*** CAUTION *** The cutting flutes on this router bit are EXTREMELY sharp! Use CAUTION when handling.
This is a special ¾”diameter router bit custom manufactured to our specifications with a pin inserted in the center. The bit has two (2) carbide cutting flutes and a ¼” diameter shaft. This router bit makes it very easy to route gains for slot car tracks using ¼” braid. Note the center pin is designed to ride in a slot cut using another router bit (i.e. the center pin on this bit will NOT route/cut the slot). The result is both braid recesses (“gains”) are the same width around the entire layout – even in the corners regardless of radius (refer to Figure 1 below).
In contrast, using a router base with a 2 pin (leading/trailing) setup and a standard router bit will result in gains with varying widths in the corners. One gain will be a little too narrow, the other gain a little too wide - the greater the distance between the pins and the tighter the corner radius, the more pronounced the differences will be (refer to Figure 2 below). This will be further exaggerated if the pins are undersized.
IMPORTANT: These router bits require a slot which is at least 1/4" (6.35mm) deep to work properly. The center pin in the special router bit is NOT designed to be bottomed out in the slot to set your gain depth (doing so will typically result in gains that are MUCH too deep). The center pin's SOLE purpose is to guide the bit. The gain depth should be set using a scrap piece of MDF and a short piece of the actual braid you plan to install. A good starting point is to set the router bit depth to .040". Make some test cuts (slot and gains) using the scrap MDF to achieve the correct gain depth BEFORE routing the actual gains in your track. Test using your short length of braid - the top of the braid should be recessed slightly (.010" - .020") below the racing surface.
IMPORTANT: When routing gains for a banked turn, route the gains when the track section is still flat (i.e. BEFORE pulling the track section together to form the banked turn). If this is not possible, you will need to use a compact router with the smallest base possible (you may need to custom fabricate one) to minimize variations of gain depth when the router base passes over the banking.