US Import of CMT 8mm shank router bits (cutters)

[MichaelTurri]

After spending an outrageous amount of time trying to find excellent quality carbide router bits with an 8mm shank, I've learned that CMT will send them to the US. I'm contemplating importing them to make sets for Festool owners to cut down on the outrageous lead time.

If you could put together a dream set of 10 bits / cutters, what would it contain? How much would you want to pay for a typical 12.7mm (1/2") straight bit?

MT

 

[CutsTwice]

Well, let's start with the basics.
Radius:
1/8
3/16
1/4
3/8
1/2
Straight cut:
1/4
5/16
3/8
1/2
3/4
But..if you are trying to sell products to Festool owners, you might choose to offer a more comprehensive collection. So If you were to up the number to 20 cutters one might choose to include:
an Ogee or two, depending on what's available
a keyslot bit or two, for duplicating the side rails of an MFT
a Roman ogee or two
a wide mortising bit or two
a 5mm bit for the LS32
a 35mm bit for the LS32
a 20mm plunge bit to make MFT clones, or to bore some oddball hinge holes
And...if you wanted to virtually guarantee that all of us nerds on the F.O.G. would order one of your sets you might choose to include 10 more in any combination:
two or three edge profile bits for cabinet doors
one, two, or three different sizes of bullnose bits
one, two, or three different sizes of beading bits
one set of "shaker" or "arts and crafts" stile and rail bits for making doors

Then there are the more esoteric bit sets. Dovetail, patterned stile and rail, etc.

If you could sell one single set that 90 percent of retired hobbiest's like myself would buy to complete all the projects we pretend that we might someday complete.....you'd have it made.

I can tell you that if you were to put some sort of "monster collection" together the American boys would eat it up...and line up to send you 5 to 6 hundred dollars per set. You could subscribe to the Festool mentality of "put 20 important bits in a set, then include 10 that nobody wants and watch them all buy it"...or you could be the very first dude to actually build a truly comprehensive set of 8mm bits and watch them fly off the shelves.

Just my 2 cents.
J.

 

[spikfot]

After spending an outrageous amount of time trying to find excellent quality carbide router bits with an 8mm shank, I've learned that CMT will send them to the US. I'm contemplating importing them to make sets for Festool owners to cut down on the outrageous lead time.

If you could put together a dream set of 10 bits / cutters, what would it contain? How much would you want to pay for a typical 12.7mm (1/2") straight bit?

MT

It sounds to me like your'e referring to "making up" sets of 8mm shanks with imperial cutters. Is that correct?

 

[Ken Nagrod]

Just some FYI, but Tom Bellemare is a CMT dealer as well as being a Festool dealer and I'm sure he could get members 8mm shank router bits.  I believe this was discussed in another thread not too long ago?

 

[MichaelTurri]

CutsTwice - Thanks for the intel. That was my gut feeling. It will take some time to figure out exactly which to put together, but I agree whole heartedly.

 

[MichaelTurri]

William - Basically, I'm thinking of buying a huge quantity of cutters directly from CMT in Italy to package into "sets" and resell. Mostly as a service to FOG members and offset my own addiction. 

 

[MichaelTurri]

Ken - Yes, one can get the entire line of CMT european cutters and accessories from a dealer. My goal is to basically import them so they are available for shipping without the 3 - 5 week delay. I'd also create a dedicated website to make bit ID and selection much easier than what I am going through right now. 

 

[VictorL]

I'm interested in:
6, 10, 18, 20 mm straight bits. 6 and 10 are good for VS-600.
5.5mm and 18 mm are perfect for plywood dadoes.
Long 20mm bits (35-70mm)
Long copy bits 40-75mm 12mm or 1/2" diameter with bearing close to shank.
Dovetail bits compatible with VS-600.

VictorL

 

[ScotF]

I may be interested...although CMT does not cover every roundover size like the old Festool ones.

Scot

 

[extiger]

CMT does in fact have inventory of Metric shanks here in the U.S. My router jig calls for 8mm Shank bits and so a local sharpening service in Redding Calif could order bits and have them for me in about a week. And that was in the woods near the Calif/Oregon border.

8mm works out to be near 3/8s, and is a very popular standard in Europe. It falls halfway between 1/4 and 1/2" and provides a very happy medium when you want something beefier than a 1/4", but not as clumsy as a 1/2.  Not as irreplaceable as sliced bread, but convenient.

CMT has two catalogues. The European Catalogue has all these Metric sizes, and any CMT dealer can order any of the part numbers. They don't do it often, perhaps, but ask.