The Top 7 Best Router Bits Reviews You Do Not Want to Miss

That’s a great deal router bit set. You get 15 profiles made of carbide-tipped and still pay a very reasonable price. It would have cost much more to buy each router bit separately.

It’s an excellent kit for beginners who want to have a plethora of ½-inch shank bits to get started.

It includes: 4 straight bits, 1 round-over bit, 1 cove bit, 1 roman ogee bit, 1 45-degree chamfer bit, 1 flush-trim bit, 1 rabbeting bit, 1 dovetail bit, 1 V-groove bit, 1 hinge mortising bit, 1 panel pilot bit, 1 round nose bit, 1 Allen wrench and 1 bearing that will help you convert the round bit into a beading bit.

You get to keep your tools organized since it comes in a great wood storage box.

This is a super-great offer! Its price is more than reasonable and you get 15 pieces.

The only downside of the product is that the router bit shank size is ¼ ‘’. And so we can’t say that this product ideal is for all projects. It’s best to invest in it if you are interested in creating thin profiles.

But since it comes in a very good price, it’s worth having it in your workshop for some special tasks. It’s also positive that the router bit material is carbide.

What it includes: A flush-trim bit, a round bit, a 45-degree chamfer bit, a cove bit, and a roman ogee bit. These come with a ball bearing.

There are also 4 straight bits without ball bearings, 2 cove box bits, a 90-degree V-Groove bit, a panel pilot bit, a mortising bit, and a dovetail bit.

One of the best features of this product is that the shanks of the router bits fit all routers.

Another great feature is that the router bits are made of carbide. If you combine these two elements, the product is offered in a very reasonable price.

If you also consider that there are 24 pieces included in the router bit set, you might actually consider it a great deal.

It will cost you a lot more to buy the bits separately and this set is exactly what you need for many woodwork projects.

If you are a beginner, it’s a great value for money.

What you get is: a bevel bit, a dovetail bit, a 90-degree V-groove bit, two round nose bits, trimming and panel pilot bits, straight bits, a flush trim bit, radius round over bits, cove bits, a roman ogee bit, a 45-degree chamfer bit, a slot cutter bit, a mortising bit and a rebating bit.

If you’re always working on multiple projects at a time and you need more than the standard equipment, the KOWOOD 15-Piece Router Bit Set will be perfect for you.

This set contains 15 router bits that are generally used for creating tongue and groove joints, but there are some bits that you won’t normally get in a standard router bit set. Some of them include the Roman Ogee bit, cove box bit, and mortising bit.

In terms of design, these bits have ¼-inch shanks, and they’re all made from hardened stainless steel, including the steel board.

Aside from the solid build, these bits also have an anti-kickback design, which is always a plus since you’ll be able to install them without worrying about injuring yourself.

They come in a specially carved wooden box with designated spots for each bit, so you’ll be able to organize them and never lose a single piece when you carry them out in the field.

The most important thing about these bits is that, due to their innate resilience, you can use them with different materials and always get the same result. It doesn’t matter if we’re talking about metal, wood, or synthetic boards - it’ll do the job.

They are the sharpest bits, but that means they’ll last longer than normal bits, so it’s an even trade.

Even though you won’t get many different router bits if you purchase this set, you’ll get four pieces that are perfect for flush trimming wood. So, if that’s your thing, take a look at the Wolfride Flush Trim Router Bit Set review.

A flush trim implies creating a hole or a joint with a perfectly flat and smooth surface by using a template.

It is a different type of woodworking process that requires specific tools and bits, such as these ones.

They’re industrial-grade carbide bits that come in the following sizes - 1/4, 5/16, 3/8, and ½ inches. The shanks measure the standard ¼ of an inch, and in order to correctly clamp these bits, you’ll have to insert ¾ of an inch.

They’re versatile and can be used with many different types of stocks, including MDF and plywood, but you’ll have to set the speed of the router based on the hardness of the material.

Either way, they’re durable enough to withstand the pressure and don’t leave as much burnt material as some other flush trim bits.

The main flaw is that you have to make pauses when you use them since they get hot quite fast. This way, you’ll avoid injuring yourself and keeping your material safe.

Up next is another set of flush trim bits, and this is, by far, the most affordable set you can find for this type of quality.

