Router Table Depot Blog: Buying Router Bits Is Not Hard Router Table Depot

Router Table Depot Posting Page

Friday, June 5, 2009

Buying Router Bits Is Not Hard, But You Need The Right Tool For The Right Job

Routers are one of the most versatile tolls that you can buy for your workshop or wood shop. When buying router bits, you need to know what kind of bit you need for the job. With the right router you can put virtually any kind of design or cut into the edge of the wood you are working with. It is best to have a full array of router bits in your tool box so that you can tackle any job that comes your way or a job of your choosing. Whether you are cutting duplicate shapes or using the router to cut patterns, the right bit for the right job is pertinent to getting the job done and done right.

When buying router bits you might want to think of the two most popular routers on the market. The first is a fixed base router bit. The depth of the cut is pre-set so that you know your depth before you even turn on the power of the router. These routers do not have a plunge mechanism therefore they feel lighter and easier to control. Another router bit allows you to adjust how deep you want to make the cut as you are cutting your stock. The plunge mechanism adds weight to the router so it is more difficult to work with and you have to use a heavy hand that could lead to mistakes.

Buying router bits can be a little confusing, but each bit has been designed with a specific purpose in mind. For example a stile cutter router bit is good for cutting the inside grove or your stock or the same bit is excellent at beading on stile and arils in frame construction. The coping router bit is good at cutting and coping the ends and edges of rails in frame and panel construction. With the ball bearing pilot you can make sharp edges easily as the router slides through the stock. Even with a molding cutter router bit you can use the bit to cute multiple molding profiles. Using a table mounted router is best for this task, as it is safer and easier to use.

No matter what style of bits you purchase, when buying router bits there are three standard makes of the tool accessory. The first is the high speed steel router bit. These are inexpensive and good for most general routing tasks. Whether you are using softwoods or plastics this router bit will do wonders for your edging. The carbide tip is a little more expensive than the high speed steel and works great with hardwood materials or anything that is tougher than light plastic. The solid carbide router bit is one of the more costly router bits. These bits may look small, but they are specifically designed to specific tasks such as laminate trimming or cutting a patter in your stock.

Buying router bits is not rocket science, but if you are not sure of what kind of router bit you should buy, ask your local hardware store clerk or research the router bit online. You might want to experiment with different materials until you feel comfortable.

by: Router Table Depot

0 Comments: