The CMT Dado and Planer Bit with Bearing - 3/4" Diameter x 3/8" Cutting Height, 1/2" Shank is a precision-crafted, carbide-tipped routing bit designed to cut wide, flat-bottom dadoes and perform light surface planing with clean, consistent results. Built with a negative shear angle on the cutting edges, this bit pushes wood fibers downward as it cuts, eliminating tear-out and producing smooth, splinter-free hinge mortises and routed channels. Suitable for use in solid hardwood, softwood, plywood, MDF, chipboard, laminates, melamine, and plastics, this bit handles both natural wood and wood composites with equal confidence. Whether you are routing dado joints, planing surfaces on a router table, or cutting flat-bottom grooves on a CNC routing machine, this CMT dado bit delivers the flat, clean results that woodworkers and cabinet makers expect.

Key Features

• Thick Carbide Tips (HW/TCT Material) - industrial-grade carbide retains a sharp cutting edge longer, reducing the number of bit changes and keeping your work moving on both solid wood and composite sheet goods.
• Negative (Downward) Shear Angle Design - the cutting edges push wood fibers down as they slice through the material, eliminating splintered edges and rough-bottomed dadoes for flawless, finished-quality cuts right off the router.
• Bearing Guide Included - the integrated bearing allows the bit to reference against a workpiece edge or template, giving you guided, repeatable cuts without additional setup or fences when running the bit freehand.
• 2-Flute Cutter Geometry - two cutting edges balance chip load and heat generation, promoting smooth feed rates and reducing burning on both softwoods and dense hardwoods.
• Right-Hand Rotation - standard RH rotation is compatible with virtually all handheld routers, router tables, and CNC routing machines without any modification.
• 1/2" Shank Diameter - the larger 1/2" shank transfers power more efficiently from the router collet to the cutter, minimizing vibration and deflection for straighter, more precise cuts compared to smaller-shank alternatives.
• 3/4" Cutting Diameter x 3/8" Cutting Height - the specific geometry produces a dado 3/4" wide and up to 3/8" deep in a single pass, well-suited to standard shelf dado and hinge mortise dimensions.
• 2 1/2" Total Length - the overall bit length provides adequate reach above the collet for both handheld and table-mounted routing setups without excessive overhang.
• Compatible with Popular Mortising Jigs - sized to work with widely used hinge mortising jigs, making hinge installation fast, accurate, and repeatable on doors and cabinet frames.

Why This Product

• The downward shear angle design actively prevents tear-out and splintering, meaning you get finished, ready-to-assemble dadoes and mortises without sanding or hand-trimming the edges afterward.
• The integrated bearing guide eliminates the need for a dedicated fence when routing along an edge or template, saving setup time and making one-off cuts or repetitive production runs equally straightforward.
• The 1/2" shank paired with thick carbide tips means this bit stays rigid and sharp through demanding production use in both solid hardwoods and abrasive composite materials like MDF and melamine.
• With a 3/4" cutting diameter matched to standard shelf and hinge mortise dimensions, this bit is a practical, purpose-built choice for cabinet making, furniture assembly, and door hardware installation - no undersizing or oversizing the cut.

Specifications

• Manufacturer Part Number: 852.501.11B
• Brand: CMT Orange Tools
• Diameter: 3/4"
• Cutting Height: 3/8"
• Total Length: 2 1/2"
• Shank: 1/2"
• Number of Teeth: 2
• Blade Material: HW (Carbide-Tipped)
• Rotation: Right-Hand (RH)
• Product Type: Dado and Planer Bit with Bearing

Approved Applications

• Routing Wide Dadoes
• Flat-Bottom Routing
• Surface Planing
• Hinge Mortising
• Use with Popular Mortising Jigs