Router Bits and Table For a New Shop? – Question of the Week
This week’s question comes from Craig, who writes:
My question is basically about a router table – I am just starting out in the woodworking arena as a hobby– I have a Dewalt Miter saw, a Bosch Table Saw, Bosch router (fixed and plunge kit) and am looking to start some woodworking – I have carved a section of the basement out for my shop – 16×10 – and have been reading and researching for a few months– so much so I haven’t even turned on the saw or router yet – and I must say I am glad. Based on your site alone I have learned so much from you on safety and doing things “right” that I shudder at what I might have been like if I jumped right in.
Since the router did not come with a bit I am also looking to get some router bits and was looking at a good intro set if you have any suggestions but more importantly, I felt a router table would be my next purchase and a good way to round out my starter shop. Was wondering if you had a suggestion for a good router table. I see the tops for sale at Rockler and they seem good – I know you need to have a nice wide surface and a level surface and a good fence and I wanted to know your thoughts. I would prefer to get something self standing but I see you can buy the top and some legs separate. I guess I could always make some legs but might be easier to start with something made and then maybe one day strive to something better with storage etc. I know a router table can be made out of any flat surface to serve its purpose but I feel that it is important to get something halfway decent to learn on and grow with. Any thoughts you could lend to this would be greatly appreciated and keep up the good work. Thanks
And here was my response:
As for the router bits, there are a few things you can do. And it depends on the type of woodworking you plan to do and how much money you want to spend. What I usually recommend to beginners is that they pick up an inexpensive starter set. Something like this: Price Cutter Bit Set. Although these are inexpensive bits that probably won’t last very long, their real value is the fact that you can use them until they are ready to throw away. And by that point, you will be in a much better position to make a judgment call on which bits you use the most. Then you can simply replace those bits with their higher quality cousins. And what do you do with all the inexpensive bits you never used? Just hold on to them. One day you will find a use for them and you’ll be glad you kept them around.
Now if you are one of those “buy your last tool first” folks, I would recommend a set like this: Eagle America 12-Piece Set. A solid investment!
Now for a stand and table, the Rockler setups are a pretty darn good bargain and they are hard to beat. Can you find a better table? Sure you can. But you will pay quite a bit more for it too. So I would say that most of the Rockler setups are going to treat you right. If you want to buy a higher quality table that you are much less likely to replace in the near future, I would take a look at some of the models offered by WoodPeckers or Jessem. Hope that helps. Thanks Craig and take care.
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This is Great! Ive been meaning to ask this question and havent gotten around to it. Thanks for the great information.
After buying all kinds of router bits over the past few years, I find I use straight spiral and flush trim bits the most.. with all the different profiles, I was surprised by the usefulness of a straight bit. They can do many many jobs.
I agree with the router bit selection but I recomend building your own table
I built Norm Abrams deluce table found here: http://www.newyankee.com/getproduct.php?0301
Great way to hone your skills and the table will provide all the storage for the bits etc that you need. I got the incra insert and mounted my router on it
Craig, good to see you starting up. The regular chat guys and I welcome you to spend an hour or 7 of them in the chat room if you have the time to ditch work.
If you are tight on space, and it sounds like you are, you might want to consider the cast iron router wing table from http://www.ptreeusa.com (http://www.ptreeusa.com/tables......htm#1066). The cast iron almost eliminates vibration and you can mount storage under the wing to store bits.
LQQK
First I would go with the Rockler table top, it is effective and easy to use. Then go buy a sheet of 3/4′ ply and make a cabinet yourself. It is a good starter project with drawers and doors.
I have gone to 1/2″ shank bits. They are safer and last longer.
Look at Summerfieldstools.com they have a good selection of bits and other jigs. I have seen Marc Sommerfield at shows and have always been impressed at how efficient his system is. But alas it is expensive.
Craig,
I also have setting on spiral cut bits in different sizes, flush cut bits and roundover bits. these seem to get me what I want most of the time. On the router table, ShopNotes magazine this month has detailed plas for a nice looking router table made mostly from MDF. you might check it out. It looks like you can mahe a very nice router table for about what buying one would cost.
I’m not a big fan of the MLCS set. My main problem with that set is the ¼ inch shanks. I also think there are too many bits especially for a beginner.
I’m guessing that you have a Bosch 1617 router. I know the router well, I have three of them. Anyway, since you can handle ½” shank bits, they should always be your first choice.
I would highly recommend reading, “Ten Essential Router Bits” by Gary Rogowski. You can find the article on Fine Woodworking.com: http://www.taunton.com/finewoo.....index.aspx
If you are planning to start today, get yourself a ½” straight bit. I have around 200 bits, but the ½” straight bits get used more than any other.
I agree with what has been said about router bits. Get a cheap set first then replace that with higher quality bits as you need them.
As for a router table, I know you are eager to get started but shop furniture is a great learning tool. I highly recommend you start with building some of your own shop furniture. A small router table would be a good start. You have all the tools you would need to build one. Like Roger said, this month’s Shop notes has a pretty nifty table you could build over a weekend and I’m sure it would cost less than a commercial one. I built a wing onto my table saw for my router table. It has worked fine but I want a little more room. Last week I picked up a free kitchen base cabinet that I will turn into a table. If you want to go that route, find your nearest Habitat ReStore and pick up one for cheap.
I definitely should have been more focused on the 1/2″ shank issue. Nearly all of my bits are 1/2″, and the only reason I buy 1/4″ is if they don’t come in the 1/2″ variety. Thanks for driving the point home fellas.
I agree with Richard in that building a router table is good practice for things to come. I too built Norm’s Router Table (the original one, not the deluxe one that came along later on). The case wasn’t square and the fit and finish weren’t great, but they didn’t need to be. The idea was to practice on something practical and gain some skill, along with a useful result. Objective accomplished! I couldn’t find 1″ thick melamine for the top so ended up making my own with MDF and high pressure laminate, another learning experience.
There are lots of plans in the magazines for router tables too. And definitely go with as many 1/2″ bits as possible, not 1/4″.
Look at the newer 4 wing cutters, (Freud is one supplier) they really make a nice smooth cut and I would think they will stay sharper – longer. I have 3 or 4 of them and they are worth the extra money.
I was just at the BigBox DIY store this afternoon, and I perused the (limited) router “accessory” isle. (I only deal with one BigBox, due to grievous customer service issues, that I will not go into here.)
There were three bench top router stations for sale. Prices ranged from $100 to $250. Rockler recently listed an add for a table top station (don’t remember if it was a kit or plans), for somewhere in between. Meanwhile, you can make a simple table out of 2×4 and melamine for about $50.
My question: What’s the benefit of High Speed Steel compared to, say, regular carbon? (local “discount tool” store has a kit of 5 router bits listed as HSS. Being a fan of the “spend little bucks to find out if you need/like the work, and spend for quality to replace it when the cheap stuff breaks,” I don’t want to buy a $14,000 paperweight.)
HSS is very common in cutters and bits. Its going to wear better and last long than regular carbon steel. Basically it cuts better and doesn’t lose temper under high stress applications. But in the world of router bits, you can do one step better, and that would be a carbide bit. The carbide will last significantly longer and hold an edge longer than the HSS.