Ordering Router - suggestions for bits...

[dcarwin]

I am going to order the Porter 690 on Amazon. (so bummed I missed the free sander)

Can you guys please tell me which bits to grab while I am there? Going to be making mounting rings for a start, then looking to making a sub encl.

Also interested in bits I might need around the house for general purpose home repair.

Thanks,
Dan

[SublimeZ]

I am going to order the Porter 690 on Amazon. (so bummed I missed the free sander)

Can you guys please tell me which bits to grab while I am there? Going to be making mounting rings for a start, then looking to making a sub encl.

Also interested in bits I might need around the house for general purpose home repair.

Thanks,
Dan

Go to Harbor Freight or BigLots and get one of their sets.(~$50) They wont last long, but you can do small projects and learn which you will use most. Learn with the cheap, replace with better as needed.

[unpredictableacts]

http://www.routerbits.com/

[dcarwin]

Harbor Freight Set (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=90596)

OK looking at that one then. (also might check biglots here in sf)

Thanks,
Dan

EDIT - before I leave Amazon though - are any of these as good or better as a starter set?

Fifty bits Fifty bucks (http://www.amazon.com/Shank-Tungsten-Carbide-Router-Bits/dp/B000X2HWHY/ref=pd_bbs_sr_5?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1203822180&sr=8-5)
Twenty four bits Fourty bucks (http://www.amazon.com/Yukon-Tool-YTRB24-24-Piece-Router/dp/B00006F702/ref=pd_bbs_sr_8?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1203822180&sr=8-8)
24 bits 26 bucks (http://www.amazon.com/Multi-Purpose-24-Piece-Router-Bit-Set/dp/B000X47YDE/ref=sr_1_24?ie=UTF8&s=industrial&qid=1203822238&sr=8-24)

[SublimeZ]

Prolly all close in quality. You will burn and break them, but you will learn without screwing up a high $$ bit.

[Mr Marv]

The money you save on "cheap" bits will come in handy at the emergency room. :(

[AzGrower]

DO NOT skimp out on the router bits. These are the single most important part of the entire equation. Go to routerbits.com like suggested and order the following bits

spiral upcut bit
rabetting bit
flush trim bit (or a template bit, basically the same thing).

Their prices are very reasonable and the feature Whiteside bits, which are awesome!

[WrenchGuy]

DO NOT skimp out on the router bits. These are the single most important part of the entire equation. Go to routerbits.com like suggested and order the following bits

spiral upcut bit
rabetting bit
flush trim bit (or a template bit, basically the same thing).

Their prices are very reasonable and the feature Whiteside bits, which are awesome!

x2 For sure! For the little rings I use a palm router easier to work with on small stuff and less bulky. I pull out the 2 horse for big circles and long edges.

[OldOneEye]

The money you save on "cheap" bits will come in handy at the emergency room. :(

I was about to say the only thing more dangerous than a sharp knife.... is a dull one.

Juan

[MiniVanMan]

The money you save on "cheap" bits will come in handy at the emergency room. :(

He's not kidding. Especially if you plan on routing MDF. MDF will smoke a router bit in a heartbeat. It's one of the hardest materials on a router bit, next to concrete. You definitely don't want a cheap bit snapping because it gets too hot.

[Lsmkenpo]

I second the Whiteside bits, good quality bits, at reasonable prices you can't beat them.

[bretti_kivi]

I just lost my second flush trim bit in 2 months - it survived 3 boxes. It was from a cheap set.
I now have a real one (i picked up at christmas) and i have to agree that the cheap bits don't make sense.

Ah yes. with routing: don't even think about doing it without safety goggles. gloves and preferably a mask too, unless you're working outside. Practice is also essential.

Bret

[OldOneEye]

I used to work at a shop that fabricated with acrylic, lexan and phenolic (sort of like the stuff you use on a circuit board). I was a fabrication assistant, and we never had a router bit break. I would help router stuff that was 1.5" thick, and that would put such pressure on the routers we had the bearings and the shafts give out from the stress. But never had a bit give out the whole time I was there (My buddy was the fabricator, then another shop bought him out then went to work there.

[thehatedguy]

I have been preaching Whiteside bits for years now...do yourself a favor and get good bits like the Whitesides from routerbits.com.

Amana from carbide.com are good bits too.

Guys, cheap bits use cheap carbide on the cutting surface, and it is much thinner than good bits. And the cheap bits use cheaper steel in the bits too. I dunno about you, but when I'm using a router that is spinning a bit at 20k RPM, I would take the good stuff...especially since it only costs a few bucks more.

And not to mention, the good bits last MUCH longer than the cheap ones.

[GlasSman]

Don't buy cheap router bits.

Stick to Amana, Whiteside and DML.

Heres link to a guy that sells DML 1/4" solid carbide upspiral bits which will be an often used bit.

http://cgi.ebay.com/DML-x-x-2-Carbide-Spiral-Upcut-Router-Bit_W0QQitemZ230214149992QQihZ013QQcategoryZ50386Q QtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l1262

Well worth it when you order 3 or 4 bits. The Amana solid bits I usually use are $28 at a local shop that has very limited hours. With this guy I can get 3 shipped for around $33.

