Finding a Router bit used commonly in RV Construction

[JoeChiOhki]

There's a type of router bit, its used regularly in RV construction for cutting out Windows and vents in panel/plywood/etc... when RV's are constructed.

Usually a full sheet is installed on a wall, once its glue has set, a router is plunged in to cut out the wood over the window or other opening.

What kind of router bit is that? What is that normally called?

From when I watched them do it years ago, it seemed to have a roller or something of some kind on it to keep it from cutting into the framing when they removed the wood for the openings.

[69cayo]

It's called a panel pilot router bit.
Here's one example.........

https://www.boschtools.com/us/en/boschtools-ocs/two-flutes-pilot-panel-bits-with-drill-through-point...

Being the pilot is not a bearing you have to keep moving when using this bit.

Dennis

[billyg]

Depending on the surface you are cutting and the machine you are using you may also want to protect the surface outside the cut area from scratching. Bil

[pconroy328]

JoeChiOhki wrote:

What kind of router bit is that? What is that normally called?

From when I watched them do it years ago, it seemed to have a roller or something of some kind on it to keep it from cutting into the framing when they removed the wood for the openings.

You've already gotten some great answers. Sounds like some fellow woodworkers are here too.

If you want to plunge the bit into (and through) the sheet of ply, that's a plunge bit as mentioned. I use a Solid Carbide Spiral Upcut bit, 1/2 shank.

When there's a bearing on the bit, it's a Pattern or Template bit. Bearings come at the bottom of the bit (near the router base) and at the tip. You can choose.

Plunge AND Pattern will take a bit of searching.

Whiteside bits are my personal favorite. I'd head to their website and poke around.

[Steve_in_29]

Plunge Cut, Straight router bit.

[JoeChiOhki]

rider997 wrote:

JoeChiOhki wrote:
There's a type of router bit, its used regularly in RV construction for cutting out Windows and vents in panel/plywood/etc... when RV's are constructed.

Usually a full sheet is installed on a wall, once its glue has set, a router is plunged in to cut out the wood over the window or other opening.

What kind of router bit is that? What is that normally called?

From when I watched them do it years ago, it seemed to have a roller or something of some kind on it to keep it from cutting into the framing when they removed the wood for the openings.

Depends on how you guide the cut. If you want to use a template, you can use the router base OR a guide bushing inserted into the base to guide your cut, and buy a solid carbide upcut spiral bit. You can plunge with the bit and it'll make a nice cut. You can also purchase a template bit with a top bearing guide.

A flush trim bit will have a bottom bearing guide, but you cannot plunge with a flush trim bit (since the bearing is on the bottom of it).

If you want to guide the cut by the internal wall framing, a bottom bearing flush trim bit will be by far the easiest to use. You can get a solid carbide flush trim spiral with a small diameter for a small corner radius, but this isn't usually required for RV windows with very large corner radii.

I highly recommend Whiteside router bits... They're actually less expensive than a decent bit at the big box stores (Freud) and last unimaginably longer and make dramatically cleaner cuts than the cheap Chinese bits.

http://www.whitesiderouterbits.com

Thanks, the corners are all going to be tiny radius, as this unit uses 90 degree corners instead of the radius type found in newer RVs. I'm mostly looking for a somewhat fool proof way for me to get all the openings cut out right, and the easiest way for me to do that is install the wood sheet and then cut the openings out of it after its in place with a router.

[rider997]

JoeChiOhki wrote:
There's a type of router bit, its used regularly in RV construction for cutting out Windows and vents in panel/plywood/etc... when RV's are constructed.

Usually a full sheet is installed on a wall, once its glue has set, a router is plunged in to cut out the wood over the window or other opening.

What kind of router bit is that? What is that normally called?

From when I watched them do it years ago, it seemed to have a roller or something of some kind on it to keep it from cutting into the framing when they removed the wood for the openings.

Depends on how you guide the cut. If you want to use a template, you can use the router base OR a guide bushing inserted into the base to guide your cut, and buy a solid carbide upcut spiral bit. You can plunge with the bit and it'll make a nice cut. You can also purchase a template bit with a top bearing guide.

A flush trim bit will have a bottom bearing guide, but you cannot plunge with a flush trim bit (since the bearing is on the bottom of it).

