If you do a lot of template work on thicker stock, there is no better router bit than Whiteside’s Ultra-Long Ultimate Trim Combination (UDC9213). With a 7/8-in.-dia., 2-1/8-in.-long cutting surface, this bit cuts beautifully. The direction of the cutting edges reverses at the midpoint in a compression arrangement that reduces tearout on both the top and bottom edges of a workpiece.

The bearings at the top and bottom let you flush-trim and pattern-rout in several ways. For example, to change the cutting direction, you can simply flip your template and workpiece and adjust the bit height. But if you end up routing against the grain, this bit’s large diameter softens the exit angle, reducing tearout.

The Whiteside bit not only cuts amazingly in all materials, but it cuts super fast as well, simply eating wood. And when I made a 3/8-in.-deep cut on a 1-1/4-in.-thick board, the routed surface was as sparkling as ever.

The only downside to this bit is the price. For template work and flush-trimming tasks, however, it will save you lots of time and sanding. And if you don’t need both bearings or quite this much cutting length, Whiteside sells a number of configurations that are less expensive. For example, the UDC9112—which is essentially the same bit but with a 1-1/8-in. cutting length—is $173 on Amazon.

To power the UDC9213 properly, I recommend a 2-1/4-hp-or-larger router and a cutting speed of 10,000 to 12,000 rpm.

 

—Mike Farrington is a furniture maker in Aurora, Colo.