Crown molding router bits:
Contents
Crown molding bits come in four types and several different sizes depending on the type of molding that you want to make. These bits allow a wood worker to make a variety of molding for chairs, walls and cabinet doors. The crown molding router bits are some of the more interesting and creative bits that a wood crafter can have in their shop.
The first bit is the Horizontal crown molding bit. This bit is used for creating raised panel for doors that you see in most fine furniture or kitchens. The second bits are vertical crown molding bits these range from your chair rail bits to cornice molding styles.
Horizontal crown molding router bits
These carbide tipped router bits also known as raised panel bits make the classic cove molding, popular in many home and casework projects. The designs are made easily and safely with a router table, using a feather board and push blocks to feed the work against the fence. Available in 3 different sizes for diverse projects - ranging from an Armoire to your house trim.
Just be aware that if have you’ve never used a horizontal crown molding router bit, your feeling at first upon installing it in your router table might be to remove it immediately, return it to the store and assure yourself that flat panel doors are what you really wanted to make. The reason is that anyone accustomed to operating a router table with small diameter edge-forming bits and modestly sized straight bits, these horizontal crown molding bits looks huge. They are large, for a router bit - a typical raised panel bit is over 3″ in diameter. That fact alone doesn’t make them dangerous, just a little scary to many less experienced woodworkers. I will show three different manufactures of these types of bits. All of these bits will get the job done, but it seem that the Woodtek and Magnate line have the most wide range of bits sizes.
Vertical crown molding router bit:
These bits produce a small to mid-size crown molding profile for furniture applications and molding for walls or chair rails. The vertical crown molding bit cuts the profile and bevel on the piece of wood to show the face of the work piece. These bits require a 2+ horsepower router, mounted in a table, with a fence to guide the work. Vertical crown molding router bits come in a range of decorative cutting styles and sizes. I will pick two types of vertical crown molding bits from at least three manufactures and compare them to let you know which ones are the best at a good price. After researching the different brands, I found that the Freud bits are nice, but for the money the Yonico crowning molding bits are the best buy.
Large crown molding router bits:
These bits are similar to the one you find in the vertical crown molding line but have larger profiles that allow you to cut large 2-1/4″ crown moldings while saving you a fortune and are also called Reversible Crown Molding bits. Due to the size of this cutter bits, be sure to make multiple passes to achieve full profile depth. Another line it this type of bit are the reversible crown molding bits. These unique designs allow you to create simpler single run crown moldings as well as more elaborate double run crown moldings. Simply flip the wood after the first run and make a second run using the same bit or any other molding or profile bit. Its versatility is limited only by your imagination. Large profiles such as these require multiple passes to cut the full profile depth. Two flute carbide cutters with a fully enclosed bearing. The leader in these types of bits seems to be Yonico
Architectural Molding Router Bit:
The Architectural Molding router bit is designed for routing architectural and furniture moldings and trim. The profile is laid out vertically, reducing the diameter of the bit. These bits are the same as the Vertical router bits, but give you a fancier profile or cuts outs on the wood. So I will show one or two different styles from the ones on the vertical bits to give you some more choices to add to your collection of wood router bits.
Summary:
All of these crown molding bits will give you that finishing touch that you want on your project, but I found that Yonico and Freud seem to be the best price at this time. It just a matter of design taste and types of cuts that you want these bits to achieve for you. The Horizontal and many of the Vertical crown molding bits are designed for trim pieces that go around the base of your floor or decorative walls. The Large revisable and Architectural crown molding bits can also be used to create fine wood furniture for the home. The best part with these bits is that you can’t go wrong, it is really all about what you as the wood worker want for your projects.