Replies

1. 
   BenA | Mar 02, 2005 03:45pm | #1

   I would go with the Freud bits. They make there own carbide for  their blades and bits, and perma-shield coating is a plus. good luck.

   http://www.freudtools.com/woodworkers/rep/router_bits/Router_Bits/Beading/html/Beading_1.html

2. 
   shopteacher | Mar 02, 2005 04:34pm | #2

   Lately, I've been buying Whiteside bits through Woodcraft.  The first that I bought was a cove that I used to make the novelty siding on my barn.  I used this far beyond what it was meant for.  I think I made around a mile of siding.  That bit sold me.  They are nice bits (and they are not made in China).

3. 
   Dave_Elliott | Mar 03, 2005 10:03am | #3

   If I were just starting out, I'd probably get the following:

   1/4-inch straight
   3/8-inch straight
   1/2-inch straight
   3/4-inch straight
   1/4-inch roundover
   3/8-inch roundover
   3/8-inch cove
   roman ogee
   flush trim

   Whiteside, Amana, or equivalent. All 1/2-inch shank. That'd pretty much shoot the heck outta your 200 bucks. You do have a router with a 1/2-inch collet, don't you? If not, I'd get one before investing in bits. Do your loved ones a favor and don't generally use 1/4-inch shank bits except occasionally where you can't get the profile you need with a 1/2-inch shank.

4. 
   DDay | Mar 04, 2005 06:05pm | #4

   I wouldn't go with those 50+ bit sets, you'll have 5 or 10 that you will use and the others will just sit there forever.  I would look at some of the smaller sets that freud and a few others have.  Freud has some 9 piece and 6 piece starter sets.  Others here (forestgirl for one) recommend http://www.mlcswoodworking.com/ but I haven't used those myself yet.  I'm still growing my collection so I've only used whiteside and Freud so far, no complaint with either.

   I would definitely stay away from the china jumbo sets for cheap money.  I don't think they will last, or perform well and most of all, I would not trust them to be safe.  I think that would scare the crap out of my if a bit moving at 20,000 rpm's breaks, ugh!!!  Also, remember that whatever you pay for the bits, the wood you use is going to cost even more, so why skimp on the bits but use nice wood and expect nice results.

    

5. 
   DDay | Mar 04, 2005 09:50pm | #5

   I think you'll get me answers in the knots forum.  Most of the woodworkers stay in there.

    

6. 
   MHBurton | Mar 13, 2005 01:28am | #6

     Dave Elliott posted some good sizes to get started out with. Stay away from bargain bits! Buy only high quality bits. CMT (my favorite), Whiteside, & Amana make great bits. Also try buy only 1/2" shank bits if you can. They are a lot more stable and are less likely to chatter.

      Buy bits as you need them and you can end up with pretty a nice collection in a couple of years. I have approx. 40 that have taken several years to accumulate. Build a good case to keep them in. You can end up with $1000 worth of router bits in a suprisingly short time and it pays to keep them protected.

   Michael Burton
   Thunderbird Hardwoods
   Kiln Dried Mesquite Lumber

7. 
   DDay | Mar 13, 2005 06:00pm | #7

   check out this thread over in the knots.  It covers the topic pretty well.

   22433.1

8. 
   Dustmight | Mar 13, 2005 08:21pm | #8

   Whitesides and Freud are about the best I've used. I know that Whiteside offers a 7 piece set of the most common profiles. Hartville Tool has it for < $90. Then you can add other profiles as needed. Other top names are CMT, Amana, Infinity, Eagle America.

   For seldom used profiles, you can get away with slightly lesser quality from respectable bargain bits. MLCS, Woodcraft, Price Cutter, Woodline, etc. I'd suggest sticking with 1/2" shafts if your router will accept them.