If you want to guide the cut by the internal wall framing, a bottom bearing flush trim bit will be by far the easiest to use. You can get a solid carbide flush trim spiral with a small diameter for a small corner radius, but this isn't usually required for RV windows with very large corner radii.

I highly recommend Whiteside router bits... They're actually less expensive than a decent bit at the big box stores (Freud) and last unimaginably longer and make dramatically cleaner cuts than the cheap Chinese bits.

http://www.whitesiderouterbits.com

[JoeChiOhki]

Tamnative wrote:
You can use a mortising bit wit a collet or you can use a laminating bit that would have the bearing on the bottom or you could use a pattern bit that has the bearing on the top. Regardless of the type of bit you use you will want a template to guide it. I would not do it free hand as it can easily go where you don't want it thus ruining the opening.

That's why I asked, this was done free hand when I watched it done. Router was started, plunged roughly into the center of where the opening is and then guided over till it hit the frame, then used the frame as a guide to cut out the opening.

[mmccwill]

I don`t recall the correct name of the bit, but I used them when I worked in the RV business, & I have 2 in my shop -- They are 1/4 inch bit`s for a router -- Have a sharp point on the end ( no roller bearing)with a blade on each side -- These are not the same bit used to trim counter tops -- Bill Willard

[Tamnative]

You can use a mortising bit wit a collet or you can use a laminating bit that would have the bearing on the bottom or you could use a pattern bit that has the bearing on the top. Regardless of the type of bit you use you will want a template to guide it. I would not do it free hand as it can easily go where you don't want it thus ruining the opening.

[mkirsch]

A rotozip is the whole tool. The guide that keeps the bit flush is part of the tool's base. You can't just put a rotozip bit in a router and expect it to work properly.

I have also heard these bits called "flush cut." Google of "flush cut router bit" shows many that will perform the function that you describe.

[azrving]

At HD it's called roto zip. It's used for drywall but would probably work on vinyl/plastics. The bit is like a drill but the end has a smooth area instead of the normal shape of a drill bit. When using on drywall the smooth area lets the bit slide along the edge of plastic electrical boxes without cutting the plastic.

I believe the bit is 1/8 inch diameter. It's the only way to go when working with drywall.

Bit

[Uncle_Dot]

What you Could use is called a pattern bit. It will have the bearing on the top of the bit to follow a pattern or other object you are cutting the opening to. Some will have pointed plunge type ends others flat ends depending on if you are through cutting or not. They are made for thinner/lighter cuts.

These work OK for a few light duty cutouts but for thick material in one pass I prefer to use a heavy plunge bit with a templete guide attached to the router. We plunge hands holds in 3/4 poplar this way. It takes a powerful router to do this. We use 4hp 240v units in the prodution shop.

There are plunge tip bits with the bearing on the bottom to follow a rear templete but they are hard to find and the bearing usually seases up from heat and debris real quickly.

[meleavingsoon]

JoeChiOhki wrote:
There's a type of router bit, its used regularly in RV construction for cutting out Windows and vents in panel/plywood/etc... when RV's are constructed.

Usually a full sheet is installed on a wall, once its glue has set, a router is plunged in to cut out the wood over the window or other opening.

What kind of router bit is that? What is that normally called?

From when I watched them do it years ago, it seemed to have a roller or something of some kind on it to keep it from cutting into the framing when they removed the wood for the openings.

The specific bit you are asking about is actually called a "plunge" bit. It is used in CNC machines and free handed routers along with a collar/guide attached to the router base. Or it can be used w/o the collar by clamping a template down to the material and the solid portion of the shaft just follows the template. The bit has no bearing on the end of it, only a sharp end which allows it to be "plunged" into the material you wish to cut. I used it all the time for cutting out sink holes in laminate and corian countertops.

Some of the other bits mentioned by others are a little different in the design and have roller bearings or solid shafts at the end which allow the bit to follow an edge... like trimming laminate countertop edges. These trim bits can be used as a plunge bit if a hole is first drilled so the router bit can be dropped into the hole. But depending on what you are trying to accomplish the bearing on the end of the bit may get in your way.

Phil

[Leland1950]

It's called a trimming bit, use all the time when laminating counter tops. HD, Lowes, all have them.