What is the difference between Upcut and Downcut router bits?
Down-cut and up-cut are the most common spiral bits, differing in cutting direction and how wood chips are evacuated.
What is an upcut router bit?
Upcut router bits have the cutting edges facing upward, cutting into the material from below. This design makes them suitable for surface cutting and carving tasks on wood. Upcut bits generate cutting forces upward, so they are often used on CNC cutting machines to avoid lifting the wood or damaging the cutting surface. Upcut router bits can also be used for creating details and decorative woodworking projects such as carving and relief work.
What is a downcut router bit?
Downcut router bits have the cutting edges facing downward, cutting into the material from above. This design makes them highly effective for cutting sheet materials and woodworking components. Downcut bits generate cutting forces downward, firmly holding the material onto the work surface and producing clean, smooth cutting edges. Downcut router bits are commonly used for making furniture, joinery, and edge trimming in woodworking.
They’re great for cutting grooves with super crisp edges, especially in tearout-prone materials like highly figured wood, plywood, and other veneers.
If you ever lose track of whether a bit is a down-cut or up-cut, here’s what to do.
Hold the bit by the shank with the tip pointing down (this is important)
Rotate the bit clockwise, the way a router spins
If the flutes appear to move down, it’s a down-cut bit
If the flutes appear to move up, it’s an up-cut bit
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