[Closed] Router bits - buy one at a time as and when?

Depends how much variety you plan on doing.

I think it's worth buying good quality, often replaceable bladed versions for things you'll do a lot of, but if there are some you'd maybe only use now and again, then part of a set can make sense.

I've bought the sets from Rutlands before, and they sometimes have them on offer.

I bought one of the bigger sets once when I was buying for a furniture making course and I have to say I was impressed at the quality and how they lasted.

I've also recently bought a Rutlands tongue and groove set and again, the quality is very good.

I think it's worth having one of those sets just to see what bits you need and some 'just in case' bits. Go for a cheaper one then you can then buy better upgrades of the ones you use. I pretty much never use the fancy shapes but have a quite a big range of straight cutters, 45s and round overs.

Wealden tools are good for single bits.

Have a look at Axminster Power Tools.

Always found their own brand products OK.

The trend sets you can get in B&Q give you a reasonable quality little-bit-of-everything for the price of two good cutters. I seem to end up with a few of those packs as its often the only way I can buy any kind of usable router bit on a Sunday!

I find where lower price bits can really let you down is anything with a bearing guide. Other bits can just go blunt (or in the case of 1/4" shanks snap) which can be annoying but is fair enough. But bearings sheering off and the bit munching its way into the workplace is a really quick and effective way of ruining all your hard work - especially as its a bit you'd often use as a finishing touch. I rarely use fancy profiled bits. I treat 12mm straight fluted bits as consumables (and as hidden screw detectors) but spend good money on bearing bits

I just bought as I needed and have settled on 4

Round-over bit (can't remember the radius, but it's probably around 1/2")
Flush trimmer
Straight 6mm (or 1/4" depending on source of timber)
Straight 15mm (because I work in 15mm birch ply all the time).

Thanks guys. I think I might need to take a step back before investing in anything, so I've started a new thread outlining project I'm undertaking: https://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/woodworktrackworld-help-with-joints-and-construction-of-a-cabinet/

Could I use this in a hand held router or will I need a table?

https://www.axminster.co.uk/axcaliber-bearing-guided-chamfer-cutters-ax802658

Router on a track is a half way house to a table. I know Festool's routers can run on their track, so I guess other manufacturers support it...

Could I use this in a hand held router or will I need a table?

Which size? The largest is starting to get a bit large. Might be a bit less gnarly in a table.

Most of them would be fine hand held I'd have thunk as long as you understand cutter rotation  in terms of feed direction and that.

Which size?

Probably just the smallest for tidying up edges. I have to make some blocks to go on the wall for mounting stair gates on. They're 15mm thick to match skirting and I'd like to put a chamfer on the edges to make them look a bit nicer.

I can't give you any useful feedback on the OP's original question but for anybody starting to get serious about woodworking tools I found Lumberjack Tools to be excellent value.
I have their table router and it's spot on. Nice to be able to move the cutter up and down without having to get tools out and move the workpiece.