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Switched to carbide router bits after burning through 3 cheap ones in a month
I always thought expensive router bits were a rip off. Then I bought a 4-pack of cheap ones for $12 at the hardware store and burned through them in 3 weeks making cabinet doors. Last week I finally tried a single carbide tipped bit that cost $18 and it still cuts clean after 40 linear feet of oak. Did the math and the cheap ones were costing me more in ruined wood. Anyone else find that paying more up front saves money in the long run?
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gavincampbell23d ago
My buddy spent $60 on a single router bit for his sign making business and I laughed at him until he showed me the cuts it made after a year of daily use. That $60 bit paid for itself like three times over in materials saved.
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allen.cole23d ago
Gotta disagree a little bit here. I got burned by spending too much on bits that I didn't even really need for my simple stuff. Yeah, cheap ones suck, but the mid-range stuff works fine for most home projects. I spent $30 on a single bit once and it was overkill for cutting pine shelves, and I still cracked it when I hit a nail. Sometimes it's better to buy a few good but not top-tier bits and just treat them right instead of banking it all on one pricey piece.
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