A range of cutters with solid Tungsten Carbide inserts brazed into steel shanks. especially suited to CNC cutting of plywood, although they are equally good at cutting MDF.
Cleaner top and bottom edge finish
Improved cross grain finish with reduced tear-out
Better chip clearance than either compression or down-cut spirals
Reduced up-lift on vacuum beds compared to up-cut spirals
Much reduced noise levels compared to spiral cutters
Wealden’s latest PCD cutter has been specifically designed to meet the need for fast cutting 18mm MFC in one pass. This high shear compression cutter gives a clean cut on both faces, without having to sink the cutter into the spoil board. Being a PCD cutter good longevity can be expected together with feed rates better than 10 metres/minute. See a video about these cutters being tested on a CNC router.
News
Biscuit Jointing on the CNC
Wealden have just introduced a range of tooling to create biscuit joints and P-System biscuit joints on the CNC machine. Blades and arbors are 22mm bore and are fixed with four countersunk screws. The 15mm arbor has a plain shank while the 20mm arbor has a height setting screw as well, which can be removed if not required.
Wealden’s new two flute Mitre Jointer offers a method of mitre jointing timber or man-made boards accurately. Unlike V-groovers, the Mitre Jointer can be relied on to create a joint at 90 degrees.
The cutter can be used against the fence on a router table or bearing-guided by the optional bearing kit TB1985. However, this is a large cutter and should only be used in a fixed machine and at 10,000 rpm maximum.
Wealden have designed a set of tungsten tipped cutters aimed at those producing and fitting wall panels. Allowing for a hidden fixing within the joint, the cutter set goes well with Wealden’s Bead and Butt MDF cutter for making more traditional wainscott panels.
The set comprises a Tongue cutter assembly and a Groove cutter assembly with 1/2″ shank and is available to purchase on the Wealden website.
News
Bead & butt MDF cutter launched
Wealden have just designed a two flute TC tipped cutter that can be used in conjunction with a tilting base trim router to machine a bead & butt profile in MDF. Available in 8mm shank on the Wealden website.
Wealden design new cutter for J handle handleless drawers
Wealden have designed a new cutter for finger pull mouldings on MDF and timber doors and drawers, which produces a profile with a good grip recess on 18mm or 22mm thick material.
The cutter moulds the recess from the rear of the door and, when used with a separate rear insert, overcomes the difficulty of painting into the finger grip from the front. Inserts in contrasting materials or colours can be used, offering the opportunity for unique designs and shapes.
In response to customers’ requests, Wealden have just produced a range of Flush Groovers, which have shank-mounted bearings and a flush bottom. Without a bearing or nut below the cutting edge it is possible to cut down into rebates and above a sub-base etc. This is especially useful for working on flooring in situ, where a joint or false tongue is required.
The 6.35mm groover is suitable for false tongue work using 6mm ply as the tongue.
Wealden design new Arris Round Miniature Bearing cutters
We’ve just designed some new two flute TC tipped cutters for arrising in confined grooves. The top edge of the cutter has a taper after the radius to produce a soft edge to the cut without the need for any additional finishing. The 6mm bearing allows radiusing on tight corners or in narrow grooves.
New sizes of solid carbide Straight cutters in stock at Wealden
Wealden have just expanded their range of STC Straight cutters machined from a single piece of Tungsten Carbide. Offering superior performance to brazed tip tooling, the range now includes cutters with a width of cut from 3mm – 12mm.
Chris returns with a medal from Worldskills Russia!
Chris Caine, sponsored by Wealden at the Wordskills Russia competition held in Kazan in August 2019, was presented with a medallion of excellence. He achieved a score that was recognised to be of world-class standard and one that is recognised by the woodworking industry internationally. Many congratulations to Chris from us all at Wealden!
News
Wealden Tools proud to sponsor the Fenland Black Oak Project
In 2012 a Fenland farmer’s plough hit an absolutely gigantic black oak tree, which had been buried deep beneath the peat for 5,000 years. Black oak is by far the nation’s most ancient, rarest and valuable native hardwood and at over 13 metres long, the Jubilee Oak is a giant amongst giants.
It was immediately recognised there was a need to preserve such a rare discovery. With no budget and against all the odds companies were approached to support this unique project. A vast sawmill was flown over from Canada and, astonishingly, the tree produced 10 magnificent sequential boards unlike anything seen before.
