Rotary Tool Accessories

Carving Cutters and Engraving Points

Choose the working profile for the mark you want. A ball, a pointed head and a straight-sided cutter present different surfaces to the work, even when the shanks are the same size.

What to check before buying

Look for a manufacturer-listed match between the material and the exact bit. Compare the smallest part of the head that will contact your work. For a recess or narrow detail, check whether a broader part of the head would also touch the work. A carbide cutter with teeth and a diamond-coated point should be compared by the job each is documented to do.

Read the head profile

A straight-sided cylinder can reach along a flat side of a cut. A round end or ball changes the contact point when you need a curved groove or a small hollow.

Check dimensions in two places

Choose the working-tip size for the detail and use the shank size for the holder. The 9904 and 9903 make a useful comparison when the same tool can hold cutters with different head widths.

Compare these accessories

Manufacturer references

Questions about this department

How can two bits with the same shank leave different marks?

The shank fits the holder. The head shape and width determine which part of the bit meets the surface, so compare those dimensions to the detail you want.

Can I compare a carbide cutter and diamond point by head diameter alone?

Compare the intended material and the shape first. Similar outside dimensions can describe very different working surfaces.

Buying guides