Replies

1. 
   Lar55 | Apr 16, 2003 08:38pm | #1

   Whiteside is the best!!!

2. 
   Bengst | Apr 16, 2003 10:51pm | #2

   Whiteside.

    

1. 
   JDorn | Apr 16, 2003 11:10pm | #3

   Recently i've been using alot of bits from Rockler as well as CMT, both of which i've found are quite well balanced and smooth cutting.

   They are far and away better than the HSS ones i had been using, or the Oldham ones i got at Home Depot a while back.

   JD

3. 
   DougF | Apr 16, 2003 11:16pm | #4

   Except for some specialty bits, I have found Whiteside to hold there edge longer than most.  The extra cost pales in comparision to a blown-out table top edge or burn marks that will take hours to repair.  I've also noticed that tend to be better balance which reduces the chattering.

   Doug

4. 
   art | Apr 17, 2003 02:20am | #5

   Check out MLCS. Been using them for years and am very satisified.   Art

1. 
   Sancho | Apr 17, 2003 03:03am | #6

   woodline I havent bought anything else in years... 

   Darkworks:  Its all 'bout da squilla

5. 
   TomODonnell | Apr 17, 2003 03:38am | #7

   Coming from Australia I tend to stick to Carb-I-Tool for my brand of cutters. Excellent quality.

   How many of the group use the face edge cutters for their projects?

   I do a lot of routing with the template guides as an aid to control the cutter and contrary to what others may say the finish is excellent compaired to using the below bench router.

1. 
   hmthomas | Apr 17, 2003 06:24am | #8

   I have about 2 dozen Jesada bits, I like 'em but will say that I did have 2 bits break quite awhile ago. They replaced them though. 

   I've got a few Whiteside bits and some Cmt, they all to seem to work about the same.

   I think if you keep them clean and have them sharpened, when needed, by a reputable shop they will all do the job.

     

1. 
   Jeff | Apr 17, 2003 03:29pm | #10

   Speaking of sharpening,

   Do you know of a good place to ship them to.

   Haven't anyone around here.

   Jeff

1. 
   hmthomas | Apr 17, 2003 04:32pm | #12

   Jeff, I use a local shop here in Tallahassee, Fl.  I can get his address if you want it but you'll probably find somebody closer & easier. This guy is great and the prices are right so let me know, I'll get the address.

1. 
   tjh | Apr 17, 2003 10:01pm | #14

   I'm from the Tallahassee area would aappreciate the name and phone number of the guy.

2. 
   hmthomas | Apr 18, 2003 05:25am | #17

   Gibson Saw Repair 850-877-1983. He's on the south side of town just inside of Capital Circle. Call him for directions. Great guy, great service. He also sells sawblades & Whiteside router bits.

   I'm up north on Centerville Rd, near Bradley's Country Store, where are you?

   Hugh

2. 
   sharpologist | Apr 17, 2003 07:43pm | #13

   Jeff,I'd be happy to sharpen all your bits,but you probably wouldn't want to send them all the way to Texas.By the way I like Bosch router bits

   Texas Sharpologist

   Edited 4/17/2003 12:45:49 PM ET by Sharpologist

1. 
   Jeff | Apr 18, 2003 02:33am | #16

   It probably doesn't cost any more to ship to Texas then to ship my

   blades and bits to New York.

   Jeff

3. 
   watkinsjd | Apr 20, 2003 07:07pm | #24

   Jeff,

   If you have a Woodworkers Warehouse store nearby they have a contract with a sharpening service in Conn.  They sharpen just about anything and do a very good job. The one close to me sends them out on Tuesdays and they are back on the next Tuesday.  The prices seem reasonable.  Easier than packing and shipping them myself.

   John

1. 
   Jeff | Apr 21, 2003 02:15am | #26

   Thanks John

   Did know they had a service, didn't know how good.

   WWW is over an hours drive away and I get there only every other month or so.

   I always buy 2 of my blades and bits for this reason.

   I send my blades back to Forest for sharpening.

