Replies

1. 
   jako17 | Feb 11, 2005 04:59pm | #1

   IMHO buying router bits  on spec especially cheap ones doesn't seem like a very good move.The quality of a router bit is the carbide type and thickness,design(back relief etc.)strength of the body and grind.There are tons of profiles and you probably won't have what you need even then.I would suggest finding a local supplier of good bits ,get a catalogue then buy the specific bit you need for the project.Buy the tooling for the job not the reverse.If the catalogue has full size profiles it is easy to design from it.I am a professional woodworker and only ever purchase tooling if I can recover most of the cost in a reasonable time.The temptation however is great but can be the downfall of small business

1. 
   cidion | Feb 11, 2005 05:56pm | #2

   Thanks Jako,I'll stick with small sets of names that I trust.for instance, I have the need for a trimming bit. I think i saw a set of 5 on Amazon for $30. I'll check them out. Thanks again.Bryan

1. 
   BArnold | Feb 11, 2005 06:10pm | #3

   Cidion,

   If you haven't done so already, check the packages at http://www.mlcswoodworking.com. I have a ton of their bits and am very satisfied.

   Regards,

   Bill Arnold - Custom Woodcrafting Click Here if you're interested in a good,inexpensive website host.

   Food for Thought: The Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals.

1. 
   cidion | Feb 11, 2005 07:03pm | #5

   Hi Bill,I had a look at the bits. they look good. Cheaper than Freud, but not .50 each like ebay.I had a look at your gallery. Very nise stuff. Where do you get your wood from? I'm interested in creating stuff like what you have, but not sure where to get the wood from. Where I am at there isn't really a speciality wood store. Do you have stuffed shipped?bf

1. 
   BArnold | Feb 11, 2005 11:00pm | #7

   "... Where do you get your wood from? I'm interested in creating stuff like what you have, but not sure where to get the wood from. ..."

   Cidion,

   Thank you for your comments about my gallery.  It's small, but growing.

   My wood comes from the lumber yard like everyone else's. <grin>  OK, now that I got that outta my system, I'll get serious (I really can!).

   Most of the cherry I used in the projects shown in the Gallery came from a lumber yard that caters to the construction trade, but stocks a small variety of domestic hardwoods like cherry, walnut, ash & maple.  It's all 4/4 and not prime wood, but you can find some good stuff by searching through the stack.  I like to use cherry that has some figure to it and their stuff is usually good for that.  I've also purchased some walnut and maple there, but have to search through it as well.

   There is a hardwood supplier a little farther away that generally has a reasonable stock of nice material.  Their pricing is higher but so is the quality.

   Some of the materials used in the projects I've done came from a couple of shops I worked in over the last two years.  I rescued some pieces from going to the dumpster and purchased some overstock that was going to be sent back to the supplier.

   I haven't used any of the online or catalog suppliers yet, but have heard good reports about several of them.

   Regards,

   Bill Arnold - Custom Woodcrafting Click Here if you're interested in a good,inexpensive website host.

   Food for Thought: The Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals.

2. 
   HWG | Feb 12, 2005 01:39am | #8

   Bill, when I read the comment my first thought was of a comment that I sometimes hear when people like a photo that I took -- "Wow, you must have a really nice camera!"  The best comeback that I've heard is "What, and Hemingway had a really nice typewriter?"

   Your work reflects your ability, and we recognize and appreciate it.  I'm sure that is also what the poster was saying.  Right?  Keep up the good work.

   Woody 

3. 
   JohnT8 | Feb 12, 2005 08:39am | #9

   cidion, where are you located?  You might have some small lumber mills around you and not even know it.  A few months back, I was bemoaning the lack of lumber choices...  and then people starting telling me about Fred's mill over in this town... or Tom's mill over in that town.

   Very small operations, but often have very good prices.  Some of them aren't much more than a guy with a milling trailer that he pulls behind his truck.

