Abstract: A milling cutter has replaceable cutting inserts mounted on a toothed disc or drum body. Seatings for the inserts on the teeth locate them at spaced intervals on the periphery of each tooth. The inserts of at least one tooth of the body are peripherally staggered in their seatings relative to the inserts on at least one other tooth such that the staggered and spaced inserts on the teeth have paths of rotation that intersect to define a continuous profiled cutting line. The inserts have their cutting edges ground in situ on the teeth to define the profile of the cutting line. By this method a finish quality profiled surface can be produced using cutting inserts that are initially of standard form.