Best Router Bit Sets for Woodworking
A router is only as versatile as the bits you own, and the profiles do very different jobs. Most woodworkers need six bits for ninety percent of their work, and a well-chosen set covers all six for less than the cost of two premium individual bits.
The six profiles that cover most work
- Straight bit. Cuts grooves, dadoes and mortises. The workhorse. Buy several diameters.
- Flush trim bit. Has a bearing at the tip and follows a template or an already-cut edge. This is the bit that makes repeated parts identical, and it is the one people are surprised to find they use constantly.
- Chamfer bit. Cuts a bevel, usually 45 degrees. Used to break sharp edges, to decorate, and to hide a glue line on a miter.
- Roundover bit. Rounds an edge. The single most-used decorative bit, and the one that makes a piece feel finished rather than sanded.
- Rabbeting bit. Cuts a step along an edge, for cabinet backs, drawer bottoms and lap joints. Often comes as a set with interchangeable bearing sizes.
- Dovetail bit. For dovetail joints with a jig. Niche, but if you cut dovetails you need the specific angle your jig requires.
Quarter inch or half inch shank
The shank is what the collet grips, and it matters more than most people realize.
| 1/4 inch shank | 1/2 inch shank | |
|---|---|---|
| Vibration | More chatter on big cuts | Much stiffer, cleaner cuts |
| Router compatibility | Fits every router | Needs a 1/2 inch collet |
| Cost | Cheaper | More expensive |
| Best for | Small trim routers, shallow passes | Any bit over about 1 inch diameter |
The rule: anything with a cutting diameter over an inch should be half inch shank. Big panel-raising and large roundover bits on a quarter inch shank chatter badly and are genuinely dangerous.
Carbide versus high speed steel
Buy carbide. High speed steel bits are cheaper and take a keener edge, but they dull fast in plywood and any manufactured board, and plywood glues are brutal on cutting edges. Carbide-tipped stays sharp many times longer and can be resharpened. For a beginner set, carbide is not worth economising on.
What to look for in a set
- Bearing-guided bits for flush trimming and pattern work, because they remove the need for a fence in many situations.
- A case that actually holds bits. Loose bits in a drawer get chipped, and a chipped carbide edge is a ruined bit.
- Shank consistency. Mixed sets are fine, but check how many are quarter inch: some cheap sets pad the piece count with tiny quarter inch bits you will never use.
- Skip the huge sets. A 70 piece set sounds good and is mostly filler. Fifteen to thirty well-chosen profiles beats seventy mediocre ones.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use router bits in a trim router?
Yes, but only quarter inch shank bits, and keep the cuts shallow. Trim routers spin fast and have little collet grip, so large-profile bits are a bad idea in them.
Why is my bit burning the wood?
Usually a dull bit, too slow a feed rate, or too deep a cut in one pass. Take several shallow passes instead of one deep one, and keep the router moving. A sharp bit and a steady feed solve most burning.
How do I stop tear-out on plywood edges?
Use a sharp carbide bit, take the cut in two passes with the final pass removing very little, and where possible climb cut the last few inches. A backing board behind the exit edge also helps.
Recommended for this project
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