Thread: Where to find (metric) router bits (SA)

I buy my router cutters from Complete Saw Works (Carbitool) they don't come cheap like the rubbish Bunnings sell range between $60-100+
You will have trouble finding metric cutters with imperial shafts.

3/8” shank router bits are fairly hard to come by in Oz - I have a Makita with both 1/4” and 3/8” collets and I’ve never bought a 3/8” shank bit. There are some straight ones available overseas. As China said, metric with 1/4” shanks are also hard to get in the larger sizes you are looking for.

Good luck...

Stupid question, but why do you have to have metric?

Originally Posted by elanjacobs

Good luck...

Stupid question, but why do you have to have metric?

Because I've got forstner drills that are metric. A 12.7mm round over bit makes a 25.4mm round batten that doesn't fit in a 25 mm hole.
The drama in Australia is that we obviously just didn't make a decision what system to use, so we need to have all tools in two versions. That makes it quite expensive. I guess I have to buy imperial forstner drills as well...

Festool outlets sell metric router bits but, even for Festool, $$$$$.

Personally, I would import them from a Continental supplier. Dieter Schmidt is reliable.
Router Bits Home | FINE TOOLS

Still no R13 or R15 though and the shanks are 8 or 12mm (unless I was looking in the wrong place)

Carbitool will make whatever size you want, maybe worth a call to get a quote

Originally Posted by elanjacobs

Still no R13 or R15 though and the shanks are 8 or 12mm (unless I was looking in the wrong place)

Carbitool will make whatever size you want, maybe worth a call to get a quote

Elan; Dieter Schmidt does have a wide range of roundover bit sizes from R1.6 through R38, including R15 - but R13 is not listed.
Roundover Cutters
For most routers you will need a metric conversion collet.

Sometimes I think Oz retailers are encouraging people to buy online so they do not have to deal with pesky customers!

I just found imperial forstner bits: https://www.carbatec.com.au/sawtooth...s-1-4-to-2-1-8

That's probably the cheaper solution.

CMT is made in Italy and they have a large range of metric size bits with imperial 1/2" and 1/6" shanks plus 12mm and 8mm shanks.

Carbatec stocks some but online would be your be bet for the full range.

Stay metric, almost all my tools I have are metric it just makes life simpler, except for American handplanes which are Imperial. And some imperial drill bits which come in handy sometimes to drill over or undersize holes for metric hardware.

Where did you find the metric ones?
Roundover router bits | CMT Orange Tools

Originally Posted by AndyJ

My router accepts 6.35 and 9.53 mm shafts.

so standard collet sizes are
6 mm
6.35 mm aka 1/4" -- do not confuse these two collet sizes
8 mm
9.53 mm aka 3/8"
12 mm
12.7 mm aka 1/2" -- again do not confuse 12 mm and 12.7 mm collets


First off check really well whether your 3/8" collet is really a 3/8" or a mislabeled 8 mm.

secondly, 8 mm shank bits are fairly common in Australia -- they are used with WoodRat and Leigh jigs, etc -- however, I don't think I've ever seen a 3/8" shank bit. Hence my suggestion to carefully check the collet size and if you need to get an 8 mm collet to fit your router, go out and order one.


Your least expensive option is probably to buy a limited number of imperial size forstner bits.


However, without an 8 mm collet, the size bits you are looking for -- R = 12, 13, 15 mm with a 1/4" shank -- are possibly not available anywhere as the shank is too easily broken.


BTW
Terry Gordon's hollow and round planes are sized in 16ths of an inch -- with the odd sizes (1/16, 3/16, 5/16, etc) very much a special order -- but the even sizes are readily available.


As to sizes
last time I looked, The Woodworks Book and Tool company carried 15 mm, 20 mm, 25 mm, 30 mm and 35 mm plug (tenon) cutters.
a 30 mm tenon cutter would match with your desired R15 roundover bit. (Though I don't see the point in trying to use a bearing guided bit to make a round plug.)

Originally Posted by AndyJ

I just found imperial forstner bits: Carbatec 16 Piece Sawtooth & Forstner Combination Bit Set - Imperial | Carbatec

That's probably the cheaper solution.

Most definitely

Makita 3/8” collets are 3/8” collets - not 8mm. Big difference in size.

Originally Posted by AndyJ

Where did you find the metric ones?
Roundover router bits | CMT Orange Tools

Scroll down the page it looks like they have radius 8, 9.5, 16, 19mm Plus the standard imperial increments.

Oddly they don't have 25mm.

I agree with other a limited number of imperial size forstner bits would be simpler option.