Replies

1. 
   john_c2 | Sep 07, 2022 05:38pm | #1

   I've always found Whiteside to be top of the line. For heavy use, it's the only brand I buy. If it's a one-off thing, I might look at lower cost brands.

2. 
   beasleysevin | Sep 07, 2022 08:48pm | #2

   Buy Whiteside. Not only are they the highest quality, they are American made so you can avoid the supply chain issues getting Freuds from Italy. In the unlikely event you are not happy with the Whiteside, they are absolutely wonderful to deal with. Just call them up, explain the issue and they will do what they can to help you out. Great people.

   As for the tear out concern, I think 3 flutes or a spiral would be best. Also, score your line with your marking knife to reduce the risk. Walnut is a great wood to work with.

3. 
   esch5995 | Sep 07, 2022 11:26pm | #3

   Whiteside is as good as it gets. Three flute will minimize tearout.

4. 
   eddo234 | Sep 08, 2022 12:01am | #4

   Agreed on Whiteside. I have both 2 flute and 3. The 3 flute cuts a little smoother, but it doesn't seem drastically better. There are also compression bits, which have upcut and downcut flutes. Whiteside and others make them, and they have versions specifically for mortises, but compression bits are pricey.

5. 
   rob_ss | Sep 08, 2022 05:52am | #5

   I only have three flute whiteside bits. Very happy with them.
   The only thing I can add to the discussion is that buying a long bit (so you can do deep mortices) is a mistake unless you need to do deep mortices. The vibration is much more, even with the half inch bit as you always have the long bit extended.

6. 
   user-7630268 | Sep 08, 2022 08:22am | #6

   Here is another vote for "Whiteside" for all the reasons already stated.

7. 
   mattk41 | Sep 08, 2022 06:05pm | #7

   Not only +1 for Whiteside, but also a caution: I prefer WS, and have a range of radii and most work just fine (Freud, etc). And I like Amana table saw blades a lot. But the 1/4" spiral upcut...turned out to be 1/16" undersized!! Took me a while to figure out why the hinges wouldn't fit their mortises...the template assumed a true 1/4"

1. 
   eddo234 | Sep 08, 2022 07:29pm | #8

   Whiteside makes a 3/16” spiral upcut bit. Do you think they might have just sent you the wrong size by mistake? Did you ask them?

1. 
   mattk41 | Sep 08, 2022 08:35pm | #9

   Never a problem with whiteside, the undersized bit was Amana and the supposed diameter is etched into the shank! (and on the packaging too).

1. 
   eddo234 | Sep 08, 2022 08:41pm | #10

   👍

2. 
   1sri | Sep 10, 2022 04:38pm | #12

   I had the same issue with an Amana router bit. Nominally, the cutting diameter was 1/4 inch but a 1/4 inch setup block from 2 different companies- iGaging and Rockler- would not fit into the grooves routed with the bit.
   Something is off with Amana
   And I specifically got a 1/4 inch shaft with 1/4 inch bearing and 1/4 inch cutting diameter and height from Amana because Steve Latta did a quick video about using this bit to perfectly size and locate grooves as he taught how to build a spice box and I needed to do something similar...

8. 
   stantheman | Sep 09, 2022 09:37am | #11

   I like Eagle-America bits. They're made in the USA, and are less expensive than Whiteside. No problems with them, and they have a wide variety of profiles and specialty bits.

9. 
   geedubbee | Sep 13, 2022 09:27pm | #13

   Whiteside here.