Router Bits - Help Me Spend $$

Straight with guide bearings, Round over, Cove, Ogee, Chamfer, Rail, & Style. I’ve gotten real good use of my MLCS bits.

-- Dick Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

An inexpensive set is ok to start with as it gives you lots of profiles to ‘play’ with, but for your workhorse, I would buy a few qulity bits, as thes you will use 10:1 compared to the rest.

Dick has outlined these above, all I would add is a good rebate cutter (bearing guided)

-- Keep your tools sharp, your mind sharper and the coffee hot

Here is a read for you:
http://lumberjocks.com/topics/2135

-- If we learn from our mistakes, I'm getting a fantastic education.

PaulD – read the link that MyWoody posted. This subject has been thoroughly discussed there.

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

lots of discussion for sure. Bits you don’t use much don’t need to be fancy.. workhorses should be purchased with that in mind. at least this is my logic.

-- making sawdust....

I buy bits as I need them and would personally stay away from decorative sets. If I had to throw all my bits out (I don’t have that many anyway) I would get the best quality of the following and save any left over cash for bits specific to a task.

1. A good 1/4” up-cut spiral bit. This is the bit I use more than any other. I have the Whiteside solid carbide bit. It will cut mortises, rabbets, etc. With a little jigging it can cut any width over 1/4”. Since the shank and cutter are the same diameter you can even use the shank as a bushing for following a pattern if you don’t have a dedicated pattern bit.
2. Flush cut bit. Always handy.
3. Chamfer. My favorite edge profile. (I like simple)
4-5. Two round-over bits (1/4” & 1/2”). (Again, simple.)

I get mid price carbide bits when purchasing for a specific project. If I ever replace a bit I get the best I can afford since I’ve clearly used it a lot. Stay away from HSS. I had one (my first 1/2” round-over) and I killed it after running around 300’ or so of pine thru it.

-- Che.

Individual bits are very very expensive in my opinion. if a 40T saw blade cost $50, with 40 carbide teeths, how one bit can cost $25?? that’s crazy!
I’ll suggest to go for a big set, my prefered brands names are: CMT (Italy), Freud (Italy) and Whiteside (Usa)

Thanks for the help everyone. I’m only considering carbide bits and right now I need some straight bits and I’m thinking of getting a set of those from Woodline. After doing a full inventory of my existing bits which was more than I realized, I don’t think the bigger get-one-of-every-type sets makes a lot of sense for me. If I find that I wear some of these out quickly I will probably replace with the higher end ones like Freud.

-- Paul D, Atlanta GA

I buy most of mine from MLCS. they have very reasonable prices and are good quality. I’ve had alot of trouble with smaller solid carbide, 3/8 and above work great. but 1/4 and 1/8 break very easily. Carbide is brittle and if they are under too much pressure they will break. stay completely away from HSS. And if you do route into MDF. slow down and do it in multiple passes. MDF is very thick and cause heat to build up pretty quickly.

-- Joey, Magee, Ms http://woodnwaresms.com