   I'll see if they'll ship them back to me directly.

   That's the problem with living in the middle of nowhere.

   Jeff

6. 
   stevemorris | Apr 17, 2003 09:12am | #9

   talk about opening a can of worms

   i use a lot of freud bits and a few portacable

   how do other brands compare with those types?

   i buy freud mostly because they are easily available and seem to be good but must admit  to having no experience with others

   any body use bits from leevalley?

7. 
   BG | Apr 17, 2003 03:44pm | #11

   JC,

   I went over to Woodcraft the other day to buy a Whiteside bit..I like them they are great quality.  They have a sale on for their own Woodcraft brand where i could get about 10 bits for about the same cost as 2 Whitesides. I do not do a lot of routing and I don't want the hassel of trying to get them sharpened.  These are small bits (1/4" shank to) and I'll throw away when dull.  The bits i use regualrly will be Whitesides 1/2" shank..or similar quality.

8. 
   RW | Apr 18, 2003 01:31am | #15

   Like Jesada real well. Actually like their saw blades even better. Have Whiteside, CMT, Amana, etc. Only ones I really didn't think did a reasonable job for the price were the PC and the craftsman I got one Xmas. That one lasted something like 6 feet.

   If you want to bargain shop on Jesada, sign up for the email newsletter and wait. Every week, something else goes on the "special" list for a pretty good price. Sometimes what you want, usually not, but worth looking at. Gotten a few good buys that route.

   "The child is grown / The dream is gone / And I have become / Comfortably numb "      lyrics by Roger Waters

9. 
   MCelona | Apr 18, 2003 11:17pm | #18

   I'm a Whiteside user, and they are excellent. Oldham is also excellent.

10. 
    max41254 | Apr 18, 2003 11:51pm | #19

    i like the freud bits and i have an oldham beading bit that has nheld up very well.

1. 
   PlaneWood | Apr 19, 2003 05:18am | #20

   I use Amana and like them.  Never got a bad one.  I use MVP Sharpeners here in Houston and they last twice as long as the factory sharpening.  The only bits I would say to definitely stay away from are the yellow bits sold at the big orange barn.  I've seen HSS harder than their carbide.  Never used Whiteside and quit using Freud after getting some soft ones and breaking a few.

   PlaneWood by Mike_in_Katy (maker of fine sawdust!)PlaneWood

1. 
   RoyinMD | Apr 19, 2003 07:18am | #21

   Most of mine are Oldham with several others kinds too. Even have some HSS ones still around, haven't died yet.

   I was surfing the other day and found Grizzly has on sale a 30 bit set for $85, house brand. No spec's included, I wish I knew the carbide thickness. Any good?, for the price I'm thinking hard, even if they don't last as long as top of the line.

   Enjoy, Roy

1. 
   RANGERP75R | Apr 20, 2003 02:35am | #22

   ROY

      I haven't used the Grizzly, but I bought the Hickory set for $99 at HD. They're made by Oldham. I use CMT's on most hardwood projects, but for the cost what the heck. I use them on softwoods ( pine, poplar, alder, fir and cedar ). I have not used them on hardwood, with the exception of a few shots of white and red oak. Can't make a fair judgement if you used them exclusively for hard-woods.

     I don't have any regrets with the purchase. I've had them over a year and so far, so good.

   sarge..jt

1. 
   RoyinMD | Apr 20, 2003 08:46am | #23

   Yeah, thats what I was thinking Sarge, for the price so what if the most used two go in the trash is short order. R or W Oak, average service will do.

   Enjoy, Roy

2. 
   RANGERP75R | Apr 20, 2003 07:15pm | #25

   Roy

      Used the 3/8 Round-Over on the parts counter a month ago. Ran over 300 linear feet of Doug Fir through and cleaned the pitch. Just ran 40 linear feet of red oak through the same bit this morning and still cutting clean. I would guess I have probably routed over 1000 linear feet with that bit alone. Still getting clean cuts at this point...

   Happy Easter...

   sarge..jt