   I was talking to a guy Thursday night who mentioned buying green wood from some one-horse operation in one town, and then hauling it to another guy who can kiln dry it.  Even with the green purchase price and the $.85/ft drying fee, he was WAAAAY below retail.

   I read an article about mail order lumber... month or two ago.  They didn't say anything bad about the mail order companies.  If you're curious I can look around and see if I can find the article.

   And as far as the router bits go...  Why not get your feet wet and get some from eBay.  At 50 cents a bit, they don't HAVE to be that great.  But they will give you a chance to try some various bits and find out what you like.  If you discover that you really like a certain bit, then maybe you'll want to go ahead and buy an expensive version of it.  But meanwhile you aren't paying $10/bit (or more) for a bit that you might never use.

    

   jt8

   The reason so many people never get anywhere in life is because when opportunity knocks, they are out in the backyard looking for four-leaf clovers.    -- Walter Percy Chrysler

   Edited 2/12/2005 12:42 am ET by JohnT8

2. 
   Bepperb | Feb 11, 2005 06:53pm | #4

   Cidion,

   I picked up a set of 36 Columbian/Wilton router bits for around 40 bucks on Ebay.   I figured having a full set of cheap bits was better than two name brand bits, and I was right.  I had a variety I could start with, and build from, and I've added some "nicer" bits and specialty bits.  The quality on them isn't bad, though, I've been happy.

   For the members of this forum who always advocate blindly throwing money at tools in the name of safety, these cheap bits are BRIGHT YELLOW.  That way if they're mounted in a router table you can SEE if they are turning, which since I wear ear plugs could turn out to be a big plus.  While I love their free shipping, prices and every product I have ordered from them, MLCS could learn something from these guys. 

   Whatever way you go, don't turn your back on Ebay.  I've seen a couple name-brand rail and stile sets slide past for wayyyyy less than they're worth.  And if you have the cash, mlcswoodworking.com is a great store.

3. 
   forestgirl | Feb 11, 2005 08:21pm | #6

   "If I would be wasting my money to get them from there?"  Yes.  If they're cheap, they're Cheap.  MLCS is a great way to go.  Also, if you have an order going to Lee Valley, they have nice bits.

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
   Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

4. 
   jmc | Feb 12, 2005 06:44pm | #10

   I bought a set from E-bay, probably the same set and the work great. I know its fashionable to deride them but I honestly couldn't see any difference between the finish from the cheap ones and my Whiteside bits. If you want many bits for a small price its really a good deal.

   JMC

1. 
   cidion | Feb 12, 2005 07:01pm | #11

   Woody, and BArnold,yep, that's what I was meaning, the peices that were IN the gallery. =)I'm in Chattanooga TN. I'm sure there are some places around here that I could get a good deal from. I just need to find them. so, I need to ask around for small lumber mills, and then a place where I can have them Kiln dried? I'm sure if I find a mill, they will know of a kiln.I work with a guy whose dad is a woodworker.. Luther I guess.. makes guitars, basses... some of the wood he has he's let dri for 12 years. Others he microwaves. his stuff has appraised for $16,000.00 Plus. So maybe I should talk to him . =)Thanks again for everyone's input. I might try out a few bits from ebay, and choose a brand that looks familiar...I orderred the New Yankee Workshop plans for the router table. That might be interested to build.

1. 
   JohnT8 | Feb 16, 2005 07:08pm | #13

   I think I will start a new thread asking about mail order lumber.  Can't hurt to have all the options fleshed out.  Then we'll know if the local mill price is better or the mail order.

    

   jt8

   The reason so many people never get anywhere in life is because when opportunity knocks, they are out in the backyard looking for four-leaf clovers.    -- Walter Percy Chrysler

   Edited 2/16/2005 11:41 am ET by JohnT8

2. 
   forestgirl | Feb 12, 2005 07:18pm | #12

   Two reasons not to buy cheap bits (I mean really cheap):  Longevity, safety.  A cheap "carbide" bit isn't likely to last long or take resharpening very well.  A cheap bit is more likely to fracture.  Been there, done that.  Pretty damn scary.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)