Router Bits & Accessories

About Router Bits & Accessories

Router bits and accessories are essential precision cutting tools designed for use with handheld and table-mounted routers, enabling woodworkers and joiners to create decorative edges, intricate joints, and professional finishing details. From simple round-over profiles to complex raised panel mouldings, router bits transform raw timber into refined joinery and architectural features. Whether you're crafting bespoke furniture, fitting kitchen worktops, or creating detailed decorative mouldings, having the right router bit for the task ensures clean cuts, accurate profiles, and professional results every time.

The range available from Tooled-Up.com encompasses an extensive selection of cutting profiles to suit every woodworking application. Carbide-tipped bits offer exceptional durability and edge retention for prolonged use in hardwoods and abrasive materials, while high-speed steel (HSS) options provide excellent value for lighter-duty work in softer timbers. Bearing-guided bits enable precise template following and edge profiling, whilst non-guided cutters work perfectly in conjunction with router fences and jigs for accurate linear cutting. Shank sizes typically include 1/4" and 1/2" options to suit different router collet capacities, with larger shanks offering improved rigidity and reduced vibration during operation.

Beyond the cutting bits themselves, router accessories play a crucial role in achieving professional results. Collets and collet extensions ensure secure bit retention, whilst router tables transform handheld tools into stationary workstations for improved control and repeatability. Guide bushes, template guides, and bearing sets expand the versatility of existing bits, and proper storage solutions keep expensive cutters organised and protected from damage. Tooled-Up stocks comprehensive router cutter sets alongside individual bits, providing excellent value for those establishing or expanding their routing capabilities.

Jargon Buster

• Shank: The smooth cylindrical portion of the router bit that fits into the router's collet. Common sizes are 1/4" (6.35mm) and 1/2" (12.7mm), with larger shanks providing greater stability and reduced deflection during cutting.
• Bearing-Guided: Router bits fitted with a ball bearing that runs along the workpiece edge or template, controlling the cutting depth without requiring a fence. The bearing diameter determines the amount of material removed.
• Carbide-Tipped (TCT): Tungsten carbide tips brazed onto a steel body, offering exceptional hardness and heat resistance. TCT bits maintain sharp cutting edges significantly longer than HSS alternatives, particularly in abrasive materials.
• Plunge Cut: A router bit design that can cut downward into the material surface rather than only from an edge. Centre-cutting geometry allows starting cuts in the middle of a workpiece.
• Profile Scribing: Matching pairs of router bits used in frame and panel construction, where one bit cuts the decorative profile and its partner creates the corresponding negative profile for perfect joining.
• Rota-Tip: Innovative router bits featuring replaceable cutting edges that can be rotated or replaced when dull, offering economic benefits and consistent cutting performance without resharpening entire bits.

Who Uses Router Bits & Accessories?

• Joiners and Cabinetmakers: Creating furniture joints, decorative edges, and precise fitting work
• Kitchen Fitters: Cutting worktop joints, hob recesses, and drainage grooves
• Carpenters: Producing architectural mouldings, door and window profiles, and trim work
• Shopfitters: Manufacturing display units, retail fixtures, and bespoke joinery
• Furniture Makers: Crafting decorative details, edge profiles, and complex jointing
• Picture Framers: Creating custom frame mouldings and rebates
• Staircase Builders: Routing handrail profiles and newel post details
• DIY Enthusiasts: Home improvement projects, furniture restoration, and woodworking hobbies
• Signmakers: Engraving letters and designs into timber and composite materials

How to Choose the Right Router Bits & Accessories

Shank Size Compatibility: Ensure your router bit shank matches your router's collet capacity. Whilst 1/4" bits work in most routers, 1/2" shanks offer superior rigidity for larger profile bits and reduce vibration during heavy cutting. Never use reducing sleeves as a substitute for proper collet sizes when working with large-diameter cutters.

Material and Quality: Carbide-tipped bits represent the professional standard for durability and edge retention, justifying their higher cost through extended service life. HSS bits suit occasional use in softwoods but dull rapidly in hardwoods and engineered materials. Premium brands including Trend, CMT, and Wealden Tool Company offer precision-ground profiles and reliable performance.

Cutting Profile Requirements: Match the bit profile to your specific application. Decorative edge work requires ogee, ovolo, or chamfer bits, whilst joinery demands straight cutters, dovetail bits, or dedicated jointing systems. Kitchen worktop installations need specific mason's mitre and drainer groove cutters, and panel raising requires large-diameter vertical or horizontal raised panel bits.

Bearing vs Non-Bearing Guidance: Bearing-guided bits excel at template work and freehand edge profiling, following curves and irregular shapes accurately. Non-bearing bits require fence guidance but offer greater flexibility in cutting depth adjustment and work perfectly for straight-line routing operations.

