Product Description
CMT Mortising Bit with Bearing - 1/2" Diameter, 1/4" Cutting Height, 1/4" Shank is a precision-ground, carbide-tipped router bit engineered for clean, flat-bottom mortise cuts in solid wood, plywood, MDF, and wood composites. Built by CMT with a negative shear angle design and a top-mounted bearing guide, this 2-flute right-hand mortising bit delivers splinter-free hinge pockets, lock mortises, and template-routed slots with consistent, repeatable accuracy - making it a go-to choice for woodworkers, cabinetmakers, and sign makers who demand professional results.
Key Features
- Thick carbide tips (HW grade) with negative shear angle design - the robust carbide mass resists heat and wear during repeated mortising passes, while the negative shear angle shears wood fibers cleanly to eliminate splintering on hinge pocket edges and mortise bottoms.
- Top-mounted bearing guide - rides along a template or workpiece edge to keep cuts perfectly aligned, making this bit ideal for template routing, sign making, and repeated production runs without layout lines.
- 2-flute right-hand rotation - dual cutting edges balance chip evacuation with a smooth cutting action, producing flat mortise bottoms in both natural wood and wood composites without tearout or rough surfaces.
- 1/4" shank with 1 5/8" total length - the compact overall profile fits standard 1/4" collet routers and router tables, giving you access in tighter setups while maintaining stability during the cut.
- Compatible with solid hardwood, softwood, plywood, MDF, chipboard, and laminates - the carbide formulation handles a wide range of natural wood and engineered wood materials, reducing the need to swap bits between different workpiece types.
Why This Product
- If you need perfectly flat hinge mortises with zero splintering, the negative shear angle geometry does the heavy lifting - no chiseling or sanding required to clean up the pocket after routing.
- The included top bearing guide transforms this bit into a template-following tool, letting you rout identical mortise slots repeatedly - a significant advantage for production cabinetry, door hanging, or sign work.
- At 1/2" diameter with a 1/4" cutting height, this bit is sized precisely for standard hinge leaf mortises and shallow lock pockets, matching common hardware dimensions without the need to adjust depth settings repeatedly.
- The HW (hard metal/carbide) tip material is well suited for both natural wood and composite sheet goods like MDF and chipboard, giving this single bit broad versatility across the material types most commonly found in woodworking and cabinetmaking shops.
Specifications
- Manufacturer Part Number: 801.128.11B
- Brand: CMT Orange Tools
- Diameter: 1/2"
- Cutting Height: 1/4"
- Total Length: 1 5/8"
- Shank: 1/4"
- Number of Teeth: 2
- Rotation: Right-hand (RH)
- Blade Material: Carbide-Tipped (HW)
- Product Type: Mortising Bit with Bearing Guide
Approved Applications
- Hinge mortising
- Lock pocket mortising
- Slot mortising
- Template routing
- Sign making
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the purpose of the bearing guide on this mortising bit?
The top-mounted bearing guide allows the bit to follow the edge of a template or workpiece, ensuring accurate, repeatable cuts without the need for layout lines or manual fences. This makes the bit especially useful for template work, sign making, and production hinge mortising where consistent results are required across multiple pieces.
Can this bit be used in both a handheld router and a router table?
Yes. The 1/4" shank is compatible with handheld routers, router tables, and CNC routing machines that accept a 1/4" collet. The compact 1 5/8" total length suits a variety of setups where bit clearance may be limited.
What materials can this mortising bit cut?
The carbide-tipped (HW) cutting edges are suited for solid hardwood, softwood, plywood, MDF, chipboard, melamine, laminates, and plastic. The negative shear angle design helps prevent splintering on both natural wood and wood composite surfaces.
What does the negative shear angle design do for the quality of the cut?
The negative shear angle causes the cutting edges to shear wood fibers rather than tear them, which results in cleaner mortise edges and flat bottoms with minimal splintering. This reduces or eliminates the need for cleanup work after routing hinge pockets or lock mortises.
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