Replies

1. 
   MarkRD | Jan 30, 2005 02:51am | #1

   I seem to remember FWW doing a review of bit manufacturers like MLCS, Jesseda etc.... They probably did the review in the late 90's. I'm not sure if you can search this site for the old articles.

   My theory - I've been happy with the MLCS bits and I have about a dozen. They are not that expensive. Of course, I'm not a production shop.

   MLCS sells a high end version but I've never bought any...

   http://www.mlcswoodworking.com

   HTH,
   Mark

1. 
   gjunger | Jan 30, 2005 03:50am | #2

   Thanks for the info. I will check them out.

2. 
   gizmo2006 | Feb 01, 2005 07:31am | #3

   Check out pricecutter.com I'm very pleased with quality, price, selection and great service!

   Delbert

1. 
   gjunger | Feb 01, 2005 07:25pm | #4

   Thanks.

3. 
   FastEddie | Feb 02, 2005 07:32am | #5

   Gilbert,

   A bunch of years ago, I bought my first router(Sears) and some router bits from them to get a jump start.  Learned very quickly, that cost and quality are two different things.  I now use either MLCS, or Pricecutter.  PriceCutter has some real closeout deals from time to time.  One thing about MLCS, they offer free shipping in the lower 48.  However both companies have superior customer service.  I had a bearing break last year, and ruined a pretty nice slab of walnut.  I emailed PriceCutter, explained what happened, gave them the part number,  got an email back in an hour, telling me another was on the way, and to throw the old one away.  They offer a lifetime warranty on their main line of router bits, (not on budget bits however)  How cool is that?

   Their  sites are below

   PriceCutter.com - Router Bits, Woodworking Tools & Accessories

   MLCS Router Bits and Woodworking Products

   Good Luck!

   FastEddie

1. 
   gjunger | Feb 04, 2005 06:21am | #10

   Thanks for the info. I appreciate it.

4. 
   Dustmight | Feb 03, 2005 03:02pm | #6

   Hi Gilbert - All the bits mentioned are decent and have their niche.  I've got MLCS and Price Cutter and am pleased with both....both are value bits that are great for occasional use...neither are considered top shelf IMO.  Whiteside are the best I have.  CMT, Freud, Eagle America, Liberty, Infinity, Amana are also considered top notch. 

   The differences are hard to notice at first.  The more expensive bits pay dividends when pushed hard and used for a while.  They'll stay sharp longer, are likely to have fewer defects, better balance, and have thicker carbide that withstand more sharpenings.

    

1. 
   gjunger | Feb 04, 2005 06:19am | #8

   Thank you for that informative reply. I am ready to buy.

5. 
   DDay | Feb 03, 2005 06:55pm | #7

   Yes there is a difference in quality.  Check out the Fine woodworking issue 137 July/August 1999 FW at your local library.  In my area they keep the issues for 5 years so I can check out some back articles without buying it.  If I remember correctly, Whiteside, Freud, CMT, Jesda and Amana were the top ones.

   The top bits were the most expensive but as other on the board have put it, how much does cherry, quarter sawn white oak, etc cost per foot?  Do you want to save a little money by buying a cheap bit and cost you money and time on good lumber.  Also, the good bits will last longer and be safer to use.   You wouldn't buy a ryobi table saw and run expensive lumber through it, so why use cheap, inferior bits?  Its one of those things, you need to buy good tools, grizzly, jet, poweramatic, bosch, dewalt, porter cable, etc.  Saw blades, freud, forrest and good lumber.  You cannot care about price over quality in any step, tool, blade/bit, lumber or your work will suffer.

1. 
   gjunger | Feb 04, 2005 06:20am | #9

   Agreed. Thanks.

6. 
   cowtown | Feb 10, 2005 08:38am | #11

   I use a lot of bearing guided bits, primarily for laminate trimming.

   Nothing so disconcerting nor as costly as having to pay for laminate out of my pocket when offshore laminate trimmer bearings fail, even if they worked for the last hour.

   learned a lesson the hard way i did.

   I'd buy quality if I could be sure it was quality, and not must overpriced low quality imported stuff.

   So now that I've learned my lesson, the fix (of buying quality bits) is just as much a crap-shoot ( I don't know where they were made)

   God bless them marketers, they have mixed up the marketplace so much that God is the only one who will.

   Eric

7. 
   ring | Feb 18, 2005 04:52pm | #12

   We use Amana bits almost exclusively in our production shop, because the high quality pays off in the end - less sharpenings and less time sanding.  Whiteside is also a top quality brand.    But your decision should be based on several things -

   What are you routing? The demands for rounding over a pine board edge are not the same as raising panels in oak.

   How often do you use it?  Most bits will perform well when they are new.  Maybe the job at hand doesn't need more than that.

   Supplier/sharpening service?  Do you have a reliable sharpening service, or are you going to throw it out anyway as soon as it's dull?

   My instinct always tells me to get the best, but sometimes the economics is another thing altogether.

1. 
   gjunger | Feb 18, 2005 05:41pm | #13

   Thanks so much for taking the time to send me the info. I ordered a large number of bits from Amana. I've already used a few of them and am very pleased. More then likely I will replace thme when they get dull. Since I just do ww as a hobby, and only for myself, I'm sure the bits will remain sharp for quite some time.Thanks again,Gil

1. 
   Dave_Elliott | Feb 18, 2005 11:44pm | #14

   Geez, I'd hate to see ya throw away all those expensive Amana bits just because they got a little dull. Try this: buy yourself a DMT fine grit diamond stone - I think it's the red-colored one. When a bit starts to get a little dull (don't wait for it to smoke the wood), hone the flat side of each cutting edge on the diamond stone several times. Be sure to do each edge the same number of times. The bit will then cut nearly as well as new.You should be able to do this five or six times before having to take the bit in for professional sharpening or throwing it out.This is really pretty easy stuff, but if it seems like too much hassle, you can always send me any bits you're ready to toss. :-)

   Edited 2/20/2005 12:22 am ET by DAVE_ELLIOTT

1. 
   gjunger | Feb 19, 2005 12:59am | #15

   Thanks. I didn't realize it could be that easy.