Big bit has the teeth for flattening slabs

I was excited to fire up Infinity’s new Mega Dado & Planer bit in my router jig for surfacing slabs (FWW #222, p. 44). It looked mean and sharp, like I could spin it in my fingers and knock down some high spots. Surfacing slabs can be tedious, so any savings in time or elbow grease is highly prized. Launching the bit upon a 5×7 slab of old-growth redwood burl, I was immediately gratified when it cut through the burl like it was a block of soap. I increased the depth gradually, and found that in this softwood I could get to a 1⁄2-in. depth of cut using slow, deliberate force to move the router, but it felt pretty intense and my shopwise Spidey-sense told me to back off the depth to more like 3⁄8 in. Next it was time to step up to a slab of claro walnut, and Matt Micucci (also of the Offerman Woodshop) had a similarly joyful experience. Because of the harder material, Matt found the sweet spot for depth of cut at 3⁄16 in. This bit was fantastic. It cut with almost no tearout, even around knots and irregularities. What’s more, after the two slabs were done, the bit was still sharp. I usually have to sharpen a bit after one slab, so this is a big deal.