Needs Pictures: 0
Picture(s) thanks: 0
Results 16 to 30 of 58
Thread: Which Router Bits Are Decent?
-
28th February 2021, 10:06 AM #16
-
28th February 2021 10:06 AM # ADSGoogle Adsense Advertisement
- Join Date
- Always
- Location
- Advertising world
- Age
- 2010
- Posts
- Many
-
28th February 2021, 10:21 AM #17
"Riverbuilder:
For something that’s spinning at 18,000 RPM, I like to have the best quality bitand as sharp as possible.
Dimar
Carbitool
Torquata
CMT orange.
Never had one let go in 40 plus years of using routers every day."
(sorry - quote function not working for me)
Yes, it's been playing on my mind that for safety reasons it may be best to spend the extra money on brands with proven quality.
-
1st March 2021, 03:25 PM #18
I have always had good experiences with tungsten carbide router bits, including Chinese el cheapos. Agree with Paul that occasional touch up with diamond feather file is refreshing.
Cannot say the same thing about High Speed Steel bits; some seem to be made from (very) mild steel.
-
2nd March 2021, 08:39 AM #19
I get all my bits from the US
MLCS Router Bits and Woodworking Products
Their range is huge (including accessories) and I've never had a problem with quality (most bits are made in Taiwan, I believe). Service is excellent and price is remarkable.
I've just made a purchase of a 1-1/2"flat bottom bit (US$17) plus a digital height gauge for use with the router table (US$26). Total value NZ$51.00
The only drawback is the shipping which for those two items brought the cost to NZ$99.00 so best to shop for a few items at a time.
Pete
- - - Updated - - -Last edited by woodhutt; 2nd March 2021 at 08:40 AM. Reason: Duplicate post
-
2nd March 2021, 09:29 AM #20GOLD MEMBER
- Join Date
- May 2011
- Location
- Albury
- Posts
- 3,034
-
2nd March 2021, 11:11 AM #21
-
2nd March 2021, 01:33 PM #22SENIOR MEMBER
- Join Date
- Apr 2005
- Location
- Warragul
- Age
- 68
- Posts
- 577
-
2nd March 2021, 07:56 PM #23
Yes, like I said, the shipping is horrendous!
Just checked out what I'd pay for the two items from Carbatec here in NZ. First, the nearest I could get to the bottom cleaning bit (not as large a cutting diameter) would cost me NZ$47. The digital height gauge (same model as far as I can see) NZ$49. Courier Post cost (Auckland to Wellington) NZ$12. Total cost NZ$108.
Compared to the MLCS cost of NZ$99. including shipping, plus the fact that I'd have to compromise on the bit size and style, the choice is a no-brainer.
Cheers
Pete
-
2nd March 2021, 09:18 PM #24GOLD MEMBER
- Join Date
- May 2011
- Location
- Albury
- Posts
- 3,034
-
5th March 2021, 07:35 AM #25
I took another look at the bits on Aliexpress and while the pricing is very attractive (about NZ$9.00 for the large diameter bottom cleaning bit), I'm still erring on the side of caution. These bits are very chunky with a massive head which I will be running about 15-16,000 rpm for the job in question (flattening boards in a jig). I don't have any experience of the Ali bits but I know the quality of those from MLCS and so feel safer and confident they'll do the job I want.
As I only ever buy bits individually to suit the job I need (I only ever once bought a boxed set when I first started routing and half of them have never been used) I think I'll stick with what I know despite the cost when it comes to the larger bits - especially the heavier patterns such as rail & stile. I will, however look at Ali when replacing some of my smaller bits when the time comes.
Thanks to all for the advice.
Pete
-
5th March 2021, 11:19 AM #26
You sound like me about five years ago, Pete. Aliexpress really is worth a try but a few things to bear in mind:
- the parent company is Alibaba,
- Alibaba and Aliexpress are the Chinese equivalent of ebay and amazon. They are the "shop front" for thousands of individual vendors; most good, some still learning, a few scams.
- Alibaba is the wholesale division, B2B, prices may be brilliant but minimum quantity rules apply. "How many container loads?"
- Aliexpress is the retail division, sometimes incredibly cheap, but you are dealing with individual suppliers of varying quality.
