Surface Planning Bottom Cleaning Router Bit for Woodworking

What Is a Bottom Cleaning Router Bit?

A bottom cleaning router bit is a type of CNC or handheld router tool used to flatten the surface of wooden boards and clean out pockets. It is also called a surface planing router bit or slab flattening bit. The primary function is to create a smooth, even surface by shaving off small layers of material from the top or bottom of the wood.

Whether you’re preparing a spoilboard, resurfacing live edge slabs, or cleaning mortises and grooves, bottom cleaning bits are the go-to choice for precision, efficiency, and quality finish.

Key Features of Bottom Cleaning Router Bits

✔️ Carbide Tipped & High Carbon Steel Body

These router bits are manufactured using industrial-grade micrograin carbide tips brazed onto hardened steel bodies. The result? Exceptional durability, heat resistance, and edge retention.

✔️ Sharp, Radially Relieved Cutting Edges

Designed with precision-ground radial reliefs, these edges minimize friction, reduce the chance of burn marks, and provide clean and efficient material removal.

12mm-1-2-Shank-Two-Flutes-PCD-Straight-Router-Bit-Wood-Bottom-Cutter

✔️ High Wear Resistance

The fine grinding technique ensures abrasion resistance and long service life, even under high-speed CNC cutting.

✔️ Clean Finish Without Tear-Out

Perfect for trimming large surface areas without causing burrs, chips, or tear-out. These bits deliver smooth-bottom grooves, slots, and cavities.

Wide Range of Applications

The bottom cleaning router bit is a versatile cutting tool compatible with CNC routers, hand-held routers, and table-mounted routers. Use it for:

✅ Wood slab flattening

✅ Spoilboard surfacing

✅ Groove and pocket cleaning

✅ Slotting and trimming operations

Material compatibility:

Solid wood, plywood, MDF, particleboard, melamine boards, and most engineered wood composites. ⚠️ Not suitable for cutting metal, steel, or abrasive materials like sand.

Metric & Inch Size Chart for ARDEN Bottom Cleaning Router Bits

Available Shank Sizes:
• 1/4 inch (6.35mm)
• 1/2 inch (12.7mm)

Common Cutting Edge Diameters (CED):
From 9mm to 50mm in metric sizes, and 3/8″ to 2″ in imperial sizes.

Model	Shank (inch)	CED (mm/inch)	CEL (mm)
1/22515	1/2	25 mm	15 mm
1/25015	1/2	50 mm	15 mm
1/41215	1/4	12 mm	15 mm
1/2*3/4	1/2	19.05 mm	13 mm
1/2*1-1/2	1/2	38.1 mm	15 mm
(Full size chart available upon request)

📌 If you’re looking for a specific metric or imperial size, contact us – custom sizes and bulk orders are available!

Choosing the Right Bottom Cleaning Bit

1. Shank Size Compatibility:
Check your router’s collet size. Most CNC machines accept 1/2″ or 1/4″ shanks.

2. Cutting Diameter (CED):
For large slabs or spoilboard flattening, choose a wide CED (30–50mm). For trimming smaller areas or cleaning pockets, opt for 9–18mm.

3. Cutting Edge Length (CEL):
Make sure the CEL is deep enough for your routing depth without causing deflection.

Tips for Using Bottom Cleaning Bits Effectively

🔧 Start with a test pass. Adjust RPM and feed rate to avoid chip-out.
🧼 Keep your bit clean. Resin build-up dulls the edges.
🪚 Avoid aggressive cuts. Let the tool do the work — take multiple shallow passes.
📐 Use a flat spoilboard. It ensures the surface stays parallel and even.

Final Thoughts: Level Up Your Wood Projects

If you’re working on slab leveling, surface planing, or spoilboard resurfacing, the bottom cleaning router bit is a must-have. With its versatile application, precision cutting, and ARDEN-level quality, it’s perfect for both DIYers and professional CNC shops.

👉 Need help choosing the right bit?

Get in touch with our team for expert advice or browse our full catalog of Bottom Cleaning Router Bits today.