What are the different types & sizes

of edge moulding router cutter?

Trend offer six main types of edge moulding router cutter.

Classic edge moulding router cutters

These cutters are designed to produce traditional profiles for items such as picture frames, mirrors, clocks, plaques and plinths. They include cutters for routing Roman ogee edges and a classic bearing guided corner cutter.

Decorative edge moulding router cutters

Decorative edge moulding cutters produce slightly more unusual profiles, of various types. Architrave and framing are common uses for these cutters.

Torus moulding router cutters

Torus moulding cutters are used to produce semi-circular profiles, known as torus mouldings, on the edge of materials. These profiles are commonly seen on skirting boards. 

Cornice moulding router cutters 

These cutters, as the name suggests, are designed to rout the profiles for cornice moulding. 

Multi-mould router cutters

Multi-mould cutters can be used to produce different profiles, simply by altering their height in the router, or the position of the router table fence.

They can be used to create moulding for a variety of different applications, including skirting boards and furniture finishes. 

Handrail router cutters

These cutters are used in conjunction with various rounding over cutters to create custom handrails. The rounding over cutters rout the tops of handrails, while the handrail cutters rout the side profiles. 

They allow you to create handrails in a number of different styles, whether you want something purely decorative, or one that offers a practical feature such as a larger gripping area.  

Doll's house moulding router cutters

There is a special range of doll's house moulding cutters that are able to produce 1:12 scale mouldings. As the name suggests, these are ideal for making a variety of items for doll's houses, including shelves, table tops, cabinets and furniture components. These can be purchased in sets or as individual cutters.

Please note: however experienced you may be with a router, these cutters should not be used in a hand-held router due to the small size of timber required to produce the mouldings. They must be used with a router mounted in a table with the aid of push tools for manoeuvring the timber. 

What edge moulding router cutter sizes are available?

Edge moulding router cutters are most often sized according to the following dimensions:

Shank diameter of edge moulding cutters

The shank diameter is measured across the centre of the shank from any point on its circumference. 

Edge-moulding router cutters are available with ¼" (6.35mm), 8mm (5/16") and ½" (12.7mm) shank diameters. 

Diameter of edge moulding cutters

The diameter is the maximum width of the router cutter, and is measured from the outermost point of the cutting edges through the centre of the bit. 

For cutters without a guide beneath their cutting edges, the diameter also tells you the maximum width of the path made by the router cutter in one pass.

Edge moulding router cutters have diameters ranging from 24mm (15/16") to 45mm (1¾")

Cutting edges of edge moulding cutters

Length

This is the maximum length of the full cutting edge of the router cutter, and is measured from the top of the cutting edge to the bottom.

Edge moulding cutting edge lengths range from 16mm (⅝") to 58mm (2½").

Radius

This is the radius of the moulding cutter's edges. 

Almost all edge moulding router cutters have concave or convex cutting edges designed to rout curves in the edge of materials.  

Some edge moulding cutters have two or more different radii ground into their cutting edges to produce convex and concave curves of different sizes.

Edge moulding cutter radii range from 2mm (5/64") to 38mm (1½"). 

Guide diameter of edge moulding cutters

Most edge moulding router cutters are supplied with a ball bearing guide located beneath their cutting edges.

The distance between the outside edge of the guide and tip of the cutting edge will determine the maximum cutting depth.

Bearings range from 16mm (⅝" approx.) to 12.7mm (½") in diameter. 

With most models of edge moulding cutter, the bearing can be removed and replaced with a larger or smaller one to alter the cutting depth of the cutter and the profile it produces.