Straight Router Bits

When you need to cut grooves, dadoes, or rabbets with absolute precision, straight router bits are the tools that get the job done. These workhorses of the woodshop create clean, flat-bottomed cuts that form the foundation of strong joinery and professional-looking work. Whether you're building cabinet carcasses, creating shelf dadoes, or routing hinge mortises, the right straight bit makes the difference between joints that fit perfectly and ones that need shimming and filling.

What Makes a Quality Straight Router Bit

Not all straight bits perform equally, and understanding what separates professional-grade tooling from economy options helps you make informed decisions. Carbide-tipped bits outlast high-speed steel by a significant margin, maintaining their sharp cutting edges through hardwoods, plywoods, and composite materials. The carbide quality matters too—premium micrograin carbide stays sharper longer and resists chipping better than standard grades.

The bit geometry affects both cut quality and tool life. Proper relief angles behind the cutting edges prevent burning and reduce the force needed to make cuts. Shank quality is equally important—precision-ground shanks ensure the bit runs true in your router collet, preventing vibration that leads to rough cuts and premature bearing failure. For production work, bits with anti-kickback design features provide an extra margin of safety when routing at higher speeds.

Common Applications and Considerations

• Dado and groove cutting: Creating channels for drawer bottoms, back panels, and shelf supports requires straight bits that match standard plywood thicknesses
• Rabbeting and edge joinery: Both handheld and table-mounted routing benefit from straight bits when creating joints for case construction
• Template routing: Following patterns and templates demands bits with bearing guides or precise diameter control
• Mortising operations: Plunge routing for hinge mortises and lock installations relies on bits that cut cleanly at full depth
• Sign making and lettering: Detailed work in both solid wood and composites requires smaller diameter bits with fine cutting edges

Matching Bits to Your Work

The right straight bit depends on your specific applications and materials. Shorter cutting lengths work well for most cabinet and furniture work, providing better rigidity and cleaner cuts. Longer bits become necessary when routing deep mortises or working with thick stock, though they require slower feed rates to prevent deflection and chatter.

Diameter selection impacts both the strength of your joints and the efficiency of your routing. Smaller diameters excel at detailed work and following tight curves. Larger diameters remove material faster and create stronger dado joints, but they also demand more powerful routers and slower feed speeds. For production environments where the same cuts happen repeatedly, investing in bits specifically sized for your common operations pays dividends in consistency and tool life.

Getting the Most from Your Router Bits

Proper setup and maintenance extend bit life and improve cut quality. Setting the correct router speed for the bit diameter prevents burning and excessive wear—larger bits need slower speeds than smaller ones. Taking multiple shallow passes rather than trying to remove all the material in one deep cut reduces strain on both the bit and the router motor.

Keep your bits clean and sharp. Pitch and resin buildup on the cutting edges increases friction and heat, leading to burning and dulling. A simple cleaning with pitch remover keeps bits cutting at their best. When bits do become dull, professional sharpening restores the cutting geometry and extends tool life well beyond what you'd get from disposable bits. Store bits properly to prevent damage to the cutting edges—even a small ding on a carbide edge affects cut quality.