t-bone Posted February 25, 2011 Report Share Posted February 25, 2011 hello evvvvvvry booooody, well iam thinking about buying router bits, i have some knowledge but what should i start out with and whats a good brand. i don't have alot of cash thanks guys and gals Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikem Posted February 25, 2011 Report Share Posted February 25, 2011 This is always a tough one. A little over 5 years ago I bought one of those 50 bit kits you see on Ebay. While these are not the best bits in town, I quickly discovered which bits I use frequently and which bits get little use. As the bits you use frequently dull and wear out I replace them with better bits. However if you want a recommendation of good bits to start out with, I would recommend straight and/or spiral bits. These by far get the most usage in my arsenal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keggers Posted February 25, 2011 Report Share Posted February 25, 2011 There are a number of quality router bits on the market. Eagle America and Whiteside are two that come to mind. I personally like the quality of Whiteside. With that said, I bought a Freud raised panel bit set and I have no complaints about them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Speyerer Posted February 25, 2011 Report Share Posted February 25, 2011 I buy my bits one at a time as the project demands them. I use Freud bits and have stayed away from large multi bit kits. I also have a Freud raised panel bit set and am very satisfied with its performance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mlehikoinen Posted February 25, 2011 Report Share Posted February 25, 2011 Last multi-bit-kit was my first and last. I'll buy my bits 1 by one as needed now. I get most of them from Lee Valley now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JayWC Posted February 25, 2011 Report Share Posted February 25, 2011 To T-bone...first, let's clarify the difference between a kit and a set. The kits I believe others are referring to are the large packages of "every bit imaginable". Stay away from those. Sets are a group of bits paired up (such as raised panel or inlay) to produce a quality project. Sets are great (I prefer the Sommerfeld matched length shank sets for consistent heights in a router table) or purchase your bits on a project by project basis. I have had zero problems with Rockler, Freud or Sommerfeld. If you're looking for basics, I agree with MikeM above. Get a nice straight cut bit, a round-over or two and a chamfer bit. You can always add profiles to your selection too, but it seems the most common is a classic or Roman ogee. Happy routering! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry_in_SD Posted February 25, 2011 Report Share Posted February 25, 2011 In terns of quality, I find that the brands like the Rockler are probably not up to the quality standards of a Amana or Whiteside, but for the use that I put to them (casual woodworking, 2-3 major projects a year), they are fine. I also have used MLCS Katina brand. and CMT. What I would avoid is the el cheepo stuff you might find on eBay -- but then again, if you are making one project and few cuts, that may work as well -- or a non fine woodworking project where quality it not highly critical. I could image in a production environment your needs might be be much different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan S Posted February 25, 2011 Report Share Posted February 25, 2011 for brands as others have said Amana, Whiteside, CMT, & Freud are all good. my bits are Freud, & Whiteside, becasue that's what my local Rockler retailer sells. If you let us know what kind of budget your working with, I'm sure we could recommend a few must have bits for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sancho Posted February 25, 2011 Report Share Posted February 25, 2011 hello evvvvvvry booooody, well iam thinking about buying router bits, i have some knowledge but what should i start out with and whats a good brand. i don't have alot of cash thanks guys and gals 1st stay away from sets. You wont use half the bits in the set. I like woodline, great bits , great prices and resharpenable to Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knotscott Posted February 26, 2011 Report Share Posted February 26, 2011 My first set was a 15 pc MLCS set...it was pretty good quality, had most of the commonly used profiles, and it cost $40 shipped which made them good value. I got 3-4 decent years from them. I don't advocate buying a large set of low quality bits that are inexpensive per bit, but overall costs quite a lot out of pocket....you still get mediocre bits with many duplicates or near duplicates, and you're still out a fair amount of money. Nothing wrong with decent quality smaller sets of 6-20 bits that contain one each of the most common profiles. The bits I lean toward now are higher quality...Whiteside, Infinity, Freud, Eagle America, Katana (MLCS' better line), Price Cutter, CMT, Amana. I'd avoid Skil, Ryobi, Hickory, Craftsman, Harbor Freight, and other no-name bits...too much risk with cutters spinning at 20K rpms. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jab73180 Posted February 26, 2011 Report Share Posted February 26, 2011 cmt has good bits, mlcs also. mlcs has a good pricing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby Slack Posted February 26, 2011 Report Share Posted February 26, 2011 All my bits are CMT and last forever. I would not say anything bad about Eagle America or other manufactures because i never used them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petersb Posted February 26, 2011 Report Share Posted February 26, 2011 1/4" straight 1/2" " 1/8" round over 1/2" " Rabbeting bit set w/the multiple bearings for different depths 1/2" bearing guided trim bit All 1/2" shanks if your router takes them, except for the 1/8" round over, you can get buy with 1/4" shank. These are some basic bits that should see a lot of use over the years ahead. If I was just starting to make my collection again, I would start with the 1/8" round over and the bearing guided trim bit. These two see alot of use over the years. Of course now I couldn't get along with out any of my bits, well, a couple are only very job specific, but they all have their uses. Straight bits are very useful and versatile too. I guess that it would depend on what you are building and need for that particular project. I buy what I need as I need them and try to buy decent bits. I have some Woodcraft, Rockler, Freud, Whiteside, Skil, PC, Oldham and maybe a couple of others that I can't remember right now. Out of all of those brands, only one has ever failed, and it was a PC branded bit. Every so often, Woodcraft has a $5 bit sale on their green Woodcraft brand bits, that are a good way to get a variety of bits on the cheap. Best bit I have is a Freud quadra cut round over. Best cut I have seen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joebecquets Posted February 26, 2011 Report Share Posted February 26, 2011 For what it's worth, Fine Woodworking (FWW) made a limited test of profile router bits and Whiteside's and Eagle's came on top. Whiteside is posting this article on its site at the following adress: http://www.whitesiderouterbits.com/ToolTestRouterBits.pdf Also in October 2006, FWW made an article where it suggested 10 essential bits: 1/4 inch straight bit 1/2 inch straitght bit 3/8 inch spiral fluted straight bit Rabbeting bit with 3 or 4 bearing sizes Three wing slot cutter bit, 1/4 inch thick 1/2 inch dovetail bit 45 degrees chamfer bit 1/4 inch roundover bit 3/8 inch radius cove bit 1/2 inch flush trimming bit If you want OK quality, that will be a hefty bill. Brett's idea of buying as the need arises makes a lot of sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby Slack Posted February 26, 2011 Report Share Posted February 26, 2011 Thank you for this post. I will Give Eagle America a try ... through our friend Marc's website to support this forum. For what it's worth, Fine Woodworking (FWW) made a limited test of profile router bits and Whiteside's and Eagle's came on top. Whiteside is posting this article on its site at the following adress: http://www.whitesiderouterbits.com/ToolTestRouterBits.pdf Also in October 2006, FWW made an article where it suggested 10 essential bits: 1/4 inch straight bit 1/2 inch straitght bit 3/8 inch spiral fluted straight bit Rabbeting bit with 3 or 4 bearing sizes Three wing slot cutter bit, 1/4 inch thick 1/2 inch dovetail bit 45 degrees chamfer bit 1/4 inch roundover bit 3/8 inch radius cove bit 1/2 inch flush trimming bit If you want OK quality, that will be a hefty bill. Brett's idea of buying as the need arises makes a lot of sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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