Router Bits: How to Choose the Right CNC or Hand Router Bit (Straight vs Spiral, Flute Count, Flat vs Ball Nose, Shank and Collet)

This page started as the toolings.co.za "Router Bits" page (published March 2022, last changed April 2023). That page introduced the solid-carbide range, named the bit families (EG1, EG2, EB2, ES1, ES2, ES3 and the granite and marble bits) and answered a few questions, but it never explained how to actually pick a bit. This deepened version is a plain-language guide to choosing a router bit: what each design choice does, which family suits which material and job, how to match the shank to your collet, and where to go next. The original 2022 page is kept word for word at the bottom.

Facts come from the original toolings.co.za page, the AM.CO.ZA product data behind buythis.co.za (Buythis dump and product JSON on am.im; dump dated up to 2026-10-20) and an AM.CO.ZA YouTube video, each named where it is used. Prices change, so this page quotes none: check each linked Buythis page or the Buythis toolings category. Stock is not shown here. Full size tables live on the family pages linked below; the whole tooling range, collets and tool holders are on the sister page CNC Tooling, Mills and Bits.

Quick answer

Every bit in this range is solid carbide. The product data reads: "Solid YG10 Grade High Density Tungsten Carbide Rod, Tolerance Under ±0.05mm". AM.CO.ZA's range video adds that "Tungsten carbide is an extremely hard chemical compound made of equal parts of tungsten and carbon atoms" (Explore Our CNC Router Tool Bit Range (2026-09-14)).
Plastics and acrylic: use a spiral (upcut) bit. MDF, melamine and laminated boards: use a straight-cut bit. That is the original page's own rule of thumb.
More flutes means a smoother wall and a faster feed, but less room for chips. One flute clears chips best and runs coolest; two or three flutes finish better.
Flat end for flat floors, profiles and cut-outs; ball nose for 3D carving and rounded grooves.
Stone needs its own grit bits and water. Do not cut marble or granite with wood bits.
The shank must match your collet. A 6 mm shank needs a 6 mm collet; S3 codes can mean 3 mm or 3.175 mm (1/8 inch), so read the product name.
CNC or hand router, manual or automatic tool change: the same shanks fit the same collets, as the original page says.

The four choices that define a router bit

1. Straight cut or spiral

A straight-cut bit has flutes that run parallel to the shank. It neither pulls the material up nor pushes it down, so both faces of a laminated board stay clean. The product data for the straight-cut range lists "hardwood, plywood, melamine chipboard and veneers" and promises "a neat finish on both sides of the material" (TL-EG1-S3B15T8/30).

A spiral bit has flutes that wind around the body like a drill. Every spiral bit in this range is an upcut spiral: the flutes lift chips up and out of the cut. The product data says the upcut single-flute design "efficiently removes chips and reduces heat during operation" (TL-ES1-S3B08T2/30). Chips that leave the cut quickly cannot re-melt into plastic or burn wood, which is why spirals suit acrylic and solid timber. The trade-off is that an upcut bit can lift fibres on the top face of veneered or melamine board; that is when a straight-cut bit is the better pick.

The original page mentions down-cut and compression spirals in passing. None are in the current AM.CO.ZA range: no TL- product name in the Buythis dump is a down-cut or compression bit.

2. Flute count (one, two or three)

One flute (ES1, EG1): the biggest chip space, so the best chip clearance and the least heat. A strong default for acrylic, plastics and small-diameter work.
Two flutes (ES2, EG2, EB2): a smoother wall at a higher feed rate. The straight-cut double flute "supports faster feed rates than single-flute bits while producing a clean finish on both the top and bottom surfaces" (TL-EG2-S3B15T5/30).
Three flutes (ES3): the finest finish and fastest feeds in harder material. The range video describes the "spiral three flute design and a flat endmill for precision cutting and smooth finishes" (Explore Our CNC Router Tool Bit Range (2026-09-14)).

The original page puts it simply: tooling with a "higher number of flutes are used for cutting at higher speeds".

