10 Basic Router Bit Types for Your Woodworking Projects - KoneTool

Whether you’re a woodworking pro or a DIYer, a router is an essential tool you should use in your project. A router is the most versatile tool in woodworking with different router bit types. Router bits come in various profiles, tip types, and shank sizes, making the bit selection confusing. However, you don’t need all types of router bits for your woodworking tasks. The most commonly used router bits include straight bits, flush trim bits, spiral bits, roundover bits, grooving bits, and jointing bits. With these router bit types, most of your projects can be done perfectly. Here we’ve listed 10 basic router bit types and their profiles, functions, sizes, and features. This list will help you discover the rich potential behind every router bit type and give you a clear guide on how to choose router bits for your jobs.

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Straight Router Bit

As the most frequently used router bit type, straight bits are basic and essential to your project thanks to their versatility. They are mainly used to create grooves, dados, rabbets, mortises, inlays, etc. If we cut with the wood grain, we can form a groove. While cut against the wood grain, we can create a dado. These grooves or dados are often used in wood joints. Besides, for decorative purposes, straight router bits can hollow out areas for decorative inlays. Most straight bits are two-fluted and feature various diameters and lengths.

Rabbeting Router Bit

As the name implies, rabbeting bits are specifically used for cutting L-shaped dados or shoulders to form rabbet joints or shoulder joints. In cabinetry construction, rabbet joints are primarily applied in making drawers and cabinet frameworks. Unlike straight bits, rabbet bits are equipped with pilot bearings, acting as cutting guides. The bearings are removable. Usually, a set of rabbet router bits includes a bit and several bearings of different sizes, ranging from ⅜” to 1⅛”. The size of the bearing determines the depth of the cut. A larger bearing results in a narrower cut. 1¼” and 1⅜” are two common sizes of rabbet router bits.

V Groove Router Bit

V groove router bits engrave V-shaped grooves on panels mainly for decorative purposes. Thin and deep V grooves can be used in making signs. Wide and shallow V grooves are ideal for columns. Besides, V groove bits can also be used to create decorative grooves on furniture legs, table tops, and other furniture surfaces. With various angles and diameters, this type of router bit can cut grooves with different depths and widths, resulting in multiple effects.

Flush Trim Router Bit

Flush trim bits are designed for trimming the edges of panels, resulting in perfectly flat surfaces. Similar to a straight bit, a flush trim bit features a bearing that is the same diameter as the cutter, guaranteeing precise trimming. The pilot bearing is used to guide the cutting direction and can be installed at the bottom, top, or bottom and top of a flush trim bit. Trimming and replicating are the main applications of this type of router bit. Flush trim bits are ideal for trimming back overhanging edges of veneer coverings. For replicating purposes, a pattern template is needed to create exactly the same pieces.

Tongue and Groove Router Bit

As the name suggests, tongue and groove router bits are used for building tongue and groove joints. This type of joint is ideal for making strip flooring, tabletops, wainscoting, cabinet doors, and panels for its strong and self-aligning features. Tongue and groove router bits are suitable for table-mounted routers due to the stability of the table. Using this bit with solid wood will get perfect results. Tongue and groove router bits often come in pairs, but you can also use them separately for other purposes.

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Roundover Router Bit

Roundover bits may be the most frequently used edging bits. They can cut a smooth and rounded edge to round the sharp edge over, just as the name says. Smooth and rounded edges can help preserve the finish of your project. Besides, unlike acute and sharp edges, rounded edges are much safer when people contact them. Roundover edges are perfect for most furniture edges, such as tabletops, shelves, chair arms, handrails, cabinet edges, etc. A roundover router bit also has an interchangeable bearing at the bottom. Like rabbeting bits, bearings with different sizes result in different depths of cut.

Chamfer Router Bit

Chamfer bits are designed for cutting bevel edges on wood boards. Decorative bevel edges can be applied to many types of furniture, such as tabletops, counters, bookshelves, etc. While some bevel edges are for jointing purposes, making multi-sided boxes. For accurate cuts, chamfer bits are also equipped with bearings, working as a cutting guide at the bottom of the bit. The diameters range from ⅛” to 2½”, and the most common cutting angles include 11.25 degrees, 15 degrees, 22.5 degrees, 30 degrees, and 45 degrees.

Cove Router Bit

As opposed to roundover router bits, cove router bits create a concave quarter-circle edge on wood. Because of this, cove bits can be used together with roundover bits to form a rule joint, a woodworking technique that is often seen in folding leaf tables. Apart from creating wood joints, cove bits are designed for decorative molding purposes, such as edges of tables, window seals, frames, stools, doors, shelves, etc. Cove bits feature a variety of radii, like 3/16” and 5/16”.

Core Box Router Bit

Core box bits are similar to cove bits, only without a bearing. Core box bits create half-round grooves or channels on wood panels. These grooves are mainly for decorative purposes on table edges, shelves, doors, frames, etc. Besides, core box bits can also be used to hollow out pieces of wood.

