Ok. So I'll just go with Whiteside 401 set. Thank everyone for their input. I was leaning toward Freud for a moment, but doesn't sound like I will be disappointed the slightest going for quality. What's the point of having some of the top notch equipment if I flake out on the main component?

 

I think that's a smart call. The Yonicos are obviously hit or miss. You rarely hear of a miss with Whiteside though.

 

I also just learned that you can stack common profiles to make more complex ones. Example: using roundover and core box bits together can make ogee profiles.

Are there other combinations like this so I'm not buying or considering bits in redundancy?

I've only found one source that shows 3 common bits making 17 profiles. Are there other sources????

 

Look at shaper bit profiles. It's very common in mill work to have a set of standard shapes and then stack them to achieve different molding profiles. You're limited only by your imagination really.

 

I have another question…. how important is it to have a rabbiting router bit with a set of bearings if I already have some Freud Dado stacks????

I can see the importance or need for some straight bits to cut grooves and do flush trim… but do the dados replace some bits? No sense to be redundant.

 

I have another question…. how important is it to have a rabbiting router bit with a set of bearings if I already have some Freud Dado stacks????

I can see the importance or need for some straight bits to cut grooves and do flush trim… but do the dados replace some bits? No sense to be redundant.

- TellMePlease

There are certain situations where you can't use the dado. For instance, it you have a cope and stick cabinet door set and you want to make a glass door. The router bits come in handy.

Another example is I make a mirror that is put together with pocket holes. The rabbiting bits make this easier.

 

Dado stacks don't leave clean, flat bottoms and the outer edge will leave a "bat's ear" in the corner. Which is just fine most of the time. But a rabbeting bit will give a cleaner surface if you need it. Dado stack is also useless if you need a rabbet on a round or otherwise irregularly shaped piece.

 

One nice thing about a rabbeting bit is that the only setup is the depth of cut once you have the right bearing mounted on it. Super easy and as Kenny mentioned, you can use it on curves and even inside corners (with a little chiesel work to square the corner). Also easier than a dado stack for stopped cuts. One the other hand, I would not buy one just to buy one. Wait until you need it for a project.

One of these days I am going to finally get a dado stack that doesn't leave bat ears.

 

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One of these days I am going to finally get a dado stack that doesn t leave bat ears.

- Lazyman

Is there such an animal? I know there are box-joint blades that leave square corners but I'm not aware of any dado sets that have square grinds on the outer blades. Would be nice to have sometimes for sure…

One other thought on cutting rabbets with a dado stack for the OP: My table saw fence has some nice "swirly" marks about 1/16" deep where the previous owner cut a rabbet. So if you're going that route, have a sacrificial face for your fence

 

...

One of these days I am going to finally get a dado stack that doesn t leave bat ears.

- Lazyman

Is there such an animal? I know there are box-joint blades that leave square corners but I m not aware of any dado sets that have square grinds on the outer blades. Would be nice to have sometimes for sure…

- HokieKen

I remember seeing a review years ago but I don't remember the brand. It may have been a combo set that had extra box cutter blades that were interchangeable with normal outside blades.

 

Well. After consideration of advise and learning some things in researching, I think I've concluded the bits I will start off with. The only part I lack is exactly which "straight bits" I will get. I do have a Freud 1/2 inch bearing flush trim. I know my need for other straight bits will come… The rest though I believe will give me all the versatility and flexibility to do 90% of the work I will be getting into. Tell me what y'all think:

$46.10 -Whiteside Router Bits 1413 Round Nose Bit with 1/2-Inch Radius 1-Inch Cutting Diameter and 1-1/4-Inch Cutting Length

$27.76 -Whiteside 6710A/A210B Slotting Cutter

$15.01 Whiteside #BB501 5 Piece Bearing set

$28.56 -Whiteside #1804 Cove Bit with 3/8-Inch Radius 1-1/4-Inch Large Diameter 1/2-Inch Cutting Length

$26.56 -Whiteside #1954 Rabbet Bit with 1-3/8-Inch Large Diameter, 1/2-Inch Cutting Diameter and 1/2-Inch Cutting Length

$52.62 -WHITESIDE #RU4900 Standard Spiral Bit with Up Cut Solid Carbide 3/8-Inch Cutting Diameter and 1-1/4-Inch Cutting Length (especially for my mortises and grooves)

$110.25 Whiteside #501 Round Over and Beading Set with 1/2 inch shanks

$41.34 -Whiteside 2306 Chamfer Bit with 45-Degree 1-1/16-Inch Cutting Length

$67.54 -Whiteside 6220, CNC Spoilboard Surfacing Router Bit, 1/2" Shank (I know this is a kinda not the starter norm, but I will have me hand in live edge slabs)

 

...

One of these days I am going to finally get a dado stack that doesn t leave bat ears.

- Lazyman

Is there such an animal? I know there are box-joint blades that leave square corners but I m not aware of any dado sets that have square grinds on the outer blades. Would be nice to have sometimes for sure…

- HokieKen

I remember seeing a review years ago but I don t remember the brand. It may have been a combo set that had extra box cutter blades that were interchangeable with normal outside blades.

- Lazyman

Depending on the situation, I will just make 2 passes on the table saw and forget about the dado stack. By the time I fiddle around with set up and switching back, I can run quite a few pieces twice.

This is what I do with a bedroom group I make for the recessed back.

 

As others have said, I myself would wait and buy them as my projects needed them. I'd fear ending up with a bunch of expensive bits that I never had a use for.

 

I use router bits from Sommerfeld tools. They ave not let me down. Built all my kitchen cabinets with them and they are still sharp. I had a problem of my own stupidity called Sommerfeld and was contacted the owner of the company. I call that customer service.

 

Well… the wife bought me this for Xmas. Router bit decision solved. Lol

 

Well congrats on the router bits!

 

Good score. I have a set or two with ones that I've never used. Differs depending on what you're building. My favorites are spiral bits though for many tasks especially for straight cutting and flush trimming.

 

Over decades, starting around 1980, I've EASED into woodworking. Many things have changed since then including my expectations of results, availability of tooling and what I was willing to spend on a router bit. My old Craftsman single speed router has a collection of high speed steel bits in the case. I've always had a mindset of upgrading to better when what I had no longer met my expectations. As I matured, had a little more flexible income and my expectations grew, I started spending more on cutting tools. Now I only want carbide name brand cutting tools of the best quality for what I'm willing to spend. I've bought a few Whiteside i bits lately as well as a Freud rabbet bit. The rabbet bit just arrived yesterday and I haven't used it yet but it is wicked sharp and I'm looking forward to trying it out. The cuts from the Whiteside bits are very smooth.

As I've been able to better define what I want to do, I've realized that the big bit sets have more bits I don't need than ones I see as useful so I buy what I need as I need them. In the long run, I think I'll spend less and have fewer unused bits.