The Round Over Bit

by Michael Blois, Toronto Ontario

I have been back in the wood shop again recently exploring the techniques and tools used in furniture making. I am interested in the quality of something made by hand and the human connection it generates. When I first started tinkering in the wood shop, it was a reaction to the machine-made generic look and feel of the furniture I saw everywhere – unable to find what I was looking for, I decided to build some of my own designs. I still have a number of these pieces and enjoy their imperfections and warmth as they move from apartment to apartment. After a long hiatus I decided to reimagine one of my old designs. I tested it out in different materials, finishes and with a few new details that all work toward what I think is the best version of that concept. One of the tools that has sparked my imagination is the handheld trim router and more specifically, the round over bit. . . .

Read more of how Michael's thinking on making furniture has changed over the past decade, and why he uses the indispensable round over bit, at On Site review 39: tools