Chipped a brand new bit on a hidden screw last Wednesday

I was routing out a dado for a bookshelf using a brand new 1/2 inch spiral bit when it hit a drywall screw buried in some MDF. The bit chipped bad and ruined the whole groove. Has anyone else dealt with hidden fasteners in old shop furniture?

3 comments

3 Comments

hall.nina21d ago

Three bucks at the hardware store buys you a cheap magnet on a stick. Run that over any MDF before you cut. Saved my ass twice last month on an old workbench I was rebuilding. Caught three hidden staples and a finish nail before my router ever touched the wood. Takes thirty seconds and beats ruining a sixty dollar bit.

grant_allen8520d ago

Honestly, that trick is way smarter than it sounds. I had a buddy who wrecked a brand new saw blade on a hidden staple he could've caught if he'd just taken a minute to check. Now I run a magnet over literally every piece of reclaimed wood before I even think about cutting it.

ray_hernandez21d ago

That "takes thirty seconds and beats ruining a sixty dollar bit" line hit home man. It's funny how the smallest habit can save you from the biggest headaches, not just with tools but with a lot of stuff in life. @hall.nina is totally right about that cheap magnet being a game changer for peace of mind.