Ranurado

A grooving router bit cuts a channel or slot into a wood surface. Common applications include dadoes for shelf installation, grooves for drawer bottoms, fluting on cabinet panels, and curved troughs for bowl or tray carving. The specific profile — straight, roundnose, or bowl — determines the shape of the resulting groove.

A dado runs across the grain of the board, while a groove runs with the grain. Both are rectangular channels cut to accept a mating piece, such as a shelf or drawer bottom. The same straight or spiral bit can cut both; only the orientation of the cut changes.

A 1/2-inch shank is preferable for grooving work because the larger diameter reduces vibration and deflection, producing a straighter, cleaner channel. Reserve 1/4-inch shank bits for light-duty trimmers or when your router collet only accepts that size. See the carbide router bits collection for both shank options.

No. A roundnose bit produces a curved bottom profile, not a flat one. For a flat-bottomed dado or groove, use a straight or spiral upcut bit. Roundnose bits are intended for decorative fluting, cove grooves, and bowl tray routing.

A bowl tray bit is a large-diameter roundnose bit, often fitted with a bottom-mounted bearing, used to rout the interior recess of serving trays and shallow bowls. The bearing rides against a template or the workpiece edge to control the cut width, while multiple overlapping passes remove material across the floor of the tray.

The safe maximum depth per pass depends on bit diameter, wood species, and router horsepower. As a general rule, limit each pass to no more than half the cutting diameter of the bit. Make multiple shallow passes rather than one deep plunge to avoid burning the wood and overloading the router motor.

Yes. Straight and roundnose grooving bits can be used both handheld and table-mounted. A router table with a fence gives better control for long, continuous grooves, while a handheld router with an edge guide is practical for dadoes that span a wide panel. Explore router jigs & guides for accessories that improve accuracy in both setups.

A spiral upcut carbide bit produces the cleanest groove in plywood because the shearing action reduces tear-out at the surface veneers. For cross-grain dadoes in plywood, score the cut line with a sharp chisel or marking knife before routing to prevent chipout at the edges.

After each use, remove pitch and resin buildup with a dedicated bit-cleaning solution and a soft brush, then dry thoroughly before storage. Store bits standing upright in a foam-lined case or router bit storage box to protect the carbide edges. Inspect the cutting edges before each session; dull carbide produces burning and rough groove walls.

Yes. Infinity Tools offers a price-match policy so you can shop with confidence. Details are available on the price-matching page.