A bowl and tray router bit hollows out a smooth, rounded recess in wood, which is what shapes the inside of a bowl or serving tray. It cuts a flat bottom with a gently curved corner, so the inside of the piece comes out smooth and even instead of stepped. Our bowl and tray bits carry a carbide cutting edge and come in shank sizes to fit most CNC routers.
The 1" bowl bit is best suited for anyone shaping full-size bowls and trays who wants to clear the most material per pass. It cuts a flat bottom with a 3/8" corner radius, leaving a smooth, rounded hollow in a single pass with precision, and its short, heavy body resists chatter for a cleaner finish. Most makers rough out the interior pocket with a roughing bit first, then let this bowl bit do the finish pass on the tray project
The 3/4" ball nose is best suited for cutting board makers and anyone adding juice grooves or rounded accents. Its 1/2" flat sidewall lets you run deeper cuts without leaving witness lines, and this two-flute carbide bit carves a clean, rounded juice groove around a board. It also doubles as an accent bit for profile work on keepsake boxes and larger signs
The Bowl Cut Jenny is best suited for high-volume shops that want fast, clean bowl and tray cuts around curves. Its up-cut design clears chips quickly, and the titanium carbide core with a wear-resistant coating holds an edge through long production runs. Paired with a raster toolpath, it leaves a smooth finish that needs little sanding.
Shank sizes are matched to your machine and written guides walk you through each project. You are not left guessing at cut types or settings before your first carve.
FAST MATERIAL REMOVAL
The wide cutting diameter clears a lot of wood per pass, so hollowing a bowl or tray goes quickly.
SMOOTH, ROUNDING BOTTOM
A bowl bit cuts a flat bottom with a rounded corner in one pass, so bowls and trays come out smooth instead of stepped. Juice groove bits cut with a rounded bottom, so juice groves come out perfectly smooth.
When to Use a Bowl and Tray Bit
A bowl bit is the right pick when a project needs a smooth, hollowed-out recess with a rounded bottom rather than a regular pocket. It clears the inside of the shape in wide, even passes, so the finished hollow looks and feels smooth. Common projects include:
Wooden bowls and catch-all trays hollowed from solid wood
Serving and charcuterie boards with a shallow recessed center
Juice grooves around the edge of a cutting board
Valet trays and keepsake boxes with a rounded inside
Our Guarantee to You
IDC Woodcraft brand bowl and tray bits are backed by the our 90-day guarantee. If one breaks within 90 days, send it back with the return form and we replace it with the same model. If the cut quality or tool life falls short of what you expected, we want to hear about it.
ABOUT IDC WOODCRAFT
IDC Woodcraft is based in Madison, Indiana, and led by founder Garrett Fromme. We make solid carbide CNC router bits in the USA and sell them alongside CNC machines, spindles, vacuum tables, routing accessories, software, and project files, helping customers build a working CNC shop without sourcing equipment from multiple suppliers. We also publish an extensive library of free CNC training resources, including long-form YouTube tutorials, videos, written articles, and a chipload calculator. Beginners get straightforward guidance, while experienced CNC workers get dependable bits for longer production runs.
Not only are IDC Woodcraft bits the best available and reasonably priced, but the service and attention to detail are top notch. I have never had a better personal experience dealing with a vendor than I have with IDC Woodcraft. I cannot recommend them highly enough!
- David B
IDC Woodcraft is awesome. I've ordered bits from them several times now. The bits have arrived quickly and are of very high quality. I've had zero issues using their router bits. Will be buying more bits soon. Garrett, your videos are also very well done and super for helping beginners get started.
- Duane G
Best in the business! I started watching IDC videos on Youtube before i ever bought my first router. Its what gave me the confidence to do it. Knowing that any info i would need, to learn the craft, would be available in one place and would be easy to follow and understand.
- Brian M
Best CNC bits I ever had. IDC app is very helpful for feed and speeds. My CNC journey started smooth with the help of videos and I have learned a lot from Garrett through his videos. Highly recommend.
- Afran A
Garrett and IDC Woodcraft are top-notch. Not only do they provide some of the best, most useful CNC workflow, production, troubleshooting, and just plain fun videos on YouTube, they host live sessions and Garrett is always ready to respond to a request for help.
- Darin M
Garrett is providing a great product. His bits perform exactly as advertised (even though it can take a few test runs for the timid to be convinced the parameters provided are correct). I've used several of his bits and I'm a big fan.
- Randall B
IDC's CNC training videos, resources, and bits are unparalleled! Garrett has a simple and succinct way of explaining advanced concepts to beginners and experts alike. IDC's customer service is excellent. Highly recommend!
- Chris F
IDC Woodcraft is possibly the best company you can buy from because of all the added extras you receive at no extra cost. The bits remain extra sharp even through them unwanted cuts that hit screws etc. The videos that Garrett produces have really helped me along my short journey into CNC.
- Paul G
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a bowl router bit used for?
A bowl router bit is used to hollow out a smooth, rounded recess in wood, which makes it the go-to for bowls, serving trays, and catch-all trays. It cuts a flat bottom with a curved corner in wide passes, so the inside of the piece comes out smooth and even instead of stepped. Bits in this family are also called round nose bits or roundover bits.
What is the difference between a bowl bit and a ball nose bit?
A bowl bit has a flat bottom with a rounded corner, so it leaves a flat floor and a smooth radius where the wall meets the base, which is ideal for trays and bowls. A ball nose bit is round nose shaped all the way across the tip, so it carves fully curved contours for 3D work. For a tray with a flat inside floor, a bowl bit is the better pick.
How do I get a smooth finish in a bowl or tray?
A smooth hollow comes down to roughing first, then a clean finishing pass. Clear the bulk of the material with a roughing bit, then run the bowl bit over the surface at a steady feed rate for precise cuts. A tighter stepover on the finish pass leaves less material between lines, and our feeds and speeds guide helps you set a pace that cuts clean without burning. Hollowing also throws a lot of wood dust, so keep a dust mask and other personal protection on while you work.
Can I cut a juice groove with a bowl bit?
Yes, a rounded bowl or ball nose bit is exactly what cuts the shallow, curved juice groove around a cutting board. The 3/4" ball nose in this collection is sized well for a broad groove, and IDC's guide on making a CNC cutting board walks through the whole project.
Do bowl bits work in a handheld router or router table?
These bowl bits are designed for CNC routers, where the toolpath guides the cut, rather than for freehand or router table work. Traditional bowl and tray bits often use a bearing or a template guide in a handheld router, but a CNC bit relies on the machine to control depth and shape. Match the 1/4" shank to your CNC router's collet and let the toolpath do the guiding.
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