[Eph610]

Hello,

I ordered this Freud® 50-098 Oversized Top Bearing Flush Trim Router Bit - 5/16" Dia x 1" H x 1/4" Shank router bit inadvertently. After I opened and tossed package I realized i made an error. i meant to order a bit with bearing and cutter with the same diameter. I am new to hobby woodworking. Many years from now, I may attempt to build my own furniture and drawers and cabinets etc.

The bearing is oversized at 1/2 inch and cutter is 5/16 diameter. it’s a 1/4 shank.

I already have bushing sets for my 1/2 and 1/4 routers so I’m struggling to think of ways this oversized bearing bit might become useful in future.

Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[John Smith_]

welcome to the forum, EPH.
you can take the bearing off and just keep it with the rest of your bits.
you can order a bearing the size of the cutting area. (or see if your Box Stores carry bearings).
you can just hang on to it - some people's wealth is measured by the amount of tools they have.

 

[Eph610]

welcome to the forum, EPH.
you can take the bearing off..

Thank you. I couldn’t find any bearing this thin to match the cutting diameter (5/16)

Btw, does anyone know what this bit and bearing set up it used for originally? I’ll have to take a note of it.

 

[old55]

Welcome to the forum @Eph610

 

[kp91]

You can 'sneak up' on a template using a bit with a larger bearing, then use a regular pattern bit for a final pass.

Might come in handy if you are making male/female templates

 

[TenGees]

Much like using guide bushings, you can make templates that allow for the difference between the bearing and the bit.

 

[Stokestack]

Of course the result will be an object that's slightly larger than the pattern, so if you wanted to scale a pattern up symmetrically this might be useful. You could even do it a couple of times, making patterns from patterns, to enlarge the contour even more.

Or maybe you want to make something with a surface that's the exact size of the pattern, but with a chamfered edge.

 

[markbdusted]

I think some dovetail templates us bits like that. As said previously it would be like using a guide bushing that is always centered.

 

[bfblack]

The offset (or overhang) in this bit/bearing combination is 3/32" [(1/2 - 5/16)/2]. This means that the template you are following must be 3/32" smaller than the finished dimension.

 

[GregLittleWoodworks]

I have accumulated a lot of router bits over the years...some as I needed them for a specific use and others as part of a set. One thing I have realized is that all of them eventually got used.

 

[Eph610]

all of them eventually got used.

I like that approach. 🙂👍