The CMT Classical Bead Bit - Profile E is a precision-crafted decorative router bit designed to mill elegant bead profiles on furniture panels, cabinet doors, vitrines, and drawer fronts. Built with a 1/4" radius and a 1/2" shank, this hardwood-carbide (HW) tipped beading bit delivers consistent, repeatable ornamental profiles across solid hardwood, softwood, sheet goods, and composite materials. The bearing mounted on the shank expands creative possibilities well beyond standard edge work - enabling groove routing, inlay work, and panel detailing with immediate, visible results thanks to the wide flat-bottom cutting geometry positioned just above the wood surface.

Key Features

• Bearing fixed on the shank - provides a stable reference guide during decorative groove work, inlay routing, and panel detailing, giving you control and repeatability that freehand bits cannot match.
• 1/4" bead radius (Profile E) - produces a refined classical bead profile sized for furniture panels, vitrine frames, and drawer front details where proportional, period-appropriate ornamentation is required.
• Wide flat-bottom cut - positions the cutting action just above the wood surface so you can see the profile forming in real time, reducing guesswork and preventing costly mistakes on finished workpieces.
• 2-flute hardwood carbide (HW) construction - hard-wearing carbide tips maintain a sharp cutting edge through extended runs on solid hardwood, softwood, plywood, MDF, chipboard, laminates, and melamine.
• 1/2" shank diameter - maximizes rigidity and reduces vibration compared to smaller-shank bits, producing cleaner bead profiles with less chatter on both handheld routers and router tables.
• Right-hand rotation - compatible with the standard rotation direction of virtually all handheld routers and router table setups, ensuring safe and predictable feed direction.
• 2-19/32" total length - provides sufficient clearance for reach into panel interiors and groove locations while keeping the bit compact enough for stable high-speed operation.

Why This Product

• The shank-mounted bearing makes this bit the right choice for routing decorative beads directly onto furniture panels and drawer fronts - not just edges - opening up design possibilities unavailable with standard bearing-on-nose bits.
• A 1/4" radius classical bead is one of the most versatile ornamental profiles in cabinetmaking and furniture work, making this bit a practical addition for craftspeople who regularly produce period-style or transitional furniture details.
• The 47/64" cutting height gives you meaningful material contact in a single pass, reducing the need for multiple setups when profiling thicker panel stock or solid lumber rail-and-stile components.
• At a 1/2" shank, this bit is compatible with mid-range and professional-grade routers and router tables, offering a balance of accessibility and performance suited to both workshop production and custom one-off furniture projects.

Specifications

• Manufacturer Part Number: 865.803.11B
• Brand: CMT Orange Tools
• Diameter: 1-3/8"
• Cutting Height: 47/64"
• Total Length: 2-19/32"
• Radius: 1/4"
• Shank: 1/2"
• Number of Teeth: 2
• Material: HW (Hardwood Carbide)
• Profile: E
• Rotation: Right-hand (RH)

Approved Applications

• Classical bead profiles on furniture panels
• Decorative groove work on vitrine frames
• Ornamental detailing on drawer fronts
• Inlay routing on cabinet door panels
• Period-style and transitional architectural millwork details