Router Bits – Should I Stick with CMT?
Over the last few years I have been building my router bit collection with CMT 1/2″ Shank bits. The theory being that I want to buy them once…or at least close to once. My question is this: should I be looking at Whiteside et al? I started w/ the CMT’s and have been happy with them, I just want to know if I am overlooking other bits that are as good or better. Obviously there are cheaper bits, but are there better, cheaper bits? Or better similarly-priced bits? Some of the bits without the anti-kickback design appear to be pretty dangerous.
What sold me is the first CMT bit I bought (a Super_Duty Flush Trim) was putting a finish edge on a maple butcher block top for a kitchen island when it hit two pieces of steel embedded in the maple. I didn’t even know it until I looked at the finished edge and saw the shiny steel, which was cut so clean your couldn’t even feel it. I thought for sure I had destroyed the bit…but couldn’t even see where the steel had hit the edge of the bit. Is this typical for a quality bit?
I like that Whiteside’s are Made in USA. And if they are better or as good, I would go in that direction.
Replies
Just as good as Whiteside is Ridge (Liberty line of router bits). I buy them because they are local (NJ) and because they're great bits; I also feel they are better than the CMT bits I've bought in the past, but I didn't do a true side by side test--just a gut feeling. http://www.ridgecarbidetools.com They also ship...
ThreePutt,
First of all, you should not assume that you'll be buying router bits once. Router bits should be seen as consumables. Some last longer than others, but eventually they all need to be replaced. (Well, you could get them sharpened.) I have found that from a "time-is-money" perspective, it is cheaper for me to buy the best bits I can find at the easiest location and then replace them when they are worn out.
In order of preference, these are the bits I have used that fit the above formula of quality and convenience:
Whiteside
Freud
MLCS
Amana
Oldham Viper (no longer available)
MLCS are very good bits, but they are mail-order, although they do deliver the bits pretty quickly. What I like about MLCS is that they often have an oddball bit that I can't find anywhere else. Sometimes, I have a hard time finding the specific Whiteside bit I need. But my local Woodcraft seems to be stocking a pretty good selection these days.
Matt -I guess that would be a little unrealistic...the everlast bit. But I would like to expect some extended use from them, which I why I haven't (continued) to buy the "disposable" bits. So is sharpening router bits not really that realistic? I guess it goes back to your comment about time. I am not a wealthy man...but I certainly have more money than time!
You can actually hone your carbide router bits yourself to prolong service between sharpenings. Try this: buy yourself a DMT fine grit diamond stone - 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 can do this about five times before sending the bit in for professional sharpening.
Just a quick note, I recently purchased a couple of bits from Veritas. I've used the vertical cove cutting bit and it did a good job on milling pieces for a table top. I don't know who makes these for Veritas, but so far so good. I'll tell you in a year or so how well they hold up over time and repeated use... ;-)
Just to clarify for ThreePutt, "Lee Valley & Veritas" is the name of the catalog. The web site is:http://www.leevalley.com
Veritas is the name placed on many of their tools, Lee Valley Tools, Ltd., is the name of the company.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" .... :>)
Just one more link to a router bit company. Never used them but may in the future Infinity http://www.infinitytools.com/departments.asp?dept=1001later centaur76
Any fool can break or dull any bit.. Just ask me I'll tell you how I did..
I like what Grizzley sells, not their cheaper green ones rather the purple ones. they seem to hold up well for me and so far ( Knock wood ) I've yet to ruin one..
price wise they aren't dramatically cheaper than buying other brands just less expensive enough for me to prefer to use their catalog rather than get in the car..
I too like the CMT bits, but their molding profiles are rather limited, so I sometimes get Eagle or MLCS. They are also good. Recently the only 9/16 roundover I could find was from Whiteside, also very good. When you start looking at the profiles, they all offer slightly different ones, so all your bits won't be orange anyway.
Ken
CMT is, I think, among those in the top of the heap. Once in that class, I haven't been able to see a whit's worth of difference among the bits.
Good tip from Dave about honing your bits; instead of a diamond stone, I use a diamond paddle thing, since it is smaller, and thus a little easier to cover the whole surface of the bit.
Edited 3/15/2005 9:32 am ET by nikkiwood
Do you know of any online shops that sell those router bits (not only CMT) within Europe?
I've seen some shops in the US, but shipping and customs are always too expensive to order overseas.
Best regards
Ivan
You might check out this article:
http://forums.taunton.com/tp-knots/?msg=22500.1&post=y&guest=y
Coleman, the URL you posted brings up a "reply" composition box -- you must have copied it from the Address bar in your browser. To get a shortcut to a message, you need to right-click the post number (e.g., for this one, it's 22500.14) and select Copy Shortcut.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" .... :>)
Whiteside's THE BEST!
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