The bottom box has a spacer in the bottom because some of the bits are so short that they would not stick up high enough to identify.
6 Likes
Got it. Good call .
As noted above, I like how you scored the bit sizes too.
4 Likes
I really like the scores. I know It’s OCD, but if you figured out what you wanted where you could even put the names on. (I would, and then endlessly put bit in the wrong spots.)
6 Likes
Nice job David. Love the organization! Not a dime over $500 worth of bits there
2 Likes
I am glad if I was able to provide some inspiration, but you did all the work!
Those look great.
1 Like
Wasn’t that one of your first projects? 
1 Like
This is on my list of things to do.
1 Like
Ah yes, those were end mills, very similar.
I have been meaning to make more!
Yours are nice since they offer more room for extracting the bits.
3 Likes
Thats a good bit of boxes there. 
Yea! Got the first pun…
2 Likes
If you are starting out, I would recommend looking at Amazon.
I’ve got similar sets to these:
1/4" shank:
1/2" shank:
Not the highest quality router bits, but I’ve used them for about 5 years of woodworking, and I figure that the ones I use the most I can throw away and get higher quality bits to fit in their space. It is very clearly marked, easy to store, and the edges are protected from each other.
3 Likes
That looks like a nice set. I had purchased my bits one at a time as needed and never bought them as a set.
2 Likes
I had considered doing that, but when I started out with my shop I was going with a mindset of buy cheap, learn on the cheap, when I ruin it, buy the good stuff.
So when I got to the router bits, I was looking at how much it would cost to get a good set of starter bits, and when I found that many are about $5 each (the rough average), and the number of bits I wanted to start out with (about 6 flat end, 4 straight bits, 3-4 roundover bits, several decorative edging bits, 2-3 cove bits, etc…) I was looking to spend more money than this “case” of bits. I fully expected them to wear out or even break within the first year. But actually I just replaced my first bit (1/2" straight bit) about two months ago.
I’ll be the first to agree that you’ll get smoother cuts with a better bit, but these leave an acceptable surface.
1 Like
You could always do a finish pass with a higher quality bit…especially when removing a lot of wood…?
Organization boxes will likely be a bunch of my 1st projects 
I wouldn’t recommend that actually. When you change router bits, especially if it is in a router table, you lower the bit, loosen it up, replace, raise the bit, do your best to level it, run multiple tests to make sure it’s “good enough” and then you apply it to the piece you want to use it on. I don’t know that I can get the exact same level twice. For some bits it’s not that big of a deal (i.e. cutting a channel or using a straight edge bit), but for some others it would be VERY finicky (Roman Ogee bit or Wave Edge).
It potentially COULD be done, but a LOT of work to line it up exactly and not ruin the look.
1 Like
It’s not likely the profiles would match either. At least for some.
1 Like
Thanks! Good points. I’ve just done a few channels and rounded corners here and there, so quite the router newb…
Here’s another tip for free ;-). If you decide that you want to hog out a LOT of material at once, just don’t. I’ve broken my wooden pieces just trying to put a 1 inch roundover on the edge. You should raise it just enough to take a bit of wood at a time (rule of thumb is no more than 1/8" at a time), raise the bit again, test it on a scrap, do your next cut, raise and repeat until you have your nice smooth edge.
On my mugs, I used to do a 1/2" roundover on a 1" thick handle. I’ve busted so many handles by trying to do the entire round over at once. Even now, sometimes I’ll get “greedy” and try and do more than a 1/8" at a time, and sometimes it works, but too often I’ll get a chunk ripped out, or something cracks and breaks off. Take your time and you’ll get better results quicker because you won’t have to make the thing 2 or 3 times…(learning from your mistakes only works if you don’t do your mistake again…
)
4 Likes
There’s really no such thing as a “shortcut” 
3 Likes
“Shortcuts make for long delays,…”
2 Likes
Oh there are plenty… shortcuts to learning opportunities 