Hot take: I spent $200 on a fancy new router bit set and barely used it.

I bought a big set of profile bits for a big kitchen job last fall, thinking I'd need them for custom trim. The job changed, and I ended up using a simple round-over for 90% of the work. Those bits have been sitting in their case for almost a year now. I should have just bought the one bit I knew I needed. Anyone else buy a tool for a specific project that just collects dust?

3 comments

3 Comments

blake4322mo ago

Actually having that full set can be a game changer though. You never know when a future project will need that exact cove or ogee profile, and now you're ready. It's like an insurance policy for your shop, saving a trip to the store when inspiration hits.

murray.cole2mo ago

But what if inspiration hits for a profile you DON'T have?

singh.jessica19d ago

I keep a small stash of MDF board cutoffs for exactly this reason. If an idea pops into my head for a profile I don't own, I'll just hog out a quick custom shape from a scrap block with a rasp and sandpaper. Takes maybe 10 minutes and you get to test the look on your project without dropping money on a full set. Plus sometimes the rough handmade version ends up looking better than the machine perfect one anyway.