Whiteside Router Bits 3000 Template Bit with Ball Bearing

I’m building cabinets from 3/4 plywood so I cut the case sides a little oversized then put a straightedge along the finish cut line and this bit trims to the exact line. After I make the first 1/4 in pass the work piece is the guide for the rest. Using it in a plunge router so it is easy to make successive passes.

I bought this bit to route using guitar templates, both on the neck and body. Since it only removes 1/4 inch at a time, you wont get any tear-out and it leaves a very smooth edge on your work piece. After you use this to route the top 1/4 inch, you can remove your template and use your top routed layer as your template, which removes the risk of wearing your template by running a bearing on it repeatedly. I use this on my hand-held 1/4 shank Makita palm router and it works flawlessly. Go slowly and it will get the job done. For the price, its an amazing little bit.

I purchased the same bit at three different cut depth: Whiteside model #3000, #3001 and #3004. Be aware they are not for heavy work like (typically found at) Carpentry but they have place for furniture and cabinet making. I love to have all of them as it is easy to work with quite similar bits with interchanged bearings. I just work with the smaller of them, the #3000 model and as expected it performed spotless even for very heavy ipe wood. I expect the other two bits are at the same quality level. Strongly recommended.

I used this for 1.5 hours before the bearing disintegrated. So my project was put on hold while I sourced more bearings. At $8/each theyre not cheap and neither is this bit. Other reviews have reported the same. Next time Ill go with a CMT bit. If you need bearings, search for whiteside b9 bearing.

This thing is basically perfect and I cant really think of how itd be better.

Im sure the bit works well, but I cant speak on that just yet, since I havent been able to use it. I want to make cuts using a template, but since the allen key necessary to adjust the bearing doesnt come with it, I now need to go and get one. It cant cost that much to include the Allen key with the bit.

Cuts nice. Bearing is smooth. Bearing same size as cutter so I could use with pattern to cut out latch mortises. Still sharp after a couple dozen doors. Expect it to last years.

I paid more for this single bit than I did for a whole set of cheapo imported bits. However, I use this bit a lot, and its a joy. The cheap bits are only used occasionally, so I dont have elevated expectations for them. They do work, however. This bit is beautiful to look at, and very satisfying to use. No chattering, and cuts wood like its butter.

Replacement tool, always use these tools.

This bit was perfect. If you need to do perfect mortises off of a template this is what you need. I had another bit just like this one made buy one of the big companies that always made a mortise in need of fine tuning, this one was perfect from the start. Thanks to Stumpy Nubs for turning me on to this company. I will be sending them more business.