• Tungsten Carbide Tipped Cutters (TC/HW)
  This grade of cutters has Tungsten Carbide Tips brazed onto a steel body and is designed to cut the most abrasive materials. With careful handling TCT cutters will outlast HSS grade cutters by many times under normal conditions. Small sized cutters have a solid carbide insert. Applications include cutting, routing and profiling natural timbers, plywood, MDF, chipboard and abrasive plastics such as Tufnol, GRP and Corian.
  
  
• Solid Tungsten Carbide Cutters (STC)
  These are turned, milled and ground from a solid piece of tungsten carbide and provide the greatest durability when used under high-load conditions. They also offer better plunge cutting characteristics than TCT and can be re-sharpened many more times. Furthermore, a harder grade of carbide is used as the tool is not being brazed. They have similar applications to TCT grade cutters.
  
  
• Super High Speed Steel Cutters (HSS)
  This is a specially developed grade of High Speed Steel, precision ground to the highest tolerances. This grade gives the finest finish with softwoods such as pine.
  
  
• Super High Speed Steel (HSSE)
  This grade of cutters are used for specialised applications, typically in the window industry for machining aluminium and uPVC extrusions.
  
  
• Carbon Steel Tooling (WS)
  Although not offering the same durability as HSS grade, Carbon Steel is extensively used in the production of forsteners, countersinks, and spindle moulder tooling for use on natural timbers. It offers a cost-effective solution for many applications.

Shank Diameter
For many applications the strength of the cutter often depends on the diameter of the cutter shank. Essentially, the thicker the cutter shank, the more wood can be removed in any one pass of the cutter, with less risk of the cutter flexing excessively or, in extreme, breaking.

Light duty routers and many medium duty models are usually supplied with only a 6.5 mm (1/4") diameter collet. The Trend T5 is supplied with both 1/4" and 8 mm collets. The introduction of 8 mm shanks has allowed many of the larger diameter cutters to be used in medium duty routers, although particular care must be taken when using them and any manufacturer's recommendations concerning cutting speed and depth of cut must be closely observed.

Heavy duty routers can be fitted with collets of 6.35 mm (1/4”), 9.5 mm (3/8”), 12.7 mm (1/2”) and 8 mm diameter. The Trend T9 comes with 1/4" and 1/2" collets as standard. We can supply Trend collets to suit virtually any router. A full spare parts and repair service is also available.

Please contact us with your requirements regarding all Trend router cutters.
All goods are sold subject to our standard Conditions Of Sale