🛠️ New Outline Bit Feature — Try it today!

[NatalieSturdy]

We’re introducing a long-requested feature to Easel: Outline Bits.

In a two-stage carve, Easel has always used the detail bit to make outline cuts. But that often results in long carve times—or worse, broken bits.

Now you can assign a third bit just for the outline pass.

Why this matters:

• Use a larger bit for through-cuts without affecting your detail work
• No more duplicating workpieces or “0” depth workarounds for multi-stage carves
• Keep everything in one project, with one streamlined workflow

How it works:

• Opt-in to use the new Outline Bits feature in beta
• Start a two-stage carve as usual
• Click the + button in the bit setup to add an “Outline Bit”
• Select the bit to handle your outline pass
• Simulate and carve as usual — the outline pass will be clearly visualized
• In the carve walkthrough, you’ll now see an “Outline Pass” option when selecting the pass to carve

Try it now:

• This feature is launching as an opt-in beta.
• Anyone can enable it, and we’re actively collecting feedback to improve it before full release.

Click to opt in and learn more!

[RickScheck]

What would be awesome is being able to assign which objects you want to use the V-bit on and others that you do not. Example…I would like to use the V-bit for inside a circle dish, but also there is an offset hole and when V-bit is selected, it makes both indentations using the V-bit and we need the hole to be there as well. I get that we can create a 2nd cut, but does not show well when trying to snap pic for person to give them a better sense of what it will look like. I do like the Outline feature as well. Now just gotta figure out how to keep the beveled outside edge and cut it out as well.

[Nick14]

Trying to have a go with this. I opted in to the beta testing, but the 3rd bit “+” is not present. What am i missing?

[ThomasLee]

Hi @Nick14, to access the Outline Bit feature, log into Easel and follow this link:

Outline Bits (Beta)

Another way to access it is by clicking What’s New under the Help menu:

At the bottom of the feature description you’ll find the Testing Agreement. Click “Enable this feature” and you’ll have access to it!

Thanks for giving it a try. We look forward to getting your feedback.

[JacquesPryor]

good morningi cant seam toget this image to carvecorrtlywhat canwhat settingdoineen to use and the bit. any help would be greatly appreataed

[NatalieSturdy]

Hi there, Jacques

I created the following project to help you use this design: Easel - Tree Ring

Feel free to make a copy of this project to use it yourself!

I’ve also included a quick video that shows how I did it:

I’m also excited to let you know that we are working on some improvements to the “offset” workflow in Easel that will make it even easier to complete some of the steps shown in the video. Stay tuned for an announcement once the new offset workflow has been released!

[Firelands]

I would really love to have three bits: the 1/8 bit does everything it can, the 1/16 does more and then the 1/32 only does what the 1/16 bit can’t. Is that what this is? I don’t really understand what the outline bit does.

[PhilDejarnett]

The outline bit only cuts the final outline of the piece. In other words, it’s used to separate the part from the blank.

It won’t help with performing a 3rd-level of carving.

(TBH, I would be surprised if you could benefit much from 3 levels of carving, unless you were working over a massive piece. Most of the time I find that going up a bit for multi-pass carving doesn’t save as much time as I expect, especially when you take into account the time it takes to switch bits and start the second pass.)

[Firelands]

My issue is that 1/8" just doesn’t have the resolution I want and 1/32" bits are very fragile. I broke two bits just the other day until I found out that 1/32 can only handle about 8 in/min in this hard maple. Which makes the detail pass 3 hours. If I could do a roughing pass with the 1/8 bit and then a slightly slower one with a 1/16" bit then I SHOULD only need to run the 1/32" bit for like 15 minutes tops just to get into the tips of things. But that’s never how it goes. For some reason the program ignores a lot of what the roughing pass COULD be doing and spends more time running the detail bit. Like going around the edges of things. I wish I knew how to stop it from doing that. So I’ve been trying to do a 1/8" roughing with a 1/16" detailing and then 1/16" roughing with a 1/32" detailing but not run the 1/16" roughing. My hope was that would tell the program to only cut with the 1/32" bit what it had to. But that’s not what I’m getting.

Thanks for helping me understand what the oultine bit does. I double I’ll ever use it. Its for when you have through cuts on a project that has both through cuts and detail carving, right?

[PhilDejarnett]

Yeah, 1/32" is really hard to work with. It certainly would be nice to get more options for when you need them.

Your idea of tricking it in two setups makes sense to me, shame it’s not working.

[JeffTalbot]

Hi Firelands,

It sounds like you might want to consider using a V-bit for your detail bit. V-bits can handle any level of detail and are much less prone to breaking.

This video shows how to set up a roughing & detail carve with a v-bit.

[BarryL.Kin]

Thank you, have a blessed day