> Does anyone have a source for an economical set of 1/4" bead and cove
> router bits?

Woodcraft has a set of both the bead and the flute (cove) bits the set is $34.95. The individual bits are $21 to $22 each.

Their url for the order page for these bits is a monster:

http://www.woodcraft.com/website/itm_src.icl?orderidentifier=ID9169030354217D6C2655635365&passidentifier=129683&eflag=0&oneortwo=2&searchstring=bead&searchformat=all&searchnumber=2&tempsection=index&srcdoc=dir2%2Eicl%3Fsecid%3D54%26subsecid%3D275%26orderidentifier%3DID9169030354217D6C2655635365&curpos=1&itempos=3&orderstring=name

If you don't want to cut and paste this, try: www.woodcraft.com, and use their search feature for their online catalog. I searched first for the singel word: bead and got a list of all their beading bits and tools. One of the items in the list is their bead and flute router bits. Thi is what you want. The product description even mentions their use in canoe building. As I recall, in their printed catalog, these bits are offered on the same pag as books and plans for building canoes, and not among the rest of the router bits.

While i was searching for this place I tried the URL: www.wood-worker.com (The hyphen between wood and worker is important) It was a nice page with tips on woodworking and links to sites that may be of interest to people who are thinking of building boats (or other projects) from wood. There was a link to tips for router use that I thought was appropriate.

Sears still has a tool catalog. You can get a copy from any Sears store. They used to have a shaper tool (or molding head) that fit onto a table saw, or a radial arm saw. Last time I looked, they had one basic kit in the $20 range that included bits for the shaper head which appeared to be useable for making bead and cove edges on strips. You would not need a router. Previous experience with shapers like this has caused mixed feelings. You need to feed the material slower than with a router, and setup might take a bit longer, but the cost was lower. I do not know of anyone using this tool, but it is somehting to think about.

If you are looking to save money, consider just buying one router bit ( th one that gouges out the wood (cove? flute?) then round off the other edge of the strip with a plane, or a block of wood with some coarse sandpaper on it. You cut a groove in the block (using the same router bit) lay the sandpaper on that, and slide the groove along one edge of your strip until that edge is rounded to match the goove. Yes, it is time consuming. No, you do not need electric tools for this. Yes it is cheap.

Hope this helps.

Paul Jacobson