Roman Ogee Router Bit

“Ogee” is a word that is often used in the architecture industry, meaning molding with an S-shaped profile. The primary purpose of Roman ogee router bits is decorative, cutting decorative S-shaped profiles on various pieces of furniture. Roman ogee bits feature a pilot bearing at the top of the bit.

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With the thread for Ryan's beautiful router bit insert and some other router threads I started to re-organize my router bits. Then I got an from MLCS advertising their router bit collection, 30 bits for $99 and one that is 45 bits for $116. All this got me thinking. I have been migrating my shop to a less is more kind of thing, and I thought what bits do I actually use on a regular basis.  I have 6 routers now with one in my main router table with lift and Incra fence system. 2 are mounted in small portable type router tables, one with a round over bit so I can quickly round over any edge when making a project or a shop jig and one with a flush trim bit. I just purchased a OS as my main hand held router.

I don't really have a need for too many bits. I was wondering what bits you use most frequently. I am pretty sure that like me you have a few bits that were purchased to make that one cut on a special project and I am not talking about those. What I am looking for is a list of your most used bits and maybe even a reason you use that particular bit. It may prove educational for me and others

Thanks for contributing your thoughts and ideas.

Uncle Joe A cheap set is good for making sure that you have bits that don't get a lot of use when you need them.  The initial cut quality is not bad, in my experience, but the carbide quality is not as good and the bits will dull more quickly - sometimes very quickly.

I buy quality bits as needed for specific jobs.  I like Freud and Infinity bits.  (I think Infinity used to be called Jesada, which is the brand that I have most of).  Obviously Whiteside and Amana are top notch as well, and others will note their favorite brands.

The bits I use most are straight, pattern, and chamfering bits.  I have quality bits for all of these, and have gotten good use out of most of them.

I have had one bit break in use - a quality dovetail bit.  I've also seen another quality dovetail bit break in use.  I mention that because quality doesn't always mean trouble-free, nor does it make up for pushing at bit past what it is designed for.     Brand wise I have mostly CMT. I like them better than Freud but I don't really dislike the Freud either. I have a few in others brands including Freud, Amana, Whiteside, MLCS, simply because it was the only brand I could find offering a specific bit.

Most used profiles?

          1/4", 3/8" Rnd. Over (for edge breaking and really small round overs I usually use a sander)

          Ditto for Beading

          45 Chamfer (although I frequently just do this with a sander while sanding)

          1/4, 3/8, 1/2 Cove

        After those it is a pretty long list of about equal usage. Round Nose, rail and stile, straight, rabbeting, etc.

      I do a wide range of work and frequently am matching old / existing profiles. So I have ended up with a pretty good size collection of bits that have only been used once or twice.

      On the sander notes above I use a router if there are more than a couple pieces.

Seth Most often, I'm using straight/ mortising bits.  1/4" 6mm, 5mm, 1/2" and 19mm. Both in the table and hand held. Spiral and dbl flute.  I use an inlay kit quite a bit too with  1/8" spiral.

Next, is prob. a rabbeting bit and a slot cutter.

I also use a lock miter quite a bit.

My go to brand is Freud because it represents a good balance between quality, price, and availability.  I can get just about anything in their lineup within 20 minutes.  I find them to be above average in quality.

I have my fair share of Whiteside and Amana bits too. I also have a lot of DeWalt bits from the early 90's that I think were made by Amana for them.  Infinity is a good bit.  I use them and Freud's but my goto is Whiteside.  I found a really good source, Woodworkersworld.net.  Free shipping and because in part, I live on the east coast, I always receive them next day or two.  I get a shipping confirmation within the hour of order placed. 

I, like others, only buy them as the need arises for any given project.  I never stock pile them.

Jim Kirkpatrick said: Infinity is a good bit.  I use them and Freud's but my goto is Whiteside.  I found a really good source, Woodworkersworld.net.  Free shipping and because in part, I live on the east coast, I always receive them next day or two.  I get a shipping confirmation within the hour of order placed. 

I, like others, only buy them as the need arises for any given project.  I never stock pile them.

Ditto with Whiteside and Woodworkers World!  I bought two bits from Alan this week and received them in two days from PA to MI with free shipping. If they are made by Whiteside Eagle America Made in USA version aren't a cheaper version as far as lessor quality. I found them to be just as good

What I haven't done is buy two of the identical style each from Whiteside and Eagle. It's  possible the bits I had issue with from Whiteside have the same issue with the Eagle line.

I did have a thought the bits from each were made in the same factory. And seeing how a couple woodworking magazine rated Whiteside and Eagle America as 1 and 2 or even tied as best bits it's a good bet Whiteside Machine Company makes them. I  read an unverified article linked through lumber jocks awhile back that stated the Eagle bits are made in the same factory as the Whiteside, but nothing was said about ownership or if one is intentionally better than the other. I say Eagle are not inferior and just as good, but it's just an opinion from use.

The America Eagle have a lifetime warranty(like the Whiteside) so if one ever fails I let you know how that plays out.