3. Flat end or ball nose

Flat end bits cut a square floor and a straight wall: profiles, cut-outs, pockets, slots, lettering and inlays. All of ES1, ES2, ES3, EG1 and EG2 are flat end.
Ball nose bits (EB2) have a rounded tip for "smooth curves, rounded grooves and detailed surfaces" (TL-EB2-S10T32/4). They are the bit for 3D reliefs, moulds and carved signs, usually after a flat bit has roughed out most of the waste.

4. Diameter, cutting length and shank

Cutting diameter sets the smallest inside corner and the finest detail. The range runs from 0.8 mm bits on a 3 mm shank up to 12 mm.
Cutting length must be longer than the depth you cut, but no longer than you need: a shorter bit is stiffer and breaks less.
Shank must match the collet. Small detail bits mostly sit on 3 mm or 3.175 mm shanks; larger bits use a shank equal to the cutting diameter.
Read the SKU: TL-<family>-S<shank>[B<diameter>]T<cutting length>[/<pack>]. For example TL-EG1-S3B15T8/30 is a 1.5 mm straight-cut single-flute bit on a 3 mm shank with 8 mm cutting length, pack of 30. The CNC Tooling, Mills and Bits page explains every part of the code.

Which family for which job

Family	Design	SKUs in dump	Shanks	Best for	Family page
`EG1`	Straight cut, single flute, flat end	21	3, 3.175, 4, 6 mm	MDF, plywood, melamine and veneered boards, fine detail	EG1
`EG2`	Straight cut, double flute, flat end	41	3, 3.175, 4, 5, 6 mm	The same boards at a faster feed with a clean top and bottom	EG2
`ES1`	Upcut spiral, single flute, flat end	54	3, 3.175, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12 mm	Acrylic, Perspex, ABS, HDPE, MDF and hardwood; general profiling	ES1
`ES2`	Upcut spiral, double flute, flat end	63	3, 3.175, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12 mm	Smoother walls in hardwood and plastics; also aluminium and brass	ES2
`ES3`	Upcut spiral, three flutes, flat end	16	3.175, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 mm	Fine finish and faster feeds in wood, plastics and non-ferrous material	ES3
`EB2`	Spiral double flute, ball nose	59	3, 3.175, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12 mm	3D carving, reliefs, moulds, rounded grooves	EB2

That is 254 carbide end-mill SKUs in the Buythis dump. Group pages compare families side by side: straight cut flat end mills for wood, spiral flat end mills and spiral ball nose end mills. An older AM.CO.ZA article, Select the Right CNC Router Bit, covers the same choices with more background.

Material notes straight from the product data: the 0.8 mm upcut single flute suits "acrylic, Perspex, ABS and HDPE" (TL-ES1-S3B08T2/30); the 6 mm upcut double flute lists "hardwood, plastic, aluminium and brass" (TL-ES2-S6T22/20); the 12 mm three flute is for "wood, plastics and suitable non-ferrous materials" (TL-ES3-S12T32/4).

Stone: granite and marble bits

Stone is porous and brittle, so it is not cut with a sharp carbide edge like wood. The stone families (CF, CB, CT, CV, FF, FB, FT, MF and TV; 41 SKUs in the dump) use a grit section, run wet, and cut slowly. For example, the coarse-grit marble flat end TL-CF-S10T12-60S is rated for "24,000 RPM or higher" with a feed of about 0.8 m/min. Coarse grit suits soft marble; granite needs fine grit and a slower feed. See Granite CNC Machine Toolings, Marble CNC Machine Tooling and CNC Machining Stone.

