Official Luthiers Forum!

Who does everyone like for router bits? I've been using MLCS but 'm not a big fan of their bits. They seem to go dull pretty quickly. I do a lot of solid bodies along with acoustics so I need high quality pattern bits along with the typical stuff we use for acoustics.

Do you also have favorite diamond stones for sharpening bits or would you send them off to be sharpened?

Thanks peeps.

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I have had the best luck with Freud, Amana, and Whiteside bits. I agree that the MLCS bits sometimes have issues. I have some of those diamond sanding paddles that I use to touch up bits with straight sides, but there comes a time when a bit just has to be replaced.

for "general" top bearing flush cut bits I find the Freud's available at HellDepot to be fine and lasting...for mortising though I use Amana bits available in 1/4", 1/2", 3/4" cutting lengths which give me a fair amount of versatility using 1/2" plywood patterns...for the real work (anything over 3/4" thick) 1/2" shanks are preferred...as noted Whiteside is also a fine producer of bits and for a pretty penny will custom make anything you can dream up.

I try to stick with Whiteside as much as possible. 1/2” shank.

And where is everyones favorite go to supplier? Does Whiteside sell direct or thru places like woodcraft?

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Hi David,
One thing you can try (assuming you ride the shaft of the bit on the pattern) is to use a 3/8ths single flute (1/2 inch shank) bit to hog off most of the material and then come back with a sharp 1/2 inch double flute bit to remove the remaining 1/16th inch of material. Single flutes cut faster and cooler and double flutes usually leave a better surface. I know that is not what you were asking about, but sometimes it is how we use the tool that makes it go dull quickly.
For touching up router bits I like to use small diamond files similar to these:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/254913999821?h ... R4aejZmFYg
Sometimes you can touch up the bit while it is still in the router.
I usually buy Amana bits if I am looking for something of decent quality that I will use frequently, but I will buy Chinese Yonico bits (as found on eBay, Home Depot, Precision bits) for profiles I may only have a special need or occasional use for. I don't know how well they hold up (because I don't use them that often) but they do a decent job and are reasonably priced. Whiteside seems to have the best reputation among most of the cabinetmakers I know, but weren't sold by the people I was buying from.
Sending bits out for resharpening is a mixed bag - if the guy is good you will get the bit back sharp without too much material removed and the profile reasonably intact. A poor sharpener will return a bit with half the carbide gone and a profile significantly different than the original. Usually you can get 3 sharpenings before the carbide is too thin - if the person knows what they are doing.

great info guys.

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Funny you should ask just now. StewMac just mailed a new Amana bit to me this morning. No questions asked, no fuss. I was getting prepared to have to argue, but no. These guys are the best at standing behind their warranty.


Pierre
Guitares Torvisse

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Pierre Castonguay

I clumsily dropped my Stewmac tape deck last month. It landed on its side and the shaft holding the spindles bent and would no longer turn freely. Completely my fault and in no way an issue with the product. I emailed Stewmac asking if they would sell me a new shaft for my deck.

They wrote back to say a whole new deck was in the mail. Turns out they sent it express - to Australia - and it arrived three days later. I doubt there’s a company anywhere that treats its customers better.

I clumsily dropped my Stewmac tape deck last month. It landed on its side and the shaft holding the spindles bent and would no longer turn freely. Completely my fault and in no way an issue with the product. I emailed Stewmac asking if they would sell me a new shaft for my deck.

They wrote back to say a whole new deck was in the mail. Turns out they sent it express - to Australia - and it arrived three days later. I doubt there’s a company anywhere that treats its customers better.

I recently had a great experience with https://bitsbits.com/

And a surprisingly good experience after rolling the dice on this flush trim bit from Banggood. It's very similar to Whiteside's "Ultimate Flush Trim" bit at a fraction of the cost. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I have to admit, it's exceptionally well made. For anyone else interested, I ordered the 12.7mm option. They indicated a long lead time, but it got to my door in about two weeks.

I recently got a Freud 3/8" flush cutting bit with 3 blades and it is wonderful!

I have really found the quality on the Whiteside bits to be excellent.

Also, I just stumbled onto this although, I haven't tried them-they look interesting...
https://radiantools.com/collections/rou ... s_bindings

I have used Freud and Whiteside pretty much exclusively for the last 20 yrs. Consistent high quality.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

I've been using Lee Valley bits for quite a while, and some Freud. Happy with both.

Brent

It seems all the recommendations I find suggest bits with top/bottom bearings for template routing, rather than standard bits along with router template-guides. I would think the latter has more vesatility and limits the number of bits you might need. Curious to know if you (anyone here) find them more effective or is it simply personal preference? Thanks for any input!

Todd—

To me, my preference for one or the other depends on what I am doing. If I am trying to rout to a specific depth, template guides and collars are better. If I am trying to duplicate a shape onto sheet stock, flush bearings are better. Either way, I strongly favor Whiteside bits with 1/2” shanks.

I just ordered some Ultra-Shear piloted bits but haven't received them yet. The manufacture Upcut, Down cut and compression cut bits of many configurations. Made in USA

https://www.woodpeck.com/routing/ultra- ... -bits.html

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Measure Twice,

Karl Borum

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000K ... UTF8&psc=1

I use this for all my binding channels. With various bearings from SM and others, I get channels from .055" to .250" in .010" increments. They cut cleanly and last well enough to keep me happy. (note that the photo on the Amazon page is just a generic bit, not the particular one that I get)