I am going to make a couple of catch all trays. I need to remove a lot of material. Would the 1/4 end mill or a 1/2 bowl bit work the best.
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A 1/4", or maybe a 5/16" (8mm) tool is best for removing material — just keep the cut w/in what the machine can manage w/o bogging down — a tool w/ flute geometry intended for wood (and able to center cut) will help.
Our #201 works well (but splinters a bit at the top edge) or the #251 (downcut) so long as dust collection can keep up.
One tool which I’ve had in my shopping cart for a while, awaiting my next order is:
or possibly:
EDIT: The bowl bit is intended for final working to shape — not hogging out material
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@WillAdams I will have to check out the Lee Valley bits. I need to get a new 201 bit. My current one got burned when I was cutting Red Oak.
@WillAdams Question, what is the difference between the 201, 205E and 251. Other than the cutting length. I have some red oak, walnut that I want to cut out things and dont want to burn up a bit again.
The #201 is a 3-flute upcut carbide tool made in the U.S.
The #251 is a 3-flute downcut carbide tool made in the U.S.
The #205E is a 2-flute upcut carbide tool made overseas (probably China).
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@WillAdams what bit would you recommend for cutting out projects on hardwood like walnut and red oak that is .94 thick.
Depends on the sort of cuts you wish to make to yield what sort of parts — is cutting as a two-sided job an option?
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I’ve been making a fair number of trays lately, and have played with bowl bits, round bits, and 1/4" bits. Speed wise the 1/4" can definitely remove the material the most efficiently. My current trays are 3 bits, a 1/4" Compression bit. a Bowl bit to eliminate a lot of sanding, and an 30deg bit for sloped inside walls (a little extra detail)
this one was a 3D milling operation (do not recommend if speed is your focus haha)
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I used a 2L Inc. 3-flute, 0.25" cutter with a 1.25" cutter length to make a bowl out of ash (which is pretty darn hard). I cut almost the full 1.25" depth interior of a bowl out of a solid piece of 8/4 lumber. Worked well for task bur I’ve only used it for the one bowl so I can’t speak to its longevity. I use 2L end mills for aluminum and those do hold up very well.
The 2L part number is: PWE3-250-1C1.25 which is on their site.
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@Dooryard those look great.
@WillAdams I have never tried two sides cutting operations.
If you don’t want to try them, then you’ll need “long reach” endmill — Garr Tools makes then (I bought a 1/8" one for a project which worked well).
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I’ve been making a lot of trays and use a 1/4” endmill with adaptive to clear the bulk of the material and a whiteside bowl bit to finish. I do the adaptive tool path in fusion and all the rest in v carve.
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