Setting up: collets, speeds and passes

Collet. Match the collet system to your spindle (ER11, ER20, ER25 or ER32) and the collet size to the shank. The R-ER11/SET holds "3mm, 4mm and 6mm collets"; the R-ER25/SET covers "3mm, 4mm, 6mm, 8mm, 10mm, 12mm and 1/2-inch". On EasyRoute automatic-tool-change routers, the R-ISO30F is the "default holder specified for EasyRoute-ATC routers".
A starting recipe. For the 1.5 mm straight-cut single flute the product data says: "Recommended operation is a 3–6 mm stepdown, 18,000–20,000 RPM and a 3–5 m/min feed rate" (TL-EG1-S3B15T8/30). Start there, then adjust by the sound, the chips and the heat of the bit.
Step down in passes. In AM.CO.ZA's inlay demo, "we start off with a 2mm bit and 4mm depth cuts to create an inlay for lettering", then larger bits cut the pockets and the male letters (Explore Our CNC Router Tool Bit Range (2026-09-14)).
Clear the chips with dust extraction on wood and plastics, and use water on stone.
Check for heat after the first job; a hot bit or collet means the feed is too slow or the speed too high for that bit.

Hand routers and automatic tool changers

The original page answers both: CNC routers and hand routers "use the same kinds of tooling", and manual and automatic tool change machines use the "same kinds of collet so same kinds of toolings as well". The one exception it names is hand-router bits with a "guiding wheel" (a bearing) on the tip for guiding by hand; those are hand-router only, and the current AM.CO.ZA range does not list them.

FAQ

What are the bits made from? Solid YG10-grade high-density tungsten carbide, ground to under ±0.05 mm.

Which bit for acrylic or Perspex? An upcut spiral, usually single flute (ES1); it clears chips fast so the plastic does not melt back into the cut.

Which bit for melamine or veneered board? A straight-cut bit (EG1 or EG2), which keeps both faces clean.

Which bit for 3D carving? A ball nose (EB2), after roughing with a flat end mill.

Do you sell down-cut or compression bits? Not in the current range; every spiral bit listed is upcut.

Can I use these on a hand router? Yes, if your hand router's collet matches the shank.

Where do I buy them? On the Buythis toolings category or each linked Buythis page.

Videos used on this page

Explore Our CNC Router Tool Bit Range (2026-09-14)

Original toolings.co.za page

Source: https://toolings.co.za/router-bits

published: 2022-03-02 13:00:36
modified: 2023-04-04 16:23:50

On Point Precision,

in Every Router Bit

    Our Router Bits Are Born From a Single, Solid Tungsten Carbide Rod, a Superior Base For Crafting the Pinnacle of Pin Point Routing Precision.

        [Router Bits 101](https://toolings.co.za/router-bits-101-know-your-bits)
        [Shop Router Bits](https://buythis.co.za/toolings)

The Journey of Making My Guitar

The Trusted Route

    Not all Journeys follows the same route, as not all destinations are not the same. Some will choose the less traveled route.

However, in this case following a tried and tested route, speeds up your journey and makes the destination clear. Standing on the shoulders of those that came before us, helps one reach further and achieve more.

A tool is only as remarkable as the artist that wields it but every little bit helps. Quality, Cost Effective Toolings.co.za Bits that is.

Not So Run-Of-The-Mill

    After 9 years of working with the [AM.CO.ZA](https://AM.CO.ZA) team in perfecting their [multipurpose EasyRoute system](https://buythis.co.za/cnc-routers), we have now turned this experience to curating a range complimentary toolings and bits for all standard Routers.

With precision machined router bits from Solid YG10 Grade High Density Tungsten Carbide Rods - we are focused on intersection between cost effective, precision tooling and quality materials that will deliver accurate projects, on time.

What Type of TOOLING is Right For The Job?

        [Not Sure? See Our Bit Comparison](https://toolings.co.za/router-bits/#straight-vs-up--vs-down-cut)

Straight Cut Router Bits

    Straight Cut bits are much more minimal in design and constriction. They are intended for little less specialised - more general cutting. In some cases stright cut bits might be a little less efficient that specialised bits but a great all round player, and in most cases a suitable for most materials

Straight Cut Router Bits

                        - [EG1: Straight Cut Single Flute](https://toolings.co.za/router-bits/eg1)

                            - [EG2: Straight Cut Double Flute](https://toolings.co.za/router-bits/eg2)

Spiral Flutes Router Bits

    Spiral Fluted Router Bits comes in various configurations, each has a purpose - and strengths and weaknesses. The areas of concern is usually centred around flute count, flute spiral direction (up, down , compressed); and chip /debris ejection direction and rate.

