router cutters/bits/whatever you call em

[fin]

in the not too distant future i kinda plan on buying an of1010 router

i currently have a half inch makita router. the current model with electric brake and led lights and the like.

i only use it right now for routing kitchen worktops. so i plan on expanding the scope of what i currently do. so my router has only ever had 12.7mm dia straight cutters in it.

the poor thing  :'(

so what do you guys use for making stuff? be it half inch or quarter inch. liek i mean brands and that. whats the most expensive to buy router cutters you have?

also.... whats the craik when they get a little bit blunt. do yas sharpen em up same as you would with a circ saw blade?

i have like about 20 kitchen worktop cutters now and most of em are canny burnt from my pre festool midi vac days. but they still get blunt. so i dunno if i should skip em or sharpen em?

id be especially tankfull if anyone can recomend some type of bits to suit the of1010 for general work. so nowt fancy like

 

[semenza]

Round over / beading bits are my most used. Also chamfers and cove.  Pretty much all the basic shapes get used a lot.  I like CMT, Freud , Amana, Festool. In no particular order. If you are going with the OF1010, then you will need 1/4" and or 8mm shank.

Seth

 

[roblg3]

+1 for seth.  cmt and frued are both excellent

 

[NiteWalkerGR]

CMT and Freud are excellent indeed, but whitesides are my absolute favorites. They stay sharp and aren't too expensive. I get mine from hartville tool or holbren.

 

[sancho57]

Wood line, Infinity bits are pretty good,.

Dont let the price fool ya on the woodline

http://www.woodline.com

Infinity say they are made entirely in the US.Pretty good bits to.

Not the cheapest but they seem to have some pretty good carbide.

http://www.infinitytools.com/?key=gppc#&panel1-2

 

[VW mick]

I tend to use trend most of the time quite easily  available in England

And as Seth said a few general shapes will do to start

But router cutters are the same as drill bits screwdriver bits sandpaper discs ect ..you can never have enough

Also you should find a tool sharpener near you I get the bigger bits and saw blades resharpened .the small cutters are probably not worth resharpening 

 

[dltflt]

I have a cabinet full of CMT round overs, coves, pattern, and raised panel bits.

 

[GarryMartin]

Paul-Marcel did a nice write-up on his favourite bits at http://www.halfinchshy.com/2012/05/my-favorite-router-bits.html

I really like my Festool 8mm bits in the OF 1010, but not so much the price! Almost every bit I have that isn't a Festool comes from the Wealden Tool Company who do fantastic ranges of bits (many in 8mm) at great prices, with awesome customer service.

http://www.wealdentool.com/

 

[cliffp]

+1 for the plug of wealdentool. I buy nearly everything from them (also Axminster's aren't bad and are sometimes cheaper - useful if you are trying to get your order value high enough for free delivery).

If you phone Wealden, the guy answering the phone (if you ask for tech support) talks as though he owns the company - incredibly knowledgable and helpful.

 

[Stephen B]

[size=12pt]

Mostly -  http://www.carbitool.com.au

Australian company that I believe  exports.

But I  also have some CMT and Makita.

All used on Festool 1400

 

[sancho57]

Paul-Marcel did a nice write-up on his favourite bits at http://www.halfinchshy.com/2012/05/my-favorite-router-bits.html

I really like my Festool 8mm bits in the OF 1010, but not so much the price! Almost every bit I have that isn't a Festool comes from the Wealden Tool Company who do fantastic ranges of bits (many in 8mm) at great prices, with awesome customer service.

http://www.wealdentool.com/

Garry,

Thanks but theyre metric

hehehehehehe sorry couldnt resist  [eek]

 

[rmwarren]

For pattern routing I really like the Amana bits with replaceable cutters. The cutter heads area bout 1/2 the cost of the full bit. In the US they are available here.

Amana also make a series of straight/profile bits with replaceable cutters, available here. With the straight cutters each set of inserts gives you 2 cutting surfaces.

RMW

 

[Sparktrician]

I'll vote for Amana, Festool and Whiteside (in alphabetical order) bits for quality and durability, not to mention range of configurations. 

 

[SoonerFan]

I use Whiteside bits in my OF 1400.  My local dealer carries Whiteside which is great for those times you need the bit now.  I was also able to get a good deal on a combo pack from Amazon when I first got my 1400.  Combo pack was an economical way to cover basic needs quickly.  Looking at a CMS to connect to my MFT/3 now to raise panels.  Would be Whiteside bits for paneling raising for sure.

 

[semenza]

   A suggestion I have seen  ..........................  if the price tag of buying a bunch of router bits is too much, buy a large set of cheap carbide bits so that you have an assortment to work with.  Then as you find out which ones you really use , replace them with good quality bits.

Seth

 

[neth27]

in the not too distant future i kinda plan on buying an of1010 router

i currently have a half inch makita router. the current model with electric brake and led lights and the like.

i only use it right now for routing kitchen worktops. so i plan on expanding the scope of what i currently do. so my router has only ever had 12.7mm dia straight cutters in it.

the poor thing  :'(

so what do you guys use for making stuff? be it half inch or quarter inch. liek i mean brands and that. whats the most expensive to buy router cutters you have?

also.... whats the craik when they get a little bit blunt. do yas sharpen em up same as you would with a circ saw blade?

i have like about 20 kitchen worktop cutters now and most of em are canny burnt from my pre festool midi vac days. but they still get blunt. so i dunno if i should skip em or sharpen em?

id be especially tankfull if anyone can recomend some type of bits to suit the of1010 for general work. so nowt fancy like

Why not just get the OF1400? you can then use it for worktops too... And stop posting in a geordie accent  [big grin] [big grin]

john....

 

[SoonerFan]

   A suggestion I have seen  ..........................  if the price tag of buying a bunch of router bits is too much, buy a large set of cheap carbide bits so that you have an assortment to work with.  Then as you find out which ones you really use , replace them with good quality bits.

Seth

Never would have thought of that idea.  Another great suggestion from Seth!  Thanks for sharing.

 

[iamnothim]

IMO
The bits I can't do without are spiral down flush cut bits with bearing.  They are a marvel.
All of mine are Whiteside.

I also have their "nominal" sheet good 3 bit set.

 

[gippy]

My favourite bits are CMT but now I get everything custom made. I found a factory in Bangkok (where I live) that can make anything apart from spiral upcut. Very good quality carbide bits, half the price of Rockler and can be sharpened for about 30 cents each. One of the very few wins of being a wood worker in Thailand along with the 'reasonable' price of teak.

 

[wow]

Round over / beading bits are my most used.

Seth

Agree with Seth on this. My roundover bits are the most used, by far. I even have duplicates of some because for some projects I have one in the router table and the duplicate in my laminate trimmer.