CMT Dado and Planer Bit with Bearing - 1 1/2" Diameter, 5/8" Cutting Height, 1/2" Shank is a precision router bit engineered by CMT for routing wide, flat-bottom dadoes and performing light surface planing across a broad range of wood and composite materials. Built with thick carbide tips and a downward shear angle design, this two-flute bit pushes wood fibers down as it cuts, producing clean, splinter-free mortises and smooth, level bottoms on every pass. Whether you are working with solid hardwood, plywood, MDF, or wood composites, this dado and planer bit delivers the flat, consistent results that demanding woodworking and cabinetry applications require.

Key Features

• Thick Carbide Tips (HW Material Grade) - industrial-grade hardmetal carbide withstands repeated use in natural wood and wood composites without dulling prematurely, extending the service life of the bit and reducing tool replacement costs.
• Negative Shear Angle Cutting Edges - the downward shear angle pushes wood fibers toward the workpiece surface as the bit rotates, eliminating splintering and producing clean edges around hinge mortises and wide dadoes without additional cleanup work.
• 2-Flute (Two Tooth) Configuration - dual cutting edges balance the bit during rotation and ensure a smooth, flat bottom on every pass, making it well-suited for both dado routing and surface planing applications.
• Bearing Guide Included - the integrated bearing guide registers against the workpiece edge, giving you accurate, repeatable routing depth control without relying solely on a fence, and keeping flat-bottom cuts consistent across multiple passes.
• 1/2" Shank - the full 1/2" shank provides a rigid, secure grip in handheld routers, router tables, and CNC routing machines, minimizing deflection and vibration during heavy dado or planing cuts.
• Right-Hand (RH) Rotation - engineered for standard right-hand rotating router spindles, ensuring compatibility with the most widely used handheld and table-mounted routing equipment.
• Compatible with Popular Mortising Jigs - the bit dimensions are sized to work with widely available hinge mortising jigs, simplifying door hinge installation and similar joinery tasks.

Why This Product

• The negative shear angle design solves one of the most common dado routing problems - splintered edges and rough bottoms - by actively pressing wood fibers down during the cut, so you get furniture-quality results without sanding or re-routing.
• At 1 1/2" diameter with a 5/8" cutting height, this bit covers a wide groove in a single pass, reducing setup time and the number of passes needed compared to smaller-diameter bits, which matters when routing multiple dadoes across a panel or sheet.
• The bearing guide makes this bit a practical dual-purpose tool - use it as a dado bit for joinery or as a surface planer for flattening panels and leveling raised grain, giving you more routing capability from a single bit profile.
• The thick carbide tips and hardmetal (HW) material construction make this bit effective on demanding materials including MDF, chipboard, laminates, melamine, and plastic, not just solid wood - a practical choice for cabinet and furniture shops working across multiple material types.

Specifications

• Manufacturer Part Number: 852.504.11B
• Brand: CMT Orange Tools
• Diameter: 1 1/2"
• Cutting Height: 5/8"
• Total Length: 2 3/4"
• Shank: 1/2"
• Number of Teeth: 2
• Material: Carbide-Tipped (HW - Hardmetal Carbide)
• Rotation: Right-Hand (RH)
• Product Type: Dado and Planer Bit with Bearing

Approved Applications

• Routing wide, flat-bottom dadoes
• Light surface planing
• Hinge mortise routing
• Flat-bottom groove routing
• Use with popular hinge mortising jigs