CMT Keyhole Router Bit - 3/8" x 7/16" with 1/4" Shank is a precision-engineered keyhole routing bit designed to create concealed hanging slots in picture frames, plaques, mirrors, and a wide variety of wall-mounted displays. Made by CMT with a single-tooth tungsten carbide-tipped (HW) cutting head and right-hand rotation, this bit plunges cleanly into the workpiece to form a perfectly shaped keyhole slot that grips a screw or nail head flush against the wall, keeping hangings level, secure, and out of sight. Whether you are routing mounting slots for residential decor projects or professional cabinetry installations, this bit delivers consistent, repeatable results in solid hardwood, softwood, sheet goods, and more.

Key Features

• Single-tooth carbide-tipped (HW) cutting geometry - focuses all cutting force through one precision edge, producing clean, burr-free keyhole slots with minimal tearout on wood, plywood, MDF, and laminates.
• Right-hand (RH) rotation - compatible with the standard spindle direction of handheld plunge routers and router table setups, allowing straightforward installation without spindle adjustments.
• 1/4" shank diameter - fits the most common router collet size, giving broad compatibility with compact and mid-size routers used on benchtop and jobsite applications.
• 3/8" cutting diameter x 7/16" cutting height - sized to accept standard screw and nail heads, producing a slot that holds wall hangings securely flush to the surface without visible hardware.
• 2 1/8" total length - provides sufficient reach for plunge routing operations on typical workpiece thicknesses while maintaining stability in the collet during the cut.
• Recommended for use with a plunge router - the plunge router's controlled vertical entry allows the bit to enter the workpiece cleanly and then travel horizontally to complete the keyhole profile in a single smooth pass.
• Suitable for creating slots compatible with M5, M6, and M8 hexagonal head bolts - enabling secure, removable mechanical joints in addition to standard wall-hanging applications, expanding versatility across woodworking and furniture assembly tasks.

Why This Product

• Purpose-built keyhole geometry keeps frames, plaques, and wall hangings perfectly straight and locked to the wall - eliminating the need for visible brackets, cleats, or surface hardware that detract from the finished appearance.
• The slot profile is sized to accommodate M5, M6, and M8 hex head bolts, making this bit useful beyond picture hanging for applications requiring repeatable, removable joints in furniture, cabinetry, and display fixtures.
• The 1/4" shank fits a wide range of compact and standard routers, and the right-hand rotation matches the default setup of virtually all router tables and handheld plunge routers, meaning no special tooling or adapters are required to get started.
• The single-tooth HW (tungsten carbide) construction concentrates cutting performance where it matters most, supporting clean results in materials ranging from solid hardwood and softwood to MDF, chipboard, melamine, and plastic.

Specifications

• Manufacturer Part Number: 850.001.11
• Product Type: Keyhole Bit
• Diameter: 3/8"
• Small Diameter: 4.76mm
• Cutting Height: 7/16"
• Total Length: 2 1/8"
• Shank Diameter: 1/4"
• Number of Teeth: 1
• Blade Material: HW (Tungsten Carbide-Tipped)
• Rotation: Right-Hand (RH)
• Brand: CMT Orange Tools

Approved Applications

• Routing concealed keyhole hanging slots in picture frames and plaques
• Creating wall-mounting slots for mirrors, shelves, and display panels
• Routing slots for M5, M6, and M8 hexagonal head bolt removable joints
• T-slot routing and flush wall-mount hardware installations