[GlasSman]

I have been preaching Whiteside bits for years now...do yourself a favor and get good bits like the Whitesides from routerbits.com.

Amana from carbide.com are good bits too.

Guys, cheap bits use cheap carbide on the cutting surface, and it is much thinner than good bits. And the cheap bits use cheaper steel in the bits too. I dunno about you, but when I'm using a router that is spinning a bit at 20k RPM, I would take the good stuff...especially since it only costs a few bucks more.

And not to mention, the good bits last MUCH longer than the cheap ones.

Yep...try and resharpen a Freud bit. Out of the box they cut nice since the edge is thinner....but they wear out quicker and you can't resharpen them.

[OldOneEye]

I think I would buy a cheaper router over cheaper bits. One will probably show through on the work more than the other.

Juan

[GlasSman]

I think I would buy a cheaper router over cheaper bits. One will probably show through on the work more than the other.

Juan

Ha...I remember the first router I bought along with my best friend....we went halves.

It was a Craftsman for around $55 back in 1993ish. After doinf a few roundovers and Bullnoses on some shelves for about 1 HR...the thing just shattered internally. Lucky I didn't lose an eye.:o

[OldOneEye]

Ha...I remember the first router I bought along with my best friend....we went halves.

It was a Craftsman for around $55 back in 1993ish. After doinf a few roundovers and Bullnoses on some shelves for about 1 HR...the thing just shattered internally. Lucky I didn't lose an eye.:o

I can't remember the last time a power tool failed like that on me. Burned out? Sure, fail? Never. Even the harbor freight stuff.

Juan

[piston]

bearings are important as well. On a lot of the cheap stuff the bearing can just fall apart.

I guess you would have to ask yourself if buying a router and a bunch of bits is what you need if you are only going to use it once or twice.

I use my router almost everyday so I bought more expensive bits and will last, and cut the way I want every time, now I just need a better router table.

Jason

[dcarwin]

Thanks to all of you. Looks like even thought the router acccepts both 1/4 and 1/2 inch shank bits, the suggestion is to get 1/4 bits?

(about to pull the trigger)

Thanks,
Dan

[OldOneEye]

Thanks to all of you. Looks like even thought the router acccepts both 1/4 and 1/2 inch shank bits, the suggestion is to get 1/4 bits?

(about to pull the trigger)

Thanks,
Dan

Thought the thicker bits are better, but pricier. Depends on what you are going to router. I've routered phenolic that was 1.5" thick and a 1/4 inch bit didn't cut it (and you have enough leverage to bend it so a vertical flush cut really wasn't 100% vertical).

Juan

[thehatedguy]

Only 1/4" bit I would be buying are the spiral up cut bits. The rest should be 1/2."

[minitruck_freq]

I have been preaching Whiteside bits for years





i bought some Whiteside bits a few years ago when Jason was preaching about them on ECA. good stuff. ;)

[dcarwin]

Update: I think I am going to get this Craftsman router, because as I understand it I kind of have to have a plunge setup in order to cut rings and other grooves easily.

Linky (http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00917543000P?keyword=0917543&sLevel=0)

It also has variable speed. Hope it works out, had good luck so far in life with Craftsman.

I ordered 3 DML upcut bits from the ebay guy. (thanks Glassman).

I also have a rabbeting set (http://www.routerbits.com/cgi-routerbits/sr.cgi?1204061704_32531+26) and a 501 roundover set (http://www.routerbits.com/cgi-routerbits/sr.cgi?1204061704_32531+28) in the basket at routerbits.co but I am having trouble swallowing the cost. Also need to select a template bit, (http://www.routerbits.com/cgi-routerbits/sr.cgi?1204061704_32531+47) thinking number 3002.

-Dan

[a$$hole]

Maybe send MrMarv a pm to see what he thinks ? ;)

Nice [ Deep Multi Rabbet Set ],[ Whiteside Roundover Set Boxed Set 1/2" Shank ].

[dcarwin]

I want to give everyone a final thanks, boost my post count, and to update that I bought a Hitachi combo router from toolbarn.com: (http://www.toolbarn.com/product/hitachi/KM12VC/) 99 plus 9 shipping.

I also have this book in my cart at Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0762108002/). Might as well learn to use the thing. Helps with spousal approval.

Dan

[GlasSman]

I want to give everyone a final thanks, boost my post count, and to update that I bought a Hitachi combo router from toolbarn.com: (http://www.toolbarn.com/product/hitachi/KM12VC/) 99 plus 9 shipping.

I also have this book in my cart at Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0762108002/). Might as well learn to use the thing. Helps with spousal approval.

Dan

Good choice. Thats a nice set and at a VERY good price. I was trying to win one on Ebay around Christmas but after the first few that I missed they were going for well over $100. Some people got that router set for LESS than $100 SHIPPED.


And you can do rings without plunge. I do a few dozen every week and I've NEVER used the plunge for rings. I adjust the height for every pass.

It's worked well for me.....and and have all my fingers.;)