SCPDX Posted January 30, 2018 Report Share Posted January 30, 2018 Had this pop up on a social media site - I am assuming the red paint job is to mimic Freud. https://coolnewtools.com/collections/frontpage/products/router-bit-set I was tempted, but then remembered that if it seems too good? probably isn't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom King Posted January 30, 2018 Report Share Posted January 30, 2018 I have found the cheapest router bits to be Whiteside. Yes, they cost more initially, but they last, and they leave a clean cut. I've made the mistake of buying lower cost bits a few times, but never again. I have probably 35 pounds of router bits in the router bit box. It includes some Whiteside bits that I bought back in the 1970's. The low cost bits have all been tossed. Some didn't last through the first use. Whiteside also has a good sharpening service, with quick turn-around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drzaius Posted January 30, 2018 Report Share Posted January 30, 2018 I'd just give that a pass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted January 30, 2018 Report Share Posted January 30, 2018 A cheap version of a bit you will probably only use once might be reasonable but if it does a poor job will all the sanding needed be acceptable? When I bought a used router table it came with a bunch of cheap bits. If I need that profile I clean it up, touch it up w a diamond paddle and then take 3 light cuts instead of 1 or 2. Still end up withtoo much sanding to do. The bad taste of poor quality lingers way past the appeal of that low price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardA Posted January 30, 2018 Report Share Posted January 30, 2018 You called it in the title of the post......."cheap". If cheap is what you want, buy'em! If good or better, is what you want buy better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gee-dub Posted January 30, 2018 Report Share Posted January 30, 2018 Look at it this way; I have paid more than that for a single router bit. That is not to say that more basic profiles are that expensive; some are less, some are more. You have to consider usable life. A Whiteside bit that costs twice as much will last five times as long. Which bit is cheaper now? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkinneb Posted January 30, 2018 Report Share Posted January 30, 2018 7 hours ago, Tom King said: I have found the cheapest router bits to be Whiteside. Yes, they cost more initially, but they last, and they leave a clean cut. I've made the mistake of buying lower cost bits a few times, but never again. I have probably 35 pounds of router bits in the router bit box. It includes some Whiteside bits that I bought back in the 1970's. The low cost bits have all been tossed. Some didn't last through the first use. Whiteside also has a good sharpening service, with quick turn-around. Bingo! The only exception for me is I will go with Freud quad cutters if available otherwise most of what I have is Whiteside. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted January 30, 2018 Report Share Posted January 30, 2018 Those Freud Quadra-cut bits are wonderful and worth every penny. They cut so cleanly and reduce sanding to a minimum. But the price of a 1" radius round over bit is kinda eye opening. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
estesbubba Posted February 1, 2018 Report Share Posted February 1, 2018 Can’t beat Whiteside from Hartville tool for 15% off using code wn15. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kyokahn Posted February 1, 2018 Report Share Posted February 1, 2018 They aren't nearly cheap enough for what they are. Compare to the cheapest on Amazon cause that's most likely what you're getting. My take on router bits: find the most respectable cheapos, buy a varied pack of cheapos, touch up to make sure they're sharp. In my case i found the Yonico ones from Amazon to be fairly reasonable, especially for the price (a bit pricier than the absolute cheapest). Use them for a while, so you'll know which bits you need the most. Buy higher end bits of the ones you use the most. So far I have a 1/8 roundover and a 3/4" straight spiral bit on the higher end, though the cheapos are still functional if either one breaks in the middle of a job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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