The boards were transported to the Building Crafts College in Stratford, East London, where a specifically designed 14 metre drying kiln had been constructed. Nine months later 397 gallons of water had been extracted, the boards’ weight had been reduced by 1.6 tons and ten breathtakingly beautiful flat and true sequential boards of 13.2 metre long appeared.
This was a unique creative opportunity and a team of dedicated craftspeople decided to try and preserve the full length of this exceptional Fenland giant for the nation by creating an iconic table.
Techniques have been developed to enable the individual shapes and character of the boards to be used and highlighted. The design team have called this technique the ‘river joint’ which, while reflecting this most prominent Fenland feature, also enables the true story of the ancient high forests to be told at a glance.
Full size mock-up showing the river joint exposed when the outer board is folded down
It has been agreed that the table can be displayed in all its sculptural magnificence in the Lady Chapel of Ely Cathedral, known as the Ship of the Fens, and a fitting place as it sits on high ground surrounded by fields which, very occasionally, still yield buried ancient black oaks.
All the successes of the project to date are due entirely to the skill, dedication and commitment of a host of individuals and companies, local, national and international, who have so generously given sponsorship in the form of goods, services and time.
Wealden are delighted to share the vision to preserve this ancient tree for the nation by donating all the cutters used in the machining and working of this vast table.
UPDATE
The table was unveiled by HRH The Princess Royal on Tuesday, 17th May and will be on display in Ely Cathedral until March 2023.
Responding to calls from kitchen fitters installing worktops, Wealden have designed a worktop cutter with a longer replaceable blade which allows the final finishing cut to be made in one pass.
Designed as a single flute replaceable tip cutter, the longer blade has three screw fixings for greater rigidity. The turnover blade has two cutting edges, making the tool more economical in daily use. The cutter is supplied complete with a knife and torx key and is available to buy online.
The photo shows the standard cutter with 29mm blade (left) and the new longer cutter with 50mm blade (right).
News
Roughing/Hogging cutters just added to our CNC range
Featuring rotatable TC knives with shear angle in a spiral design for fast hogging and excellent chip removal, the spiral tip design reduces the cutting forces and is ideal for deep hogging depths. Replaceable tip cutters offer the benefit of a constant diameter and easy maintenance. However, it should be noted that the cutters are for roughing only. Subsequent finishing or profiling may be required: they do not produce a planned finish, but very high removal rates are possible with this tooling. The maximum rotational speed for these cutters is 16,000 rpm.
A joiner from Kilgetty in Pembrokeshire has put his carpentry credentials to the test by notching up a ‘Medallion of Excellence’ at a prestigious skills competition, using router cutters supplied by Wealden Tools.
Twenty-year-old Chris Caine, who trained at Pembrokeshire College and works for DH Carpentry and Joinery in Pembroke Dock, was the only joiner selected to represent the UK at Europe’s most important and prestigious skills contest – ‘The EuroSkills Competition’ – held recently in Budapest, which sees teams from 27 countries across the Continent compete in a wide range of skills to win medals in disciplines ranging from engineering to construction and digital to hospitality.
“I competed in the joinery sector, which was a three-day competition, lasting a total of 18 hours,” explained Chris.
“I had to manufacture a door and frame with different radius curves and tapers using different joints and techniques.”
“I was delighted to be one of the seven competitors to gain a ‘Medallion of Excellence’, which means I completed the project to the highest standard recognised by the industry internationally.”
“When the scores were announced I was placed fourth in Europe and am now starting back training ready for the biggest event in 2019, which is Worldskills in Kazan in Russia!” he added.
Wealden are proud to sponsor such a competent and accomplished young carpenter and wish Chris continued success at Worldskills.
The 2+2 flute compression spirals have two short up cut an two long down shear cut flutes. This provides down shear cutting on the top and a short up shear cut on the bottom of the tool for multi-pass cutting without damaging the top surface. Ideal for edge trimming or nesting on double faced veneered boards, these cutters ensure a good finish on both faces of laminated boards, solid timber boards and MFC.
Birdsmouth cutters just added to router cutter range
These cutters may be used to make multi-sided objects, such as boxes, barrels etc.
