The most important factor is the quality of the bit. I have decided, I will always purchase the higher quality bits rather than going cheap. Never purchase high speed steel. These bits dull quickly and leave burn marks on the wood.
Mainly, the carbide bits appear to get dull if they are coated in pitch. The best advice I have is clean them before you put them away. Also, keep them from knocking into eachother or other hard surface. The cutting edge can chip some what easily. I have heard of folks sharpening their bits with a diamond file; but, have never done it. I do know the bit is usually sharpened from the back flat side. That's my $0.02. Terry On Fri, 26 Mar 2010 18:21:38 -0400you write: > >Since using routers in my remodeled workshop is fairly new >to me, I have a question. Can router bits be sharpened as >can drill bits or does one simply discard them when dull, >etc. Approximately what type usable life do they have? I >realize part of the answer to this depends on how much one >uses it. For example, today I put an edge on 3 sides of 4 1 >by 12's I had made some shelves out of. Using this as an >example, any idea how many shelves I could do like this >before the bit needed to be replaced? > >thanks >Al
