I finally stopped using a 1/4 inch roundover bit for all my drawer edges after a client pointed out how dated it looked on their modern kitchen project in Austin.

I saw their face when they said 'it feels a bit 90s' and realized I'd been on autopilot for years, so what's a better bit profile for a clean, current look on maple drawers?

3 comments

3 Comments

hannahm391mo agoTop Commenter

Man, that client callout must have stung but honestly it's a wake up call we all need sometimes. That autopilot feeling is real when you've done something the same way for years. Have you tried a chamfer bit on scrap maple yet to see how it handles?

the_anthony1mo ago

What about a simple chamfer? I switched to a 45 degree bit for most of my modern work. It gives you that sharp, clean line without looking soft or old. A tiny 1/8 inch roundover can also work if you still want to take the edge off, but it reads as much more current. For maple, that crisp chamfer really shows off the wood grain in a fresh way.

keith_rivera191mo ago

I mean, I tried that on some maple shelves last year and it chipped out like crazy on the end grain. Had to switch back to a roundover bit just to save the project. Maybe my feed rate was off or something.