The two flute bevel cutter creates a notch or “birdsmouth” on one edge of a piece of timber which mates against the square edge of the next piece of timber, offering a larger gluing surface for maximum strength as well as an interlocking joint to aid assembly. Only one side of the workpiece is machined to form the joint.
There are two cutters, one which can be used to produce 8-sided or 12-sided boxes, depending which way up the timber is machined and another which will produce 6-sided boxes. Both are available to buy online at the Wealden website.
News
Shark Nose cutter added to Wealden’s router range
Just added to the extensive range of Wealden router cutters is a bearing-guided Shark Nose cutter.
This profile is used to soften the look of 24mm thick worktops. Supplied with an additional oversize bearing which may be used to cut the profile to a template, the cutter can be used on solid surface worktops but may also be used on timber to produce a more delicate look to the edge.
Adjustable Tenon/Groover set now in stock at Wealden
The latest addition to Wealden’s spindle tooling range is an Adjustable Tenon/Groover set comprising two blocks with replaceable knives and spacer shims to cut both halves of tenon joints, allowing adjustment from 8mm to 15mm in 0.1mm steps.
Suitable for hand or mechanical feed, the set enables the production of tenon/slot joints to suit varying panel thicknesses to a high level of precision and products a very good quality cut in all timber and boards.
The Adjustable Tenon/Groover set is availableto buy online at the website.
News
Chamfer Swop-Tip blocks added to spindle tooling range
These Chamfer blocks are suitable for 45 degree chamfering in solid timber and man-made boards. The three knife feature ensures a better finish on abrasive materials with the advantage of the knives being replaceable.
Solid TC drills and chucks enlarge Wealden’s drilling & boring range
Wealden now stock STC lip and spur drills and chucks for mounting in CNC and multi-boring machines.
The solid tungsten carbide drills are in small sizes for drilling in abrasive timber and man-made boards, the lip and spur point ensuring a clean entry cut. The drills are available in either right or left hand rotation.
The chucks are available in various sizes to suit the drill diameter.
Vari-Angle Head added to Wealden’s CNC cutter range
Wealden have added a vari-angle cutter head to their extensive CNC cutter range. The head allows various angles to be cut on 3-axis CNC machines and features two replaceable double-sided TC knives.
The cutting angle is adjustable in five degree indented steps or by using the Vernier scale in one degree increments. The heads rotate 45 degrees upwards and 90 degrees downwards.
Wealden have designed a two flute TC tipped cutter for use on CNC machines to produce finger pull mouldings on MDF and timber doors and drawers to ensure a good grip recess even on 18mm or 22mm thick MDF.
The cutter moulds the recess from the rear of the door and, when used with the separate rear insert, overcomes the issues associated with painting into the finger grip from the front.
Inserts in contrasting materials may be used, offering the opportunity for unique designs and shapes. The cutter can be used to produce the normal handleless drawer edge or, alternatively, to create a recess towards the centre of the drawer or door.
News
Wealden design range of metric V Point Drill Countersinks
Wealden have designed and produced a series of V-point drill bits to produce a clearance hole for a metric wood screw, countersink the hole and finally produce a counterbored hole.
Suitable for use in routing machines or hand drills, the V point design ensures that the drills are easy to start and give a clean cut. Plugs to fit the counterbored hole may be produced with the HSS plug makers, also stocked by Wealden.
News
Wealden enlarge CNC accessory range
The ever-increasing range of CNC parts and accessories stocked by Wealden now includes not only collets in ER and OZ series, but also tool holders, collet nuts, pull studs, wrenches and tool holder assembly devices.
All collet nuts are balanced and available either standard or ball bearings types. The pull studs are available in five different types to suit different CNC machines. Wrenches are available in standard and torque versions and two heavy-duty assembly devices suit either ISO30 or HSK63 holders.
The CNC accessories are available to buy on line from the Wealden website, as are the CNC collets.
December 2015
News
Wealden launch range of PCD cutters
Following on from the enlarged range of CNC parts and accessories, Wealden have just launched a range of high quality PCD cutters. Made in Europe the cutters feature micro-polished poly crystalline diamond tips.
The range includes a bookcase strip compression cutter, a down-shear two flute cutter and a range of spiral compression cutters.
The PCD cutters are available to buy on line from the Wealden website.
