Tool Guide
Everything you need before you order industrial-grade solid carbide tools: how every size is measured (with diagrams), which shank to buy, and which kind of cutter suits your job.
- How tools are measured
- Shank sizes & mm / inch converter
- Find the right tool
- Flutes & spiral direction
- Tips by material
- Coatings
- Certified carbide & industrial grade
- Getting good results
- Ordering custom tools
How tools are measured
Pick a tool shape, then tap a letter to see exactly where that size is measured. The same letters are used in the size chart on every product page.
Flat end mill
Straight, spiral, compression, single-flute and roughing cutters all share these four measurements.
Ball nose end mill
The rounded tip makes smooth, scooped surfaces for 3D carving. The cutting diameter is the width of the ball.
Tapered ball nose end mill
The cutter narrows towards a small rounded tip, so it is measured by its tip radius instead of a cutting diameter.
Flat-bottom taper bit
Engraving and V-style bits are measured by their tip angle and overall length.
Size chart terms at a glance
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Shank diameter | The smooth part held in your collet. It must match your collet exactly. |
| Cutting diameter | The diameter of the cutting part – the width of the slot the tool makes. |
| Cutting length | The length of the flute (cutting edge). It limits how deep the tool can cut in total – deep cuts are made in several passes. Choose the shortest length that clears your material. |
| Overall length | The whole tool, from tip to the end of the shank. |
| Tip radius / point angle | On ball-nose and tapered tools, the radius of the rounded tip; on taper tools, the angle of the point. |
A range such as 12–42 means several lengths are made within that range. If your size is not listed, ask for a custom tool.
Shank sizes & inch conversions
Type a size in either box.
Most of our tools are metric. Match your collet carefully – some metric and inch sizes look almost identical but are not interchangeable.
| Shank (mm) | Nearest inch size | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 3.175 | 1/8 in | Exactly 1/8 in. |
| 4, 5 | – | Metric only. |
| 6 | 1/4 in = 6.35 mm | 6 mm is not 1/4 in. Use a 6 mm collet. |
| 8 | 5/16 in = 7.94 mm | Use an 8 mm collet. |
| 10 | 3/8 in = 9.53 mm | Use a 10 mm collet. |
| 12 | 1/2 in = 12.7 mm | 12 mm is not 1/2 in. Use a 12 mm collet. |
Find the right tool
What are you making?
Start with
Compression Cutters
Combine up-cut and down-cut geometry so both faces of laminated, veneered or coated panels stay clean. Best used when the cutter passes fully through the material.
See these tools →or Two Flute Spiral Cutters
The general-purpose choice for solid wood, MDF and plywood, with a smoother finish than a single flute. Composite-edge versions are offered for panels.
See these tools →Start with
Two Flute Spiral Cutters
The general-purpose choice for solid wood, MDF and plywood, with a smoother finish than a single flute. Composite-edge versions are offered for panels.
See these tools →Start with
Compression Cutters
Combine up-cut and down-cut geometry so both faces of laminated, veneered or coated panels stay clean. Best used when the cutter passes fully through the material.
See these tools →Start with
Straight Flute Cutters
Straight flutes for clean, flat-bottomed grooves, pockets and edges in boards and panels.
See these tools →Start with
Ball Nose & Tapered Cutters
Rounded and tapered tips for 3D carving, relief work and smooth contoured surfaces.
See these tools →Start with
Engraving & Taper Bits
Fine-point and flat-bottom tapered bits for detailed engraving, lettering and V-style work.
See these tools →Start with
Roughing & Corn Mills
Toothed cutters that remove material quickly (roughing) or machine abrasive composites and PCB material (corn mills).
See these tools →Start with
Single Flute Cutters
One wide flute for generous chip clearance. Popular for plastics, aluminum and thin sheet materials, and for fast, clean cutting in soft boards.
See these tools →Quick reference
| Your job | Start with |
|---|---|
| Cutting out MDF, plywood or melamine parts, nesting | Compression cutters or two flute spiral cutters |
| Solid hardwood and softwood, profiling, pockets | Two flute spiral cutters |
| Clean edges on veneered or laminated panels | Compression cutters |
| Flat-bottom grooves, dados and pockets | Straight flute cutters |
| 3D carving, relief and contoured surfaces | Ball nose & tapered cutters |
| Fine engraving and lettering | Engraving & taper bits |
| Removing a lot of waste material quickly | Roughing mills |
| Thin sheet, plastics and soft boards at speed | Single flute cutters |
Not sure? Send us your material, machine and what you want to make through the contact form and we will recommend a tool.
Flutes & spiral direction
- Single flute – lots of room for chips, so it can cut fast and clean in softer, chip-heavy materials.
- Two flutes – the general-purpose choice; usually a smoother finish than a single flute.
- Three flutes / roughing – removes material quickly; leaves a rougher surface, so follow with a finishing tool if the surface matters.
- Up-cut (right-hand spiral) – lifts chips out of the cut, which helps clearing, but can lift or fray the top edge of the material.
- Down-cut (left-hand spiral) – pushes chips downward for a cleaner top edge, but chips can pack into the cut.
- Compression – up-cut at the tip and down-cut near the top, so both faces of a panel stay clean when the cutter goes all the way through.
In this catalogue, right-hand spiral tools are normally up-cut and left-hand spiral tools down-cut. Ask us to confirm for a specific tool.
Tips by material
Woodworking. MDF is abrasive and very dusty – good dust extraction matters and harder or coated tools tend to last longer. Plywood and melamine are prone to splintering at the surface; compression cutters help. Solid wood with strong grain cuts best with sharp two flute spiral tools and steady feed.
Coatings
Coated versions (rainbow, color and black coatings in our catalogue) are offered for longer tool life, especially in abrasive materials. Coating details vary by tool – ask us which coating a particular tool uses.
Certified carbide & industrial grade
Certified quality solid carbide. Industrial grade.
Every tool is machined from certified-quality solid carbide rod and built for daily production work on CNC routers and machining centres – not hobby-grade or consumer-grade bits.
- Made from certified-quality solid carbide rod
- Industrial grade – built for daily production use
- Full size chart in mm for every tool
- Custom sizes, coatings and flute counts on request
- Standard and bulk orders
Getting good results
- Use the shortest cutting length that does the job and keep the tool close to the collet – less stick-out means less vibration.
- Check the collet is clean, correct for the shank and tightened properly.
- Do not exceed the maximum RPM of your spindle or recommended for the tool; follow the feed and speed guidance for your material and machine.
- Always test on scrap first, secure the workpiece, and wear eye and hearing protection.
- Replace tools when they get dull – burn marks, fuzzy edges or rising noise are signs.
Ordering custom tools
If the size in the chart is not what you need, tell us what to change. To get an accurate quote quickly, send:
- The product page you started from (or a drawing or photo)
- Cutting diameter, cutting length, overall length and shank diameter in mm
- Number of flutes, spiral direction and coating if they matter
- Quantity, the material you cut and your machine
Use the form on any product page, or the contact page.