Replies

1. 
   mike_b | May 20, 2006 02:22pm | #1

   I own bits sold by both companies. As I remember, the Jessada guys were the original US distributor for CMT, an Italian manufacturer. Something happened to the relationship and the Jessada brand was born -- now painted white. Soon after, CMT either found a new distributor here in the US, or formed their own distribution and came back to the market with their familiar orange bits. I'm not sure who makes the Jessada bits now. Or, perhaps they have started manufacturing themselves. Either way, I find the performance of both brands to be good, though I'm not a production shop and don't beat on them mercilessly every day. Whiteside is another brand that's well respected for quality. You may want to look into their product. FWW recently did a review of several brands that may be helpful.

   http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/pages/w00045.asp.

1. 
   dtlc | May 20, 2006 06:21pm | #2

   Thanks for the information, I read the article and learned alot.  I have been buying Whiteside for sometime  now, and have been happy with them, now I know why. haven't tried cmt or jessada yet, not sure that I will bother.  Thanks again

1. 
   Lataxe | May 20, 2006 09:38pm | #3

   Dtcl,

   I have quite a few CMT bits and find them pretty good, at least compared to others such as Freud, Wealden and Trend that I own.  None have shattered or gone dull.  None seem to burn stuff unduly or otherwise perform badly.  Their bearing run free and they look beefy, with plenty of carbide. 

   I use one of their large 2 inch long straight edge-with-a-bearing bits a lot (probably hundreds if not thousands of feet to straighten rough edges, follow templates and so forth). I also use a similar sized solid carbide 1/2 inch upcut spiral for mortising.  Both give very clean cuts and run smoothly.

   I have one set of Jesada bits - a cope and stick / panel raising set.  Although its only one example of Jesada, I have to say the set does not perform very well. 

   The cope and stick set come with many shims that require several test cuts to set up right.  Its a pain.

   Although the cutters are 3-wing rather than 2 wing (as with a comparable CMT set I have) the cuts are not as smooth as that CMT and require sanding, which the CMT cuts don't.

   The panel raising bit is similarly a bit rough in the finish and also seems to cause vibration, which may mean that its not well balanced (essential in such a large bit).

   As I say, this is an impression formed on only one Jesada set and its now about 3 years since I bought it.  They may have improved, especially after FWW gave them a bashing in the test mentioned above.

   Lataxe

2. 
   charlesm | May 22, 2006 03:45pm | #8

   "FWW recently did a review of several brands that may be helpful."Actually that article is from the July/August 1999 issue so the info is not recent. For example, Jesada is under different ownership.
   Charles M

   Freud America, Inc.

1. 
   mike_b | May 22, 2006 07:16pm | #9

   Time does fly -- thought I'd just read that article. So Jessada is no longer owned by the guys that once distributed CMT here in the US?

3. 
   unTreatedwood | May 22, 2006 08:49pm | #10

   I get marketing from "Infinity".  Coincidentally, it comes from FLA where Jessada used to be.  Any connection there?  Anyone know???"The nearest thing to eternal life we will ever see on this earth is a governmental program"  -Ronald Reagan 

1. 
   THintz | May 23, 2006 10:14am | #12

   There is a once-removed family history between Infinity and Jesada, the owner of Infinity is the son of the fellow that started Jesada. Infinity is a totally separate business, started by someone else originally and purchased later by the current owner, David Venditto. Despite a bunch of Internet hysteria, the connection ends there and is not sinister, does not involve some kind of mob connection, spy satellites or the CIA.

   See the link below for a Q&A with Infinity's owner.

   http://www.newwoodworker.com/infinqa.htmlTom Hintz

   Because there is always more to learn!

1. 
   mike_b | May 24, 2006 02:29am | #13

   "the connection ends there and is not sinister, does not involve some kind of mob connection,"Interesting. Thanks for the information -- no that you're an informer, or that Don Venditto is going to make you an offer you can't refuse. Nevermind, thanks for the update. That there Dadonator sounds like a good product for "this thing of ours."

2. 
   forestgirl | May 21, 2006 05:58am | #4

   The quality control of the two companies is (or at least was) drastically different, with CMT being by far the best.  Jesada kinda disappeared for a few years, and now seems to be back.  Don't know if their quality control has improved.

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 
   

1. 
   dgreen | May 21, 2006 06:10am | #5

   Can't speak as to Jessada but the exprience I've had with CMT, blades bits etc. has been very good.

3. 
   DougU | May 21, 2006 06:39am | #6

   I think the quality of the CMT is much better then that of Jessada. I have quite a few CMT's and several Jessada, theirs really no comparisson.

   If not for getting the Jessadas on E-bay realy cheap I wouldnt have bought them, not that their total crap just not as good as Whiteside or CMT.

   Doug

1. 
   BigK | May 22, 2006 08:10am | #7

   Have been using Whiteside bits as much as possible in my commercial shop. Have a few CMT's and 1 or 2 Jessada also. In my humble opinion the Whitesides are far and away the best bits for any job so far. Whiteside got their start supplying industrial and large commercial shops before expanding into the woodworkers market.
   An added bonus ( at least in my mind) is that Whiteside bits are American made. The best tooling and it supports American jobs too. You can't hardly beat that.

1. 
   TrueGentleman | May 23, 2006 06:28am | #11

   I agree with you completely. Whiteside is the best bit I have used.  The diffrence when I first used a new Whitside 7/16??? (I think It was) was amazing! It cut the Walnut I was routing like butter!.  I actually stopped and thought...Dang that was nice!

   I Just perchased Whiteside's inlay kit!...I can not wait to try it!

   Rich

1. 
   BigK | May 25, 2006 07:14am | #14

   You will be very happy with the results from that Whiteside inlay set. Ihave used mine several times now, works as promised. I always try to buy Whiteside if possible. Besides the superior quality I have a big thing for supporting American jobs. Am rather outspoken about the latter, and I make no apologies for my feelings.