In response to a specific requirement by a customer, Wealden have designed a high quality micro-grain two flute solid carbide spiral upcut cutter with a scoring centre point, primarily intended for use on CNC machines cutting small components.
The design enables the component to remain fixed in the sheet whilst being machined and thus ensuring good vacuum hold down. Upon completion the components can be snapped from the sheet and finished with a trimmer or arris trimmer.
Wealden’s Multi-Trim cutter featured in Furniture & Cabinetmaking magazine
Wealden’s Multi-Trim cutter has received a glowing review in the latest issue of Furniture & Cabinetmaking magazine. The extract below is part of an article by Method Studio‘s Callum Robinson, who made an ash-framed ‘Journeyman’ steamer trunk using the cutter.
The Multi-Trim cutter is available in four sizes to buy online at the Wealden website.
February 2014
News
Wealden customer Rathkeys makes tables for NATO summit
Wealden’s customer, Welsh cabinet maker Paul Rathkey, was recently given the task of creating two tables for the NATO Summit that seated more than 60 world leaders including Barack Obama.
Paul’s team at Llandow-based Rathkeys made two tables for the event from four tonnes of wood. A 25 metre long table was used for the main meeting room with a second table, which is 17 metres in diameter, in a second meeting room used by leaders when they meet in smaller numbers. Both tables were made from a range of woods sourced from around Wales.
Wealden supplied the Panel Trim cutters Paul used for the commission. Rathkeys produces woodwork ranging from free-standing furniture and intricate ornaments and accessories, to rooms and even house or business renovations. A link to the Rathkeys website can be found here
Wealden recently supplied a selection of router cutters to a long-standing customer involved in the construction of the superyacht Vava II. Built entirely in Plymouth at an alleged cost of more than £100m, the vessel is the largest private motor yacht ever constructed in Britain.
The vessel took more than 200 craftsmen over two years to complete and was christened by Devonport Yachts on 10th September with sea trials taking place in October.
Wealden and Fry Design launch new concept in router tooling for window making
Wealden Tools has been working on a set of router cutters to assist in the production of timber windows using a router, rather than a spindle moulder. This unique set of cutters, designed by Wealden and Fry Design, is a relatively simple system using the minimum of machinery: a router, a saw and only a few other tools.
The cutters will produce professional outward-opening flush timber windows in a UK style. Similar tooling is also available to construct inward-opening windows in the Continental style. Using Wealden’s suggested timber section sizes for the frame and sash will ensure that the cutters will produce the correct mouldings and, in addition, the pdf calculator supplied will work out a detailed cutting list.
and a digital page-turning leaflet with full information and prices can be found by clicking here.
Wealden are keen to stress, however, that these tools are NOT intended for use by the novice, but by competent woodworkers with a knowledge of window-making. The cutters are obtainable online from Wealden Tools together with Wealden’s range of router cutters, spindle moulder tooling, drills, circular, jigsaw and bandsaw blades at www.wealdentool.com.
This new range of finishing blades features an ATB40 tooth profile (40° alternate bevel) which gives the best results possible without a scoring blade, when cutting MFC and veneered boards etc. The 5° hook angle ensures these blades are suitable for cross cutting and mitre cutting in solid timber, plywood, chipboard, MDF, MFC, glue laminate boards and veneered boards.
These high quality blades are manufactured in Europe and are available to buy online at www.wealdentool.com
June 2017
News
Wealden enlarge CNC accessory range
The ever-increasing range of CNC parts and accessories stocked by Wealden now includes not only collets in ER and OZ series, but also tool holders, collet nuts, pull studs, wrenches and tool holder assembly devices.
All collet nuts are balanced and available either standard or ball bearings types. The pull studs are available in five different types to suit different CNC machines. Wrenches are available in standard and torque versions and two heavy-duty assembly devices suit either ISO30 or HSK63 holders.
The CNC accessories are available to buy on line from the Wealden website, as are the CNC collets.
December 2015
News
Wealden mentioned in New Brit Workshop video
Peter Parfitt is a video producer and product reviewer who produces YouTube videos in order to help people find the best products or show them how to make things.
He recently bought one of Wealden’s small spiral upcut cutters and liked it so much, he mentioned in his Workshop Notes no. 6 video:
The solid carbide spiral cutters are available to buy on line from the Wealden website.
