Last Tuesday was the worst day I've had in this shop since 2019

I was trimming a customer's custom oak cabinet doors and my router bit shattered mid-cut, sending chunks flying across the room. That ruined the door and cost me $60 for a replacement bit plus the wood. Have you ever had a tool fail at the worst possible moment and how did you bounce back?

2 comments

2 Comments

wendy2051mo agoMost Upvoted

That exact situation is why I keep a spare router base and a few extra bits in my truck at all times. When a bit goes, it's not just the cost of the bit but the downtime of having to run to the lumberyard mid-job. I've been there with oak too and I always order 10-15% extra on top of what I think I need because one mistake can set you back a whole day. Having that spare on hand is the difference between stressing over a delivery window and just cutting another door and moving on. The real pro move is to inspect your bits before every use and replace them at the first sign of dulling or chipping, not after they blow up on you.

jennifersmith1mo ago

Wait, I think your router bit cost is a bit off there. Most decent carbide tipped bits for custom cabinet work run closer to $30-40, not $60, unless you were using a really fancy spiral bit or something. I know because I've replaced my share after similar blowouts. But the real killer is the time lost on that custom door, especially with the oak being pricey these days. Did you have spare material on hand or did you have to wait on a new delivery?