Although powered routers began using rotary router bits as early as the teens in the 20th Century, modern spindle routers that used replaceable router bits did not become popular until the late 1950's.
High speed steel was initially used to make router bits, but this gave way to more exotic and longer lasting metals like high carbon steel, tungsten and titanium.
The best router bits in these modern times last the longest due to the use of advanced metallurgy, while giving a superior cut on any wood surface they are used on.
Why it's best: The Whiteside 7-Piece Basic Router Bit Set on 1/2" Shank are the router bits that you've never heard of, yet are the best of the best. Made in America at the Whiteside machine Company in North Carolina, Whiteside has been making router bits for over 30 years, and the quality, reliability and smooth cutting is second to none.
These bits won the prestigious Fine Woodworking magazine's "Best Overall" and "Best Value" award for superior performance at a value price! The best bits at the best price is a combination that can't be beat.
They come with a lifetime warranty against defects in workmanship or materials and are made with the finest carbide and carbide tips known. Nothing fancy here, just good old American ingenuity at its finest!
They cut so smooth that virtually every cut need minimal or no sanding when the cutting is done. This starter set features the 7 most common router bits, but other bits can be added in to make any bit collection as versatile as needed.
If you want the best bits at the best price, go Whiteside. Case closed, end of story! See more reviews, photos, prices, and specs
Why it's a best pick: In second place comes another router bit you may never have heard of, the Eagle America 12-piece General Purpose Router Bit Set, This is another American Made router bit that also won the Fine Woodworking Magazine's "Best Overall" router bit, right next to the Whiteside bits.
These bits are made with super micrograin carbide, diamond honed with 600 grit abrasive. The only reason they don't make the #1 slot here is that they cost a bit more than the front runner. Otherwise, you can't go wrong with either one.
They also have a full lifetime warranty against workmanship and material defects, and are priced competitively with all the other brands listed here. The 12-piece set gives you the most common bits to start with, but more can be added for your routing needs. All of them are manufactured in America, and all of them will cut equally as good.
For a price-no-object quality set of American made router bits, look no further than Eagle America for your router bit needs. See more reviews, photos, prices, and specs
Why it's a best pick: When you want the best known router bits, you go with Freud. The Freud 91-100 13-piece Super Router Bit Set with 1/2-inch shank and Freud's TiCo High Density Carbide are hard to beat.
Their bits feature Freuds own TiCo hi-density carbide metal router bits. These bits are made with a titanium-cobalt micrograin carbide mixture that will stand up to both professional and hobbyist routing demands. So confident is Freud in their router bits, that they offer a full limited lifetime warranty. These bits have been computer balanced to run chatter free and vibration free in excess of 22,000 RPM, which is the typical speed of high-speed routers. The cut is so smooth from these bits that they require little or no sanding afterwards.
This bit kit offers some of the most common bits that are used, like a chamfering bit, a dovetail bit, a flush trimming bit and several others. Even the storage box is made for maximum bit protection.
If you want or need one of the the best for the work that you do with your router, you'll love the quality, the longevity and the smooth cutting that these Freud TiCo Hi-Density Carbide Router Bits provide. See more reviews, photos, prices, and specs
Amazon.com$188.90
Why it's a best pick: The CMT 800.505.11 13-Piece 1/2-Inch Shank Router Bit Set comes in a close fourth on this list. They are made with a high quality premium grade tungsten carbide and are built to last. These bits are well centered and balanced to achieve perfect concentricity at all times. That means they will run smooth and true with no wobble or shake, each time you use them.
The carbide tip is touted as a homogenous fine-grain composition which means both exceptional durability and long-lasting performance for as long as you use them. These are true professional grade bits in every sense of the word. Even the case is a work of art, and it will showcase your bits as well as making them easy to access every time they are needed.
Although they come in fourth on this list, no one will argue that you won't get a smooth, beautiful and nearly effortless cut every time you use a high quality CMT router bit. See more reviews, photos, prices, and specs
Amazon.com$222.00
Why it's a best pick: For the most bang-for-the-buck, you cannot go wrong with the Neiko 80-Piece Premium-Grade 1/2 Inch Tungsten Carbide Router Bit Set - 3 and 2 Blade - Aluminum Case. There may not be a better router bit deal on the planet.
Even though this kit comes with basically every router bit you can think of, don't believe for a second that these are made cheaply and won't get the job done. Are they as high quality as the other bits on this list? Absolutely not. But for the price and the quantity, you can't go wrong.
These Nelko bits are made with tungsten carbide cutting edges and are rated at 20,000 RPM. They are made to withstand high heat from multiple cutting tasks, and the incredible selection means you'll always have the right bit for any job you choose. They come is a solid and sturdy aluminum case for easy portability, and the case will protect the bits from bumps and drops every time they are stored or carried.
Sure, there may be better quality router bits out there, but for the price, this Nelko 80-Piece Premium-Grade Carbide Bit Set will give you a versatility and selection unmatched by any of the others. See more reviews, photos, prices, and specs
Thanks for the great information. I would love to get one of these router bit sets for my husband for Christmas. Which one would you recommend? He's not a serious handyman but I would like him to have something nice to use when he has to be one. Thanks for your help.
http://www.precisionbits.com/router-bit-sets.html