So, without further ado, here’s the ZokMok Router Bit Set.

Similar to the previous product, this set also contains four different flush trim bits, measuring 13/16, 1-1/16, 1-3/16, and 1-7/32 inches.

They are incredibly easy to use if you know what you’re doing, but you’ll master that in no time.

Essentially, you’ll need a template wood, and you’ll trace the desired shape with a pen that’ll later be cut out with one of these fantastic bits.

They’re made from micro-grain tungsten carbide, which is an alloy often used for router bits due to its extreme resilience and durability.

Also, the bodies of the bits are made from a steel alloy that doesn’t rust, so you don’t have to worry about moisture, but you should still clean them regularly.

You can use them with various types of wood, including particle boards, MDF, and plywood.

The great thing about these bits is that they prevent tear-out, meaning less work for you in the long run.

They do the job in a very efficient manner, and there’s no reason you shouldn’t buy them.

They do, however, suffer from the same fate as the previous set, but it’s what you get for such a low cost for four strong router bits.

If you want to make woodworking more than a hobby and you’re not sure how and where to start, this router bit set will be perfect for you. Here’s the TOOLDO 12-Piece Router Bits review.

The great thing about this set that’ll surely attract all beginners is that all shanks measure ½-inch, meaning you can install these bits on any type of router machine.

It doesn’t matter if it’s a handheld or a table router - if it supports the classic ½-inch shanks, you can use these bits.

Thanks to the shear angle technology, the degree of the angle at which you’re cutting inclines at peak force, thus allowing you to have better accuracy and work at faster speeds than normal.

Also, this type of technology helps to protect the bits from fast dulling, thus extending their life.

You’ll receive 13 bits in this package, and their application is quite versatile, to say the least. They’ll enable you to make different types of joints and do different woodworking activities, such as veining, trimming, grooving, and so much more.

They aren’t the most durable bits, but that’s why they’re great for beginners. You’ll be able to experiment and perform so many things without worrying about breaking them. 

Also, they serve great as a replacement set for your main router bit set, so that’s a plus.

Finally, we have one more router bit set to share with you, and then we’re off to the buyer’s guide. So, without further ado, here’s the MEIGGTOOL 15-Piece Router Bit Set.

Upon firstly inspecting this bit set, you won’t find anything out of the ordinary - it is a standard set of 15 pieces with all the classic bits for woodworking processes such as grooving, trimming, veining, and edging.

They all have ¼-inch shanks, so they’ll fit most routers you can find on the market.

What’s special about this set is the sheer durability of these bits.

They’re made from a high-quality steel alloy that not only improves their strength and sharpness but also gives them a much higher lifespan than you’d normally see with router bits.

They come in a specially designed box with sockets for each bit that’ll help a ton during transport and fieldwork.

Furthermore, their carbon steel builds significantly decrease their weight, but not their overall strength. So, the only reason they’re so low on this list is their price, which should be a lot lower than this.

However, these sets are generally affordable, so it shouldn’t pose a problem to purchase them simply due to their sheer quality.

1. Router Bit Materials

There are three main router bit materials.

2. Quality Router Bits

When you are choosing router bits, it’s important to pay attention to the quality of the materials.

HSS router bits are cheap but they won’t last for long if you try to shape hardwood.

There is also a risk of burning the wood because this material becomes dull fast and stops cutting wood nicely.

The best quality router bits are made of carbide. Carbide router bits are more reliable and can last for a much longer time which compensates for their higher cost.

The quality of the material will make a difference to the end product. Of course, if you only use your router twice a year, an inexpensive HSS router bit will do.

3. Router Bit Shank Diameter

The shank is the little shaft of the router bit which goes into the router’s collet and is fastened to make sure the bit is in place. The shank of router bits have either a ½-inch or ¼-inch diameter.

Since the shank must fit in your router’s collet, you must make sure your router comes with collets to fit both shank sizes.

What’s also nice is that there are router bit types in both shank sizes. So the question DIYers will most likely have is which shank size to use.

Let’s take a closer look at both shank sizes.

4. Router Bit Manufacturer

The question haunting every woodworker-to-be is which is the best router bit brand!

The truth is that there are some good manufacturers out there making router bits for all requirements and expectations.

So you should start by asking yourself what you need the router bits for!

