CMT Mortising Router Bit - 1-1/4" Diameter x 1/2" Cutting Height, 1/4" Shank by CMT is a precision carbide-tipped routing tool engineered for clean, flat-bottom mortise slots used in hinge mortising, lock pocket routing, and template-guided joinery work. With a negative shear angle design and thick carbide tips, this bit delivers splinter-free cuts in solid hardwood, softwood, and a wide range of wood composites. The top bearing guide makes it equally at home in sign making and pattern routing applications where repeatable accuracy is essential.

Key Features

• Thick Carbide Tips (HW - Hard Metal Carbide): Industrial-grade carbide tips resist wear and maintain a sharp cutting edge through demanding mortise routing sessions, reducing the need for frequent resharpening or bit replacement.
• Negative Shear Angle Design: The geometry of the cutting edges presses material downward during the cut, producing flawless, splinter-free mortise walls and smooth, flat bottoms - no secondary cleanup required.
• Top Bearing Guide Included: The bearing rides along a template or workpiece edge, enabling consistent, repeatable cuts for sign making, template routing, and production hinge mortising without drift or guesswork.
• 2-Flute (2-Tooth) Configuration: Two cutting edges balance chip evacuation and surface finish, keeping the bit running cool and the mortise slot clean in both natural wood and engineered wood composites.
• 1/4" Shank: Fits a wide range of handheld routers and compact router tables, making this bit accessible for hobbyists and professionals working with standard 1/4" collets.
• Right-Hand Rotation (RH): Compatible with standard right-hand router collets for consistent, reliable performance without adapter requirements.
• CMT Orange Shield Non-Stick Coating: Prevents pitch and resin buildup on the bit body, reduces heat accumulation during extended routing runs, protects against corrosion, and extends overall tool life.
• SinterHIP Industrial Chrome Carbide: The carbide is processed via Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP), which eliminates micro-voids in the material and dramatically reduces the risk of tip fracture or material failure during heavy cuts.
• Tri-Metal Brazing (Silver-Copper-Silver): A three-layer brazing method bonds the carbide tips to the bit body with superior joint strength, protecting the weld when routing harder hardwoods or dense composites and reducing tip separation risk.
• Anti-Kickback Design: Controls the maximum depth of cut per pass, limiting the amount of material removed in a single bite and significantly improving operator safety and cutting accuracy.

Why This Product

• The negative shear angle geometry combined with thick carbide tips means hinge mortises and lock pockets come out with no splintered edges and no rough bottoms - eliminating the hand-chisel cleanup step that slows production work.
• The included top bearing guide expands this bit beyond simple mortising into template-based sign making and pattern routing, making it a multi-application tool that earns its place in the router bit collection.
• The 1/4" shank size makes this bit compatible with a broad range of handheld routers and compact router tables, so there is no need for a large, high-horsepower machine to achieve professional mortise results.
• CMT's combination of SinterHIP carbide, Tri-Metal Brazing, and Orange Shield coating works together to extend cutting life and resist heat buildup - meaning fewer bit changes and more consistent results across both solid wood and engineered panels like MDF, chipboard, melamine, and laminate.

Specifications

• Manufacturer Part Number: 801.317.11
• Brand: CMT Orange Tools
• Product Type: Mortising Bit
• Diameter: 1-1/4"
• Cutting Height: 1/2"
• Total Length: 1-757/64"
• Shank: 1/4"
• Number of Teeth: 2
• Blade Material: Carbide-Tipped (HW)
• Rotation: Right-Hand (RH)

Approved Applications

• Mortise Routing
• Slot Mortising
• Hinge Mortising
• Lock Mortising
• Sign Making
• Template Routing