Shear-Angle Flush Trim bits - any experience?

[Jeff Cord]

I need to get a flush trim bit to do some laminate work and forsee in the future needing to trim other materials (such as face frames) flush to cases when I start doing some cabinets for the wife.
Does anyone have experience with the shear-angle bits versus the standard straight flute bits? Are they any better?
This link http://www.mlcswoodworking.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/smarthtml/pages/bt_flush.html#shear_angle_anchor is an example of one I may purchase.
thanks,
Jeff

[Dan Rider]

I can't comment on flush trim bits, because I only have straight-cut ones. But with roundover & cove bits, my shear-cut bits cut noticeably smoother than their same-size straight-cut brothers. Some of this may have to do with my shear-cut bits being better quality to begin with (Lee Valley & Freud).

As an example, last weekend I cut a full 3/8 cove around the edge of a black walnut sign with my shear-cut LV bit in 3 passes, and the shavings that were produced were just that -- shavings, not chips. They looked like they had come off of a micro-planer. They were curled and paper-thin. Needless to say, no sanding was necessary.

So my opinion is that shear-cut bits do in fact "peel" the wood to a certain extent, and produce a cleaner cut.

[Greg Scott]

Jeff,
I've tried the straight and sheer. I didn't see a lot of difference between the two on hardwoods. But if you want a much better cut that will all but eliminate tearout use the spiral flush trim. These are great, expensive but great.
Greg

http://www.mlcswoodworking.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/smarthtml/pages/bt_solid.html#spiral_flushtrim_anchor