There are cheap router bits and there are expensive ones. They differ in terms of shank diameter and profile and give you different results based on their quality.

Manufacturers include:

These are all reputed brands. But if you choose the wrong router bit profiles for your project, you might get disappointed.

If you take the word of the hardware store clerk, you can never be sure if he has some experience or just tries to sell.

The name of straight bits says it all.

These bits are designed to cut straight the board in order to create a mortise, dadoes or square grooves. Straight bits are required tools in any wood shop since they can help in a variety of projects.

For the convenience of the wood worker, they come in several sizes ranging from ¼ to ¾-inch diameters. They are inexpensive and easily found, but they might heat up burning the wood board and causing damage to their sharp edge.

To avoid such problems don’t leave it to stagnate in one specific spot and use it at moderate speeds.

They help you make the edge of a board round at a particular radius. The round-over bit comes with a ball-bearing pilot which lets you control the cut’s width.

In order to cut the board in the right depth, you must adjust the router base.

Since the radius of the cut is essential, you should choose these bits accordingly. Get 3/8 or ¼ inch size round bits.

They allow you to create S-shaped edges and are the most popular ones in the edge-shaping bit family.

They enable you to shape picture frames, rails or table tops. There is a ball-bearing pilot at the end of the bit which helps you control the width of the cut.

These bits are also available in several sizes depending on the radius of the cut you need to make.

You can choose ¼-inch roman ogee bits but they are also available in 3/8 and 5/32 inch sizes.

In order to join two pieces of wood to build drawers for example, you need to make an L-shape on the board. This is what we call a rabbet.

And you will need rabbeting bits in order to form the board.

These bits usually come with a ball-bearing pilot and in different diameters so that you can make rabbets of various depths and widths.

The most popular rabbeting bits are those which cut 3/8-inch wide and ½-inch deep.

You can use these bits to trim wood veneer flush with the substrate or the edge of another material. They can also be used for plastic laminate trimming.

These bits will also help you create identical boards and then fit them together.

There are several flush-trim router bit options on the market and they include a ball-bearing pilot to build counters, cabinets and their door, and table tops.

Although there are flush-trim bits of several sizes, it seems that the ½-inch diameter ones are the most popular.

These bits are the perfect router accessories when you want to create decorative bevels or form bevelled edges to join multiple boards together.

With the chamfer bits, you cut the edge of the board at any angle required or create V-shaped grooves.

So make sure to choose the right size chamfer bits of different angles. For example, you could go for a 45-degree angle chamfer bit with 1-1/4-inch diameter.

These bits are used to cut round-bottomed grooves. They don’t use a pilot.

You can rout decorative grooves or flutes in columns.

The diameter of the bit is important and ranges from 1/8 to 1 ½-inches. 3/8 and 1/4 –inch core box bits are fine for DIYers.

9. V-Groove Bits

As their name implies, these bits are used to create V-shaped grooves. They can be used to make grooves in wall panels, cabinet doors or table legs.

You can also use it to make signs and engrave the letters or numbers. V-groove bits are non-piloted.

The most popular size is 90-degree angle and ½-inch diameter.

10. Slot-Cutting Bits

These are specialized bits, which are used to make narrow grooves and slots into wood – like picture frames, cabinet frames or drawers. You can use it to cut grooves for spline joints.

There are two wings with cutting teeth, the thickness of which differs in accordance to the width of the slot you want to cut. There are 1/16 to ¼-inch thick teeth available on the market.

The depth of the slot is determined by the distance from the cutting teeth to the pilot. ¼-inch wide and ½-inch deep slot-cutting bits are the most popular ones.

What are the various types of router bits?

The two main types of router bits are carbide-tipped router bits and hardened steel ones.

This division is based on the build, but you’ll find many different ones, such as straight-cutting and spiral-cutting bits or ½-inch and ¼-inch bits.

Does any router bit fit any router?

No, it always depends on the shank size and the model of the router you’re using.

In general, the most common bit size has a ½-inch shank, and they usually fit most routers you can find.

What brand of router bits is best?

It mostly depends on the line of work you plan on doing with the router.

If we’re talking about making standard groove joints, you’ll find that Yonico offers some great bits.

Also, you can try manufacturers such as Freud or KOWOOD.

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