

Specifications

• Manufacturer Part Number: 801.128.11
• Brand: CMT Orange Tools
• Diameter: 1/2"
• Cutting Height: 1/4"
• Total Length: 1 5/8"
• Shank: 1/4"
• Number of Teeth: 2
• Blade Material: Carbide-Tipped (HW)
• Rotation: Right-Hand (RH)
• Product Type: Mortising Router Bit

Approved Applications

• Hinge mortising on door stiles and cabinet face frames
• Lock pocket and slot mortising
• Template and pattern routing
• Sign making and decorative lettering
• Mortise routing in solid hardwood and softwood
• Mortise routing in plywood, MDF, chipboard, and wood composites