Router Power Considerations: Large-diameter bits demand adequate router power for safe operation. Raised panel bits and heavy-duty cutters require routers rated at 1200W or higher, preferably mounted in router tables for improved control. Smaller trim routers suit compact profile bits and light-duty work.

Storage and Protection: Quality router bits represent significant investment and require proper storage to protect delicate cutting edges. Wooden cases, foam inserts, or dedicated bit cabinets prevent damage and keep cutters organised for efficient workflow.

Popular Accessories

• Router Tables: Convert handheld routers into stationary machines for improved control and safety with large bits
• Replacement Collets: Ensure secure bit retention with undamaged collets in correct sizes
• Guide Bushes: Template followers that attach to the router base for pattern routing
• Bearing Sets: Interchangeable bearings allowing depth adjustment on bearing-guided bits
• Router Cutters Storage Cases: Protective storage solutions keeping bits organised and edges sharp
• Router Fences: Precision guides for accurate straight-line routing operations
• Dust Extraction Adaptors: Connect routers to vacuum systems for cleaner working environments
• Template Guides: Enable accurate pattern following and jig-based routing
• Bit Cleaning Products: Solvents and brushes for removing resin build-up and maintaining performance
• Router Mats: Anti-vibration pads reducing noise and movement during table routing

Safety Information

Speed and Feed Rates: Operating router bits at correct speeds prevents dangerous kickback and premature cutter failure. Large-diameter bits require reduced router speeds - consult manufacturer guidelines for maximum safe RPM. Never exceed recommended speeds, and always make shallow passes rather than attempting full-depth cuts in single operations.

Personal Protective Equipment: Always wear safety glasses or face shields when routing, as high-speed cutters can eject chips at dangerous velocities. Hearing protection is essential given router noise levels, and dust masks prevent inhalation of fine wood particles. Avoid loose clothing, jewellery, and tie back long hair to prevent entanglement.

Workpiece Security: Ensure materials are firmly clamped or secured before routing. Handheld routing of small components is particularly hazardous - use router tables or secure jigs for improved control. Feed direction matters: move against the cutter rotation to maintain control and prevent dangerous workpiece grab.

Bit Inspection and Installation: Examine router bits before use for damage, cracks, or missing carbide tips. Insert shanks fully into collets before tightening, leaving approximately 3mm clearance to prevent bottoming out. Use two spanners when tightening collet nuts to prevent damage to the router's spindle.

Electrical Safety: When using 240v routers, ensure proper earthing and consider RCD protection, particularly in damp workshop environments. Disconnect power before changing bits, and keep cables clear of cutting areas. Table-mounted routers should feature accessible emergency stop switches and proper guarding around exposed cutters.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between 1/4" and 1/2" shank router bits?

The 1/2" (12.7mm) shank provides greater rigidity and reduced vibration, making it preferable for large-diameter profile bits and heavy-duty applications. Quarter-inch shanks suit smaller trim routers and lighter work but can flex or chatter with aggressive cuts. If your router accepts both sizes, choose 1/2" shanks for cutters over 25mm diameter.

How do I know when router bits need replacing or resharpening?

Dull bits produce burn marks on timber, require excessive feed pressure, create rough or fuzzy edges, and generate more noise than sharp cutters. Carbide-tipped bits can be professionally resharpened several times before replacement becomes necessary. Inspect cutting edges for chips or damage, and replace bits showing visible carbide loss or cracks.

Can I use router bits designed for table mounting in handheld routers?

Whilst technically possible, large-diameter bits such as raised panel cutters and heavy moulding profiles are dangerous in handheld routers. These bits create significant torque and require the stability and control that table mounting provides. Reserve handheld routing for smaller profile bits and always check manufacturer recommendations for minimum router power requirements.

What causes router bits to burn the wood?

Burning typically results from dull cutting edges, excessive router speed, insufficient feed rate, or multiple passes over the same area. Ensure bits are sharp, reduce router speed for large-diameter cutters, maintain steady feed rates without pausing, and make full passes rather than repeated shallow cuts in the same location. Resinous woods like pine burn more easily than hardwoods.

Are expensive branded router bits worth the additional cost?

Premium router bits from established manufacturers offer superior carbide quality, precision grinding, and balanced construction that produces cleaner cuts and longer service life. The Tooled-Up range includes professional-grade bits from brands including Trend, Bosch, and Faithfull that justify their cost through reliability and performance. For occasional DIY use, mid-range options provide adequate results, but professional tradespeople benefit significantly from investing in quality cutting tools.