Spiral Flutes Ball Nose End Mills

                        - [EB2:  Spiral Double Flutes](https://toolings.co.za/router-bits/eb2)

Spiral Flutes Flat End Mills

                        - [ES1: Single Flute Flat End](https://toolings.co.za/router-bits/es1)

                            - [ES2: Spiral Double Flutes Flat](https://toolings.co.za/router-bits/es2)

                            - [ES3: Triple Flute Flat End](https://toolings.co.za/router-bits/es3)

Specialist Router Bits

    Due to its porous and brittle nature – CNC Machining Stone like Granite and Marble, it is important to use the correct cutting tools.

Granite CNC Machine toolings

                        - [Ballnose (Std.)](https://toolings.co.za/stone-masonry/granite-toolings#standard)

                            - [Ballnose (Tapered)](https://toolings.co.za/stone-masonry/granite-toolings#tapered)

                            - [Flat End mill](https://toolings.co.za/stone-masonry/granite-toolings#flat)

                            - [Rough](https://toolings.co.za/stone-masonry/granite-toolings#rough)

                            - [V-Profile](https://toolings.co.za/stone-masonry/granite-toolings#profile)

Marble CNC Machine toolings

                        - [Ballnose (Std.)](https://toolings.co.za/stone-masonry/marble-toolings#standard)

                            - [Ballnose (Tapered)](https://toolings.co.za/stone-masonry/marble-toolings#tapered)

                            - [Flat End mill](https://toolings.co.za/stone-masonry/marble-toolings#flat)

                            - [V-Profile](https://toolings.co.za/stone-masonry/marble-toolings#profile)

frequently asked questions

About The Router Bits

                                            What are these Router bits made from?
                Bits are machined form from Solid YG10 Grade High Density Tungsten Carbide Rods

                                            What Type of TOOLING  is Right For Me?
                There is no definitive answer here as all need differ. Generally speaking, for plastic like solid materials – use spiral tooling bits; for MDF and alike materials – use straight cut tool bits. Generally toolings with higher number of flutes are used for cutting at higher speeds. Check out our [Know Your Bits](https://toolings.co.za/router-bits-101-know-your-bits) page for more info or speak to our sales team.

                                            What materials can be machined & milled?
                Depending on the Tooling bit selected, one can mill and machine different **Plastics & Acrylics** *(ABS, Acrylic, Perspex, Plexiglas, HPDE etc);* **Soft Woods & Composites** *(MDF, Supawood etc)*, **Hardwood & Laminates***(solid woods, plywood etc). Check out our [Know Your Bits](https://toolings.co.za/router-bits-101-know-your-bits) page for more info or speak to our sales team.*

                                            Are these compatible with automatic tool changers?
                Toolings Bits are ready for either **manual tool change**, or **automatic tool change**, all use same kinds of collet so same kinds of toolings as well. There is no difference for manual or automatic tool changer CNC machines.

                                            Are these compatible with manual hand routers?
                Either **CNC router**, or **hand router** use the same kinds of tooling. **However, some tooling are designed for hand routers only, these have a guiding wheel on the tip for easy positioning and guiding by hand.

                                            What CNC Machines are recommended?
                Toolings.co.za bits can be used on most reputable CNC Routers, However our tooling has been curated, sourced and tested with AM.CO.ZA’s  EasyRoute CNC System in mind.

Shipping & Delivery

                                            How is the Device Shipped / Delivered?
                We have stock at our warehouse in Johannesburg, and items are couriered from there via a shipping company as with any of our other machines. You are also welcome to collect by yourself in Johannesburg. Be sure to check the pack Size and the amount of router bit in each pack
                                                            [https://am.co.za](https://am.co.za)
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If you have any questions, not already answered on the site, please contact us our support number or via the details below.

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