Official Luthiers Forum!

Anybody know a place to get these at a reasonable price?......or do they really go for around $18 a piece?

Thanks,

Doug

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Guitars...One's too many...Twenty is not enough.

$18???

I just paid $23+ for a solid carbide one from LMI. Did I pay too much?

Stevesfbrown38778.9401273148

Nope... not too much. These little guys aren't cheap, but (if only used on clean wood) should last for years.
I have two, & use one only for rosettes.
I've been told that the HSS (?) steel ones dull in time, but are less expensive & do a better job when they are sharp.

http://www.ridgecarbidetool.com/html/spiral_shearface.htm

   I ordered from them before. Super expedient service. Quality parts at reasonable prices. If they don't have what you want, you can always custom order. Shipping was a killer in Canada though. (stupid brokerage fees... ).

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I'd like to be able to prove, just for once, that money wouldn't make me happy...

A (lengthy) search of" carbide end mills" in a search engine will result in many options and prices. I've tried several companies , but seem to average the price you quote.
good luck!

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Paul Bordeaux
http://www.bordeauxinlay.com

I use them as well, from Stew Mac.
The 1/32 break quick on me, so I go through them fast. I never searched for an alternative source. That price does seem right though.
Craig L.

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www.handcraftinlay.com

alain and others in the frozen north

noted the comment on brokerage fees in the current thread on router bits.

i don't know if it will help, but going this way, i.e. can to us, if my suppliers ship through canada post i am not hit with fees, but by ups , etc. they are brutal. needless to say since i discovered this i now instruct suppliers to ship via canada post.

you might want to check if it would operate the same going from the us to can.

Take a look here. I have used them and they work fine.
http://www.endmilldiscount.com/end-mill/micro-tool/pmt-tr-2. htm

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Beautiful and unusual tone woods at a reasonable price.
http://www.rctonewoods.com/RCT_Store
The Zootman
1109 Military Rd.
Kenmore, NY 14217
(716) 874-1498

Thanks for the thought Michael, i'll check if it can work that way.

Bobc, are those downcut end mills (I couldn’t tell from the site)?

I use up-cut end mills from Drill Bit City for fretboard and headstock inlay. http://www.drillbitcity.com/

I typically buy them in packs of 10 in the sizes and prices shown below.

Qty     Part No       Name    ;  Price
1     307-R10EM0360  10pc Resharpened, #64(.0360), End Mills, 3 flute     $12.95
1     314-R10EM0625   10pc Resharpened 1/16     $12.95
1     315-R10EM0938   10pc Resharpened 3/32     $12.95

I wouldn’t recommend using these for cutting rosette channels as the upcut can leave a real fuzzy edge on spruce. Downcut are better for inlay but for the price I'll take the minor inconvenience of having to clean a little fuzz.
Anthony Z38779.4031944444

Anthony if I have this correct Right Hand cut would be down cut. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

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Beautiful and unusual tone woods at a reasonable price.
http://www.rctonewoods.com/RCT_Store
The Zootman
1109 Military Rd.
Kenmore, NY 14217
(716) 874-1498

[QUOTE=Bobc] Anthony if I have this correct Right Hand cut would be down cut. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong. [/QUOTE]

Of course right hand -- duh -- me! Thanks Bob -- those are pretty darn good prices...

Yup,

UPS Sucks into Canada. I use USPS whenever I can. It works the same as Canada Post does into the US.

Shane

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Canada

I get the double-ended carbide spiral end mills from jlindustrial. The 1/16" Hertel is SCM76062E and 1/32" is SCM76031L. The other big industrial (metalworkers) supply houses like MSC and ENCO also have them. They have "import" ones too but the name brand are under $10 so I haven't tried them. If you're in a hurry they don't charge extra for overnight in the US. I get my fret slot cutting bits (Micro100 brand) from them too.

   As a machinist I use upward and doward spirals all the time. To be honest I never use them in my pearl work. The chips are forced downward and if you don't have a cleared hole the chips will interfer and build heatand block the chips from clearing properly.
   Yes I know some of you swear by them and go ahead use them if you think they are great I won't change your mind . Most trouble comes from the wrong grind not the direction. A good bit will do the job well and cut clean and cooler and last longer    My 2 cents.
Dremel bits just ain't worth the trouble for inlay. Get good bits. MSC and ENCO are 2 great sources along with a few others mentioned

Dremel bits just ain't worth the trouble for inlay. Get good bits. MSC and ENCO are 2 great sources along with a few others mentioned

Do these MSC and Enco bits fit a Dremel?

Mike
White Oak, Texas

John, I am not sure I follow your post, what are you suggesting folks use -- up cuts or a fluted bit?

I use bits from MSC and Micro Grind. The are a 2 flute spiral cut designed for high speed applications. Most of these are designed for Metal and the 2 flutes will do the trick.
john hall