Burnt $120 on a router bit set from a big box store

Bought a 15 piece router bit set for $120 back in March because the price per bit looked good on paper. After three cabinet doors the bits were chattering and leaving burn marks on maple plywood. Anyone else learn the hard way that a single good bit beats a box of junk?

2 comments

2 Comments

gavin_allen481mo ago

Man I used to be the exact same way. I'd see a big set of bits for under $100 and think I was getting a steal. But after watching a cheap bit catch fire in some walnut plywood I completely changed my tune. One solid carbide bit from a known brand will outlast an entire box of those generic ones and give you cleaner cuts the whole time. Now I'd rather spend $40 on a single good bit that works than have a drawer full of stuff I'm scared to use.

haydenp951mo ago

Nah, a cheap set lets me have backups when I definitely shouldn't be using that one bit anyway.