Whiteside Router Bits UD2102 Up/Down Cut Spiral Bit with Solid Carbide Compression and 1/4-Inch Cutting Diameter

I spend a lot of time using router bits. Normally I go with the most cost effective (cheap) I can get at the local box store. These Whiteside bits are no joke and well worth the extra $. I’ve used it multiple time and it has yet to snap or dull.

These can be pricey, but other off brand end mills can break super easy. Whitesides is top shelf in my opinion. This worked perfectly for our plywood cnc cutting. I do 3/8 step downs on 3/4 material to reduce tear out on both sides . works perfectly

Bought this to cut out holes in maple-faced 1/2 plywood. Cuts very clean on both sides. No clean up required. Works, not much else to say!

Best bits on the market, bar none.

Used on my CNC. It cuts plywood well. If I use it to drill a quarter inch hole (straight up & down on the Z axis) it seems to cut a slightly oversize hole. Other 1/4 endmills are more typical of what I get using a standard drill bit in a drill press -- a tight fit for a 1/4 dowel.

After struggling between up and down cut spiral bits, finishing issues, and bit sharpness. I found the one. This bit is a game changer.

Great bit. Compression bits are the way to go if you really need to reduce or eliminate fraying and blowouts along the cut edges. I like Whiteside products anyway, but wasnt sure how this one would handle being subjected to plywood almost exclusively. It started out plenty sharp and made super clean cuts. It did finally wear down, but gave me a reasonable amount of use life. Fit my .25in router well. Plenty of shank for the chuck, while still having a long cutting surface. Helps reduce vibration and bit flexing. As with any bit, cut at the right depth and right speed and youll prolong the lifespan even more. Im buying another one, kinda says it all.

After seeing several positive endorsements of Whiteside bits on YouTube, I decided to order one to try. When it arrived it appeared to be a quality bit. About a month after receiving, I finally got the opportunity to use the bit making some 1/4 deep dadoes in plywood for 3 drawer bottoms. The bit functioned very well. Two days later, I needed to use the bit again to make 1/4 deep dadoes in some softwood (SYP) for a small pegboard frame. I routed the first side with no problem. After routing about 8 of the second side, the bit snapped in half, with the broken half falling into the router motor. I had to remove the router from the table and disassemble it to get the broken piece out, noting some scoring on the cooling fins caused by the broken bit. With this being my first experience with Whiteside, Ill have to think long and hard before I consider purchasing another. Ironically, the 30-day return window expired 2 days before the bit broke.

Works great. Nice and clean up and down cuts. Happy with his purchase.

What I like about this Whiteside compression cutter is that the upcut portion at the end is nicely compact which makes the tool usable in thinner material than many other options on the market. These are my go to small compression cutter for CNC work.