Kenny McCarty Posted December 6, 2012 Report Share Posted December 6, 2012 Was just wondering what brand of router bits you guys would recommend. Was about to start building up my collection and replacing my starter bits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan S Posted December 6, 2012 Report Share Posted December 6, 2012 I use Whiteside brand bits almost exclusively now. they are excellent quality and the price is usually better than that of its competitors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave F Posted December 6, 2012 Report Share Posted December 6, 2012 I have a real mish-mosh of various brands ranging from uber cheap to pretty nice. I really like the Freud bits that I have. I think I may have to re-tool with all Freud one of these days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChetlovesMer Posted December 6, 2012 Report Share Posted December 6, 2012 I also have a several different brands. But I'm on the Eagle America and the MLCS mailing lists, so I end up ordering a lot of my bits from them. I get a catalog from them in the mail and between the catalog and their websites I usually find what I'm looking for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CessnaPilotBarry Posted December 6, 2012 Report Share Posted December 6, 2012 I like Whiteside, Freud, and CMT, when it really counts... My first choice is usually Whiteside. AFAIK, Eagle America's better quality bits are Whiteside. I've also got a couple of cheapies that work fine in lighter uses. For example, small chamfers and roundovers, vee grooves, etc... seem to be jobs that cheap bits do fine with. My most commonly used 1/4" shank chamfer bit is a Woodcraft bit I bought on special for $5. Joinery bits, complicated profiles, solid spiral, flush trim, medium and large edge forms... These seem to be jobs that come out cleanest with high-quality bits, which means less sanding and scraping, and the beefy bits last and last if kept clean. Most good bits can be resharpened for $5-10, so an expensive bit can still be a good value. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
semmons23 Posted December 6, 2012 Report Share Posted December 6, 2012 +1 on whiteside Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny McCarty Posted December 6, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 6, 2012 yeah I currently have a bunch from MCLS but they don't seem to be holding up that well...after about 1 day of use they seem to already have lost their edge.....I heard that Whiteside is the best and I had been looking at Eagle America....so if they are the same I guess I'll try out Eagle America. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STL Woodguy Posted December 6, 2012 Report Share Posted December 6, 2012 I think the MLCS router bits are a little overrated, but depends on the expectation for them. I think they are a good choice for first time router bit users if you buy them as a kit, because for low cost, you can figure out which bits you use the most, then replace those with higher quality ones. I'm a Whiteside guy. For the one-off bit, I don't mind Rockler's brand and the price is right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trip Posted December 6, 2012 Report Share Posted December 6, 2012 ==> I like Whiteside, Freud, and CMT, when it really counts... +1 When getting bits resharpened, the service seems to do the best job on the three brands mentioned above. The el cheepos you see in the flyers tend to not do well at the service, so they aren't worth the initial cost savings. At this point, all my low-cost bits have fallen-out of service -- so i'm at 80% Freud/CMT with 20% whiteside. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dtrust Posted December 6, 2012 Report Share Posted December 6, 2012 Just bought my first Freud "quadra-cut" bit a couple weeks ago. Will never buy anything else! I hope they decide to make all various sizes in that style. That thing cuts so smooth it's truly incredible. so slight sanding needed afterwards it's hard to believe until you use one. Wonderful bits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl Olsen Posted December 6, 2012 Report Share Posted December 6, 2012 FWW did a review for member but its on the Whiteside web site: http://www.whiteside...tRouterBits.pdf At the end of the day, the Whiteside (left) and the Eagle (right) bits had risen to the top of the mix, tying for the highest score. Lee Valley had the second-highest score, followed by Southeast and Woodtek in a tie for third Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodger. Posted December 6, 2012 Report Share Posted December 6, 2012 I really like the freud quarda cut (see my review), and I like Lee Valley's bits as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
estesbubba Posted December 7, 2012 Report Share Posted December 7, 2012 I bought a MLCS set when I first got going and it's OK. I have both Whiteside and Lee Valley bits for my Leigh D4 and FMT and very happy with both. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joelav Posted December 8, 2012 Report Share Posted December 8, 2012 I have a lot of diablo. porter cable, MLCS cheap-o bits that I am replacing with whiteside. my local woodcraft has a "whiteside bit of the month" special and I usually buy that one. It's amazing how much better the whiteside bits cut vs the big box bits. In a lot of cases, the whiteside aren't much more expensive. I've got about 15 of them now, and I have another 20 or so to go. My most used bit is my 1/2" shank 1 1/2" whiteside flush trim bit. I do edge jointing with a router. I actually have a 2.5hp router that I just leave that bit in. The woodriver brand 3 flute flush trim bit actually cuts a lot nicer, but not for long. It got dull on me really fast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe01g Posted January 21, 2015 Report Share Posted January 21, 2015 I am new to woodworking and just got a router and I am wondering what brand would be good for a starter kit? I also do not know the extent of everything that I want to do yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
estesbubba Posted January 21, 2015 Report Share Posted January 21, 2015 I am new to woodworking and just got a router and I am wondering what brand would be good for a starter kit? I also do not know the extent of everything that I want to do yet. My advice would be to buy as needed. I bought a MLCS set and most of the bits still have the plastic coating on them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Cancelleri Posted January 21, 2015 Report Share Posted January 21, 2015 I've got a mix of all different bits. Sommerfeld bits (originally made by CMT) for my cabinet making bits, Whiteside for my most used bits (1/4" roundover, chamfer, inlay) I have a few freud flush cut bits and pattern bits. I also have a 50 piece set of Yonico bits that came free with my PC 7518 router when I bought it. They have all sorts of ogee, roman, cove, diamond and other pattern bits. I've used maybe 10 bits from that set for messing around with some profiles, or working with MDF/Plywood to spare my better bits from that use. The Yonico bits aren't the best, but they are decent enough. +1 for Whiteside in terms of quality Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weithman5 Posted January 21, 2015 Report Share Posted January 21, 2015 i needed a 1/4 shank roundover bit and bought a small set on sale from craftsman. they were reasonable for how much they will get used. i was using my brother's old craftsman router because it had a bag for collecting the dust directly. worked okay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weithman5 Posted January 21, 2015 Report Share Posted January 21, 2015 is there any significant difference between the freud bits and the diablo bits? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janello Posted January 21, 2015 Report Share Posted January 21, 2015 Whiteside bits are no doubt great bits. One of these days I want to try Amana bits, they have slightly better reviews than WS. I have a CMT raised panel set and got good results. I found the CMT lock miter to be very thin on the leading edge. Got a little chatter once and it actually bent the leading edge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry_in_SD Posted January 22, 2015 Report Share Posted January 22, 2015 I end up with a number of Rockler blue bits because I can run over to the store when I need them. Anyone know who makes Rockler? Maybe the source them from generic Taiwan manufacturer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe01g Posted January 22, 2015 Report Share Posted January 22, 2015 If I need is a straight bit is it okay to use a template bit with the bearing on top? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted January 22, 2015 Report Share Posted January 22, 2015 Yep.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe01g Posted January 22, 2015 Report Share Posted January 22, 2015 thanks guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weithman5 Posted January 22, 2015 Report Share Posted January 22, 2015 Eagle america has a 70 bit set for sale for just about 220 dollars. i know most of these bits would sit there and not get used. has anybody had any experience with this set. sale is on for another month. i could see grabbing it just to have the bits to play with. (its all about the tools) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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