I’m looking at investing in a serious amount of dollars in router bits and I have both Freud and CMT readily avaliable. I’m looking at getting a panel raising set, glass door panel set, as well as the CMT Crown Molding package. Is this a wise investment or should I invest in Freud bits as well. I know they don’t have the exact bits that I’m looking for but I could find some to make it work. I’m not color happy or partial as to orange or red, but I know the value of good router bits and I’m looking for some feedback. The panel raising set would be CMT’s Sommerfeld set.
Thanks,
Mike
Replies
Mike,
I purchased CMT's sets. The main reason is set up for making raised panel doors. Mark has it together on his design. You need to look at his video series (a great investment). I own some frued bits and they are a quality company. No problem with any of their products. Frued and CMT had demo's at The Woodworking Show in Columbus. Frued had four or five router tables set up to demo making doors. CMT had one router and simply changed bits. That demo sold me on CMT. I haven't been sorry with my decision. Good Luck!
I love the CMT/Sommerfeld sets, I don't know why no one had thought of this before. The videos are a great bargain too.
The Freud raised panel door sets now come with an instructional video included. You mentioned that we don't have the exact bits you are after. If you tell me which bits you are looking at I can likely suggest bits that either match or are comparable.
Freud America, Inc.
Hello Charles,
Here is the deal. Currently I need to buy either a Porter Cable 7518 with a router lift to go in my router table or else get into a small shaper (I'm looking at the 1 1/2 hp Jet). I need to be able to make raised panel doors with the ogee profile on the panels, rails, and stiles. Also, I need to be able to make a number of cabinets with glass inserts so I am looking for a glass panel set for the rails and stiles as well. There are a number of other smaller profile cutting bits to look at as well, but I am planning on purchasing them from Freud as that is the best that is avaliable to me locally and I have been very happy with the Freud bits that I currently have and use regularly. I work for another carpenter and we use a number of your large Straight and Spiral bits in big router for cutting housings and joinery on Timber Frame projects.
So I would like to know what I should do. Buy this shaper and purchase shaper cutters as well as router bits since this machine comes with both shaper spindles and router collets. The raised panel size that I was looking to do would be using your 2+2 cutter bit in the ogee profile and I would like to use a backcutter on this bit.
The only reason that I was looking elsewhere besides Freud is because I thought that the Sommerfeld bit sets were put together very well and I could see myself using all of the bits that came in that set.
I'll gladly look into Freud, and I'd really appreciate your input and help in this decision.
Thanks,
Mike
Charles, could you also discuss using router bits in a shaper. I have heard that they do not work properly because of the lower RPM's of a shaper. I do not own a shaper but am looking at the JET also.
MikeEC
If you are going to be making raised panel doors, I would seriously consider a small shaper over a router (even the PC 7518, which I think is the best of its class). This issues gets argued periodically at Knots, and it might be worth your time to do some search over there amongst past threads.EDIT: as for router bits, I have a decided preference for CMT over Freud. "I would never die for my beliefs because I might be wrong."
-- Bertrand Russell
Edited 4/19/2005 2:06 am ET by nikkiwood
The big Milwaukee router has the router lift built-in; same bolt hole mounting pattern as the 7518.
ANother option that I like is Infinity Tools
http://www.infinitytools.com/
They make good quality items, can be ordered thru the net, get a catalog and order by mail and they are Made in America.
They also offer some saw blades and their dado blade has received some good reviews.
I have a few of their router bits and they are as good, if not better than some of the CMT or Freud bits I own.
WYSIWYG - Rick
I bought the Infinity 1" Rabbet because I needed the height.
I thought it was American made but it said made in Taiwan. What gives?
CMT's or Whitesides if they have what you want...
I use a PC 7518 in a Veritas router table with Freud panel bits. It's a combo that works very well for me. If you are going to be making a lot of doors, a shaper might be better, but for most WWrs, it's probably more than you need. I've used Whiteside bits; they are good quality.
Glaucon
If you don't think too good, then don't think too much...
CMT is the way to go in my shop. I have had only great results with all of their router bits. Freud bits are very good but the set you are considering is the geatest.
Good luck.
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