WoodWorkCalc

Workshop reference / 13 guides

Choose the right bit and setup.

Start with a shape you want to make. See how a cutting bit creates it, understand the names and learn what to check before using it.

Ready to choose a bit?

Compare seven practical examples by job, material and construction, with manufacturer sources and buying links.

Explore recommended bits

Start with the result

What would you like the wood to look like?

A bit is a cutting tool. Its shape helps determine the shape left in the wood. Explore an example before learning its technical name.

Shape left in the wood • side viewMaterial
Cross-section of a nominally flat-bottom groove. A round cutter still leaves radiused internal corners in plan view. Concept diagram, not to scale; guards and fixtures are omitted.

Straight bits & flat-end cutters

Make a place for a shelf to sit

A flat-end cutter can leave a flat-bottom channel. Its round shape still leaves curved inside corners.

Draw a channel for an actual measured shelf thickness, then plan a matching sample before the final piece.

Notice this: Check the fit, floor and corners separately. The bit's cutting width is not always its holding diameter.

Understand this bit and its setup →

Concept illustrations, not exact product profiles or operating instructions. Confirm compatibility and limits with the tool and machine makers.

2 guides

Keep a record of what works

Read the matching guide, use measured inputs in the calculator, then save your own documented setup and test result. Guidance stays public; saved settings stay in your account.