Thread: what router bits do you consider essential?

I think I'm particularly fond of my Carb-I-Tool bits. I've finally worn out the first bit I ever bought (1" dia. by 1 1/2"). It's not so much what they'll do, but what they've done that makes me feel nostalgic. Every bit is associated forever with its first project. Some were so expensive that even today I treat them with kid gloves. I bought a matched pair of Panel Door bits in 1985 that cost me a fortnight's wages! It actually took me the best part of a year to save for them, and now you could replace them with crappy asian imitators for less than a family night out at the pictures.

As for the most used/useful bits. Well, they would have to be my jointing bits: a Carb-I-Tool Tongue and Groover (which I scammed as a freebie with my first router) still cuts, despite having produced T & G floorboards for two houses and more wide panels/tabletops/benchtops/shelves than I can remember and a scary looking set of 4 finger joint groovers and shims mounted on an arbour for jointing up the laminations in home-made roofing beams.

But the single most useful bit ever has been a T & G V-Joint set from Israel which is now on it's fourth houselot of lining boards.