Product Description
CMT Straight Bit Short Series - 16mm Diameter, 1/2" Shank is a compact, double-edged routing bit engineered for high-volume production work across a wide range of wood and composite materials. Built from special fatigue-proof steel and micrograin carbide, this short-series straight bit delivers clean, precise cuts in plywood, natural hardwoods, softwoods, and composite panels - making it a reliable choice for professional woodworkers and CNC operators who demand consistent results under heavy workloads. Its 1/2" shank pairs with standard handheld routers, router tables, and CNC routing machines, giving it broad versatility across shop environments.
Key Features
- Micrograin Carbide (HW) Cutting Edges - denser, harder carbide material resists wear and maintains sharp cutting tolerances through extended production runs, reducing the frequency of bit changes on heavy workloads.
- Fatigue-Proof Steel Body - the specially formulated steel body withstands high-stress, repetitive routing cycles without structural fatigue, providing safer and more dependable performance in industrial-scale use.
- CMT Orange Non-Stick PTFE Coating - the trademark orange PTFE surface treatment prevents resin, pitch, and residue from bonding to the bit, keeping the cutting edges cleaner between passes and reducing heat buildup that can degrade carbide over time.
- 2-Flute (2-Tooth) Design - dual cutting edges provide balanced chip evacuation and a smooth cutting action, resulting in cleaner groove and dado walls with less tearout on plywood and composite panels.
- Right-Hand Rotation - standard RH rotation is compatible with virtually all handheld routers, router tables, and CNC spindles, requiring no special setup or configuration.
- Strict Quality Testing for Balance and Concentricity - every bit undergoes precision inspection to confirm correct balance and concentricity, which minimizes vibration at the spindle and helps protect both the bit and the router bearings over time.
- Short-Series Profile - the compact 2 1/2" total length reduces deflection and vibration during cuts, improving accuracy and surface finish when routing grooves, dadoes, and mortises in thick stock.
Why This Product
- The short-series geometry keeps the cutting profile rigid and close to the collet, which is especially valuable when routing deep dadoes or grooves in hardwood or layered plywood where bit flex causes inaccurate cuts.
- The orange PTFE non-stick coating is a direct production efficiency advantage - less pitch and resin accumulation means fewer cleaning interruptions and longer intervals between sharpenings, particularly when routing resinous softwoods or melamine-faced panels.
- Micrograin carbide with a 2-flute configuration makes this bit well-suited for CNC routing applications where consistent chip load per tooth and predictable tool life are critical to maintaining tight tolerances across repeated parts.
- With a 1" cutting height and 16mm cutting diameter, this bit covers common dado, groove, and mortise dimensions used in cabinet joinery and plywood panel work without the excess length that can introduce chatter on lighter-duty machines.
Specifications
- Manufacturer Part Number: 811.661.11
- Brand: CMT Orange Tools
- Diameter: 16mm
- Cutting Height: 1"
- Total Length: 2 1/2"
- Shank: 1/2"
- Number of Teeth: 2
- Material: HW (Micrograin Carbide)
- Rotation: Right-Hand (RH)
- Product Type: Straight Bit Short Series
Approved Applications
- Straight cuts including dadoes, grooves, and rabbets
- Mortising
- Template routing
- Plywood joinery
- Routing solid hardwood and softwood
- Cutting composites and natural wood panels
Frequently Asked Questions
What materials can this straight bit cut?
This bit is designed for use with plywood, composites, and natural woods including solid hardwoods and softwoods. The micrograin carbide cutting edges and fatigue-proof steel body are built to handle the demands of industrial-scale production across these material types.
Why choose a short-series straight bit over a standard-length version?
Short-series bits have a more compact total length - in this case 2 1/2" overall - which keeps more of the bit mass close to the router collet. This reduces flex and vibration during cuts, improving accuracy and surface quality, particularly in dadoes and grooves where bit deflection can cause tapered or rough walls.
What is the purpose of the orange PTFE coating on CMT bits?
The orange non-stick PTFE coating helps prevent resin, pitch, and other cutting residues from adhering to the bit surface. This keeps the flutes cleaner during use, reduces friction-related heat buildup, and protects the bit body from corrosion - all of which contribute to longer tool life and fewer cleaning interruptions during production work.
How do I know this bit will be balanced and run true in my router?
Every CMT bit in this series is subject to strict quality tests specifically designed to verify cutting tolerance, balance, and concentricity before it leaves the factory. Proper balance and concentricity minimize vibration at the spindle, which protects router bearings and produces cleaner cuts - particularly important in CNC routing applications where runout tolerance is critical.
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