A cutting insert used in rotary cutting tools for performing turning spinning operations has an upper surface and an opposing base surface with a peripheral surface therebetween, the peripheral surface intersecting the upper surface to form a cutting edge. The cutting edge may be a continuous circular cutting edge. The upper surface has rotational asymmetry about an insert axis passing between the upper surface and the base surface, by virtue of having at least one spiral shaped protrusion with a chip deflection distance which continuously increases in a rotational direction about the insert axis for greater than 180°. The cutting insert is assembled to a cutting tool body having a shank portion and a cutting portion sharing a longitudinal axis, the insert axis being aligned with the longitudinal axis and the cutting insert secured in an insert receiving pocket of the cutting portion.