- English is a very foreign language to them. Keep things simple and be tolerant.
- China Post seems to be reliable, but very slow, sometimes extremely slow.
I went to buy some router bits about five years ago, selected the three that I wanted and found that the postage costs exceeded the product costs. I then added a few more bits, and a few more, until the postage rate jumped. So I bought about fifteen and the postage costs were moderate. The tungsten bits are good, the HSS ones were crap.
Chinese friend says that Chinese language version of Alibaba/Aliexpress is even more comprehensive. But key is to remember that they are all individual shops - just like ebay.
-
6th March 2021, 06:38 PM #27
I used to swear by Linbide bits. Made in New Zealand, a good range, and good quality (with decent sized chunks of carbide). But last time I went to buy some I found they have moved manufacturing to China - and I'm blowed if I'll willingly buy products from a country with the human rights ethics of pre-WW2 Nazi Germany.
So I need an alterative supplier now .
Cheers, Vann.Gatherer of rustyplanestools...
Proud member of the Wadkin Blockhead Club .
-
6th March 2021, 06:59 PM #28GOLD MEMBER
- Join Date
- May 2011
- Location
- Albury
- Posts
- 3,034
Wow, you're really in trouble if you're not willing to purchase ANY products made in China. You can probably start by throwing out your mobile phone and your computer.
There's always Carbitool to fall back on though, at least at the moment. Might be some Indian manufactured bits in your future.
-
6th March 2021, 09:38 PM #29
Yes it's quite difficult. My cellphone is a Samsung - which I assume is made in Korea (I didn't buy it so didn't research its source) otherwise my next one will have to be a Nokia (unless they're now manufactured in China too ). Even then many of the components will be made in China.
I did say I don't willingly purchase from China - sometimes there's just no choice (shows just how much they've got us by the short and curlies), not that I won't purchase from China. But I usually look for other sources first. Most of my portable power tools are old Makita or Hitachi, from the days when they were made in Japan (maybe they still are). And I've avoided handtools from China - with a very high success rate (it helps that I'm into vintage gear).
But as this is the routing forum, my old (semi-retired) Skill 297 router is made is USA, while my regular use router is a Makita 3620 which says "Makita Corporation, Japan" which doesn't guarantee it's actually made in Japan. And my big 1925 Wadkin overhead router (still under overhaul) is made in England.
ALL my portable router bits are Linbide, made in New Zealand, while the ones for the Wadkin are made in England.
Cheers, Vann.Gatherer of rustyplanestools...
Proud member of the Wadkin Blockhead Club .
-
7th March 2021, 09:55 AM #30
Another quick look at Aliexpress shows the makes of bits matching what I need are LaVie & JGZUI. A Google search could not tell me where these are manufactured.
I'm much of the same opinion as Vann when it comes to Chinese manufactured goods but my objection is more to do with quality and safety rather than any ethical concerns. Even brands manufactured in China under license and where you would expect the OEM to exercise some quality control in order to protect their reputation doesn't inspire confidence (think Fonterra, the NZ milk powder producer who opened a plant in China only to have the product deliberately contaminated in order to increase the volume).
A quick search for router bit reviews came up with this
🏅 10 Best Router Bits – [Reviews & Guide] - Updated Mar 2021
I was pleased to see MLCS rated well as a starter kit (if the OP is looking for a boxed set) and my own experience with their individual bits has always been positive. I guess it comes down to a choice between performance/safety and price.
Pete
Similar Threads
-
SOLD: Router Lift, Lge C/Iron Table, H/D Stand on Wheels, Triton Router + Loads Router Bits
By aarggh in forum WOODWORK - Tools & MachineryReplies: 16Last Post: 7th November 2020, 02:27 PM -
Advice on sourcing decent drill bits...
By Tccp123 in forum WOODWORK - GENERALReplies: 26Last Post: 21st August 2019, 10:44 AM -
A.C.T. Turning blanks, bits and decent stuff
By woodPixel in forum TIMBER SALES (and MILLING EQUIPMENT)Replies: 2Last Post: 4th July 2019, 04:51 PM -
Decent set of Holesaws and Forstner Bits
By Arry in forum WOODWORK - GENERALReplies: 6Last Post: 5th April 2013, 09:54 PM