anybody use MLCS router bits?

[teocaf]

I'm looking at an edge banding router bit set from MLCS that's on sale in the latest catalog. (#1277 Katana tongue and groove).  Anyone have experience with the bits from this company?  I didn't see Festool offering these type of matched sets.  Are there any other sets of this type that are available from others that someone has actually used? 

 

[jaguar36]

I've not used their Katana line of bits, however I have used the regular ones, and some of their drill bits and such and have not been impressed.  I certainly wouldn't buy a ~$100 bit set from them.  Whiteside makes a similar set, and its not much more.

 

[Loren Woirhaye]

I have some, both Katana and regular ones.  I find them adequate.  The bits tend to be machined out of flat stock, so they have flats on them.  If you buy Freud or some other higher end brand you'll tend to get a heavier bit with no flats on the sides, or smaller ones.

I had a Burgess Edge set at one time. It works well but it requires intense concentration to get the edge cut right.

 

[Ivanhoe]

I have used the Katana bits for routing dados and they work well for me. Granted, I am just a hobbyist.

 

[Birdhunter]

I use Freud router bits for my fine work. If I'm cutting something highly abrasive, I'll use a cheaper product like MLCS or even the Home Depot stuff. The Freud bits are observably a better product.

 

[crsowa]

Freud and white side for me as well. 

 

[teocaf]

i went ahead and ordered the mlcs katanas because i was told they were an upgrade from their regular ones.  the tongue and groove set and a flush bit for about $90 in half inch.  what the heck, i figured i'll give the brand a try once.  well, none of them made it to my router.  got the first set and because of improper packaging one of the bits had a point chip from banging into the other one.  returned that set.  got the second set today and as i was scraping the wax off with my fingernail to inspect the first bit, a sliver of metal came off with the wax.  didn't even bother unwrapping the other.  so, back they go for a full refund.  i hate to think what would have happened if that bit had cut into baltic ply at full speed.  i'm taking it in stride, just posting my experience.
time to head on over to whiteside.

 

[ear3]

I really like MLCS bits, but I was hugely disappointed with their edge band bits, and have basically not used it since I tried it out the first time and chewed up the veneer on my ply.  It was the basic bit rather than the Katana version, so I can't testify to that.  I will continue to buy MLCS, but never their edge banding bits,