Thread: Router Bit Set

Better to buy the bits individually as you need them, and spend a bit more on the ones that will get a lot of use.

CMT or Carbitool are good quality, or for bits that won't get such heavy use maybe try McJings? I've got a few weird and wonderful profiles from McJings and the quality is fine.

I'd avoid the supercheapo boxed sets like the plague......

Originally Posted by Mr Brush

Better to buy the bits individually as you need them, and spend a bit more on the ones that will get a lot of use.

CMT or Carbitool are good quality, or for bits that won't get such heavy use maybe try McJings? I've got a few weird and wonderful profiles from McJings and the quality is fine.

I'd avoid the supercheapo boxed sets like the plague......

Any tips on where I can get these at the best price?

I buy mostly Carbitool bits online from these guys:

Australian router bits and cutters at apworkshop.com.au

They also sell a cheaper range of economy bits, but I haven't tried these:

economy router bits, kits and sets

Obviously McJings bits can be found online here:

McJING Tools Online

To be honest it can be tricky finding what you want on McJings website - I tend to go to their Sydney store to buy this kind of stuff.

The late Les Miller suggested at a WWW show session he ran years ago to buy a cheaper set of bits which most likely would not last so long.As you find the bits you use most lose their edge or wear out,then buy good quality replacements.
The others in the set would most likely last you for a while.

Just be careful if you go that way, because there are two distinct classes of cheap router bit sets. There are some designed to be actually used to cut something, but some other (usually huge) sets are just router bit-shaped pieces of metal.......

When the steel has a high cheese content they tend not to last very long

Proper router bits have carbide cutting edges, but the Chinese seem to have perfected the 'Clagbide' cutting edge....

I purchase CMT router bits from McFeeleys. Great service.

Search results for 'cmt router bits' (115 found) | McFeely's

Recently, I purchased a number flush trim bits (1/4 and 1/2 shank) from McFeeleys.

One example on comparising prices for a particular bit:

McFeeleys: US$15.90
Carbatec (Perth): AUD$36.00 (although they did dropped their prices recently - too little and too late).

Even with freight, I'm still way ahead.

Mike

Originally Posted by Mr Brush

Better to buy the bits individually as you need them, and spend a bit more on the ones that will get a lot of use.

CMT or Carbitool are good quality, or for bits that won't get such heavy use maybe try McJings? I've got a few weird and wonderful profiles from McJings and the quality is fine.

I'd avoid the supercheapo boxed sets like the plague......

That is good advice I have conducted router workshops where members bring their cutters in boxes and very few have been used.
I have been using Carb -I-tool cutters for the pasr 25 years and they have a great range to choose from also when designing a project you can prepare all the neccessary Jigs and template as the details of cutter sizes are displayed well
Tom

I once boughy a cheap Chinese set of about 8 differing bits tried to miter a small box with the 45 deg bit,wasted best part of a day trying to figure out why my mitres were out,finally measured the cheap bit ,out by about ten degrees,threw it and the rest in the deep six next time I went out fishing.Its false economy to buy this crap!! Stick with Carbi tool.

My most used router bits are probably a 50:50 mix of Carbitool and CMT....I have to say that the Carbitool are every bit as good as CMT, generally cheaper (unless you go to the trouble of buying CMT from overseas), and I've always had very good service buying online from AP Workshop.

Its no coincidence that Gifkin router bits are Carbitool.

Tom - I was checking out some of your videos on YouTube the other day; lots of very useful information there

I would agree with those who say to buy individual bits of good quality, but being a newbie I bought a set of Ultra bits from Bunnings which has served me well. I will now replace bits as needed with one of the better brands mentioned here.

Originally Posted by Mr Brush

My most used router bits are probably a 50:50 mix of Carbitool and CMT....I have to say that the Carbitool are every bit as good as CMT, generally cheaper (unless you go to the trouble of buying CMT from overseas), and I've always had very good service buying online from AP Workshop.

Its no coincidence that Gifkin router bits are Carbitool.

Tom - I was checking out some of your videos on YouTube the other day; lots of very useful information there

Many thanks for your encouraging comments. I have been trying for years to make people aware of the fact that "You can get more from your router with the aid of template guides"

Heading off to townsville to visit Family and i have made arrangements to run a number of demonstrations on the use of the template guides with members of the forum in The Townsville district.
Tom

Fantastic help guys. Big thanks.

Are 1/2" better then 1/4"?

If you have a 1/2" router then 1/2" bits are definitely a better prospect.

½" bits have significantly more mass and are able to take more stress than ¼" bits. There are significantly more large bits with ½" shafts than ¼" ones. With more delicate cutters, even with ½" shafts, care needs to be taken with feed rate, or the cutter might fail - safety first!

I wrote a "Basic Routing Tips" page a while ago, which might help. It's here if you get the time.

Ray