A router is arguably the most versatile portable power tool you can buy. With this single tool you can shape decorative edges, trim laminates and veneers, rout hinge mortises, and cut a wide variety of woodworking joints, including dado, dovetail, rabbet, mortise-and-tenon, and tongue-and-groove, to name a few.



There are hundreds of different sizes and styles of router bits available to help you make all those cuts. But the vast number of choices can make it difficult to know which router bits to buy, especially if you're new to routing. So we drew up a list of 10 carbide-tipped router bits that every do-it-yourselfer should own. Once your woodworking skills and confidence grow, you can add more bits. Happy routing!