Router Bits
What to Look for? Who is Best?

What determines quality router bits?

• Shank Size: I like 1/2" shank bits. They are sturdy and hold up better. A shank of only 1/4" may break on you.
  
• Wood Finish: The best wood finishes are chatter free without burns, smooth, and need little sanding.
  
• Cutter Life: This determines economy of cost. Carbide bits tend to last longer that High Speed Steel.
  
• Efficiency: A sharp router bit well ground is a safer bit and requires less power.
  
• Accuracy of Grind: You want any router bit to perform well, especially for joinery. However, you may find that not all router bits do this. You might blame your technique. However, it could very easily be the grind of the router bit.
  
• Balance: The spin of the router bit is important to cut quality and your safety. Vibration of your router bit is your worst enemy.

Who makes Quality Router Bits?

In Router Bits, there are more varieties to choose from than you'll ever need. Fine Woodworking magazine performed a test of router bits. Results varied greatly among bits.

This was the result:

The top four finishers were the Whiteside, with an average of 0.2 chips per ft.; the Liberty, with an average of 0.3; the Oldham Viper, which averaged 0.5; and the Freud, which came in at 0.6. These bits cut cleanly at the start and at the end of the test. It's important to note that both the Whiteside and Liberty bits cut chip-free for the first 25 ft.

See Router Bit Test fm Fine Woodworking Reviews, for more information on this test.
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I had tried several bits including most major brands and several imports. After reading this test, I bought some Whiteside bits. Boy, could I tell the difference. I was amazed.

For the best current pricing on Router Bits, go to the Best Place to Buy Page. That page updates frequently!

Starter Set: What router bits make a good starting set?

This 1/2" shank 7-piece set by Whiteside is a good starting set:

1/4" Straight
1/2" Straight
3/8" Radius Round Over
3/8" x 1/2" Rabbet
3/8" Radius Cove
45-degree Chamfer
1/2" Flush Trim

You may want to get a bearing set as well. This provides more versatility with the rabbet bit.

Want to know the best price? Look at the Best Place to Buy Page for frequent updates!

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