Bosch 6-piece Multi-Purpose Router Bit Set

Why I reached for this set

I keep a few go-to kits within arm’s reach for quick shop tasks, and this Bosch bit set has been living in that rotation for a while now. It’s a six-piece, 1/4-inch shank assortment that covers the profiles I use most on a trim router and mid-size plunge router: two straight bits (1/4 in and 1/2 in), a 3/8-in trimming bit, a 1/4-in radius roundover, a 1-1/4-in 45° chamfer, and a 1/2-in dovetail. If you’re setting up a basic routing kit or you want a compact set that handles most furniture and cabinet tasks, this lineup makes sense.

Build and design

Each bit uses micrograin carbide that’s precision-ground and brazed to the steel body. Out of the box, the edges were clean and uniform under a loupe—no chips, no overgrinds—and the bearings on the guided profiles spun freely without noticeable play. Shanks were straight and true; I checked runout on a trim router with a dial indicator and saw less than 0.002 in at the bearing on the roundover, which is very good for a 1/4-in shank bit. Balance was also solid; I didn’t feel the telltale hum or vibration that comes from a slightly off-center grind.

The storage case deserves a mention. The wood base keeps the bits seated securely, and the clear lid makes it easy to verify what’s inside without opening it. It’s not a rugged shop case, but it’s practical on the bench, and the bits haven’t shaken loose during transport in my tool bag.

Setup and compatibility

These are 1/4-in shank bits, so make sure your router has a 1/4-in collet. Trim routers are a natural match, and mid-size routers typically include a 1/4-in collet adapter. With the larger profiles (especially the 1-1/4-in chamfer), I prefer a more powerful router with a fixed base for stability, and I slow the speed down:

• Small profiles (1/4-in straight, trimming): 18,000–22,000 RPM
• Medium (roundover): 16,000–18,000 RPM
• Large (1-1/4-in chamfer): 12,000–14,000 RPM

On the straight bits, the 1/4-in shank is fine for shallow dados and grooves, but I take multiple passes instead of hogging out the full depth in one go. If you routinely cut deep dadoes in hardwood or route long mortises, a 1/2-in shank bit in a heavier router is the better tool.

Performance in the shop

• 1/4-in straight: I used this for shelf pin slots and small dados in maple ply and MDF. With a fence and a shallow plunge (1/8 in per pass), the bit tracked straight and produced a crisp, flat-bottomed groove. In MDF, chip evacuation was clean; in hardwood, it benefited from a light climb cut on the last pass to eliminate fuzz on the trailing edge.

• 1/2-in straight: This became my go-to for cabinet back grooves. It handled 1/4-in deep cuts in birch plywood without burning, provided the feed was steady. On white oak, I slowed the speed and kept passes to 3/16 in. Edge quality held up well over multiple panels.

• 3/8-in trimming: I used it as a flush-trim bit for laminate and for pattern routing 1/2-in poplar. The bearing ran smoothly with no chatter along the template, and the carbide didn’t chip the brittle laminate edges. Light passes are key for pattern work—if you’re removing more than 1/8 in, I recommend rough-cutting closer to the line first.

• 1/4-in radius roundover: This is the profile I use the most on drawer fronts and table edges. The bearing tracked cleanly, and the profile came out consistent even across end grain in maple. A very light final pass (or a gentle climb pass) left a near-sanded finish.

• 1-1/4-in 45° chamfer: This is a big cut for a 1/4-in shank. In pine and poplar, it had no trouble creating long bevels on aprons and panel edges. In harder woods, I dialed down the speed and took two passes. The finish stayed smooth with minimal burn; I wouldn’t try to cut a full-depth, single-pass chamfer in hard maple with this bit, but stepped cuts were predictable and safe.

• 1/2-in dovetail: I ran this on a dovetail jig for utility drawers in poplar. The profile matched my jig’s 14° setting closely enough for a snug fit once I fine-tuned the bit height. The cut quality in end grain was clean, and the tails didn’t blow out at the arrises when I backed up the cut with sacrificial blocks.

Across all profiles, the micrograin carbide held its edge better than I expected at this price tier. After several cabinet projects and a batch of shop drawers, the only maintenance needed was a quick resin clean and a couple of strokes with a fine diamond card on the flat face.

Materials and finish quality

• Softwoods (pine, poplar): Smooth surfaces and minimal tear-out on cross grain. The chamfer and roundover bits, in particular, left a finish that needed only a light sanding.
• Plywood: The straight bits kept the veneer edges intact when I scored the line first or used a zero-clearance base. On cheap ply with voids, any bit will tear, but these held up better than typical bargain bits.
• Hardwood (oak, maple): Clean profiles when the feed rate was steady and pass depth was conservative. End grain routing benefited from a light climb cut finish pass.
• MDF/laminate: No chipping on laminate with the trim bit. MDF edges stayed crisp, and the carbide didn’t load up excessively.

Durability and maintenance

The bearings have stayed smooth and free-spinning, and I haven’t seen any slop develop. The brazed joints are clean, with no discoloration from overheating. I clean pitch and resin with a dedicated bit cleaner or mineral spirits, then dry and add a drop of oil to the bearings. The micrograin carbide takes a light hone well—don’t overdo it; a few strokes on the flat face maintains sharpness without changing the geometry.

These bits can be professionally sharpened, but given their size and cost, I treat sharpening as a way to extend life once rather than indefinitely. For most users, cleaning and light honing will get you a lot of mileage.

Limitations and trade-offs

• 1/4-in shank only: Great for trim routers and general work, but not ideal for heavy cuts or deep mortises in dense hardwoods. If you push too hard, you’ll feel flex and risk chatter.
• Large chamfer on a small shank: It works, but take it slow, reduce the router speed, and cut in steps to avoid burning and reduce load on the shank.
• Bit assortment: It’s a versatile spread, but you don’t get a flush-trim with top and bottom bearings or a spiral upcut. You’ll likely add those later if you do a lot of template work or dado routing.

Tips for best results

• Make multiple shallow passes with the straight bits; 1/8–3/16 in per pass is a good ceiling in hardwood.
• Use a sacrificial backer at the end of a profile to prevent exit tear-out, especially with the dovetail bit.
• Match speed to diameter. Slow down for the chamfer; keep the small bits spinning fast.
• Finish with a whisper-light climb pass when safe to do so for the cleanest edge.
• Clean resin regularly; a dirty bit runs hot and dulls faster than a clean one.

Who this set suits

This Bosch set makes sense for woodworkers and DIYers who need a reliable, compact kit for furniture edges, cabinet building, and basic joinery. It covers the everyday profiles that a trim router excels at, and it’s well-matched to small shop needs. If you run a production shop or you’re regularly pushing deep dados in hardwood, you’ll still want 1/2-in shank bits for the heavy lifting, but this set will handle a surprising amount of your everyday work.

Recommendation

I recommend this Bosch bit set. The carbide holds up, the grinds are accurate, and the assortment is genuinely useful for real-world projects. It’s not a heavy-duty solution for deep or aggressive cuts, but as a core kit for trim routers and general routing tasks, it delivers clean results, predictable handling, and good value. If your work leans toward cabinetry, furniture edging, and light joinery—and you prefer 1/4-in shank bits—this set is an easy one to reach for.