Router Bits

morpheus83uk · 4 Jan 2017

Hello,

I am wondering what sort of router bits people would recommend. I am starting out with a router and would need some bits. I am wondering people would recommend sets of bits and if so what sets would be people recommend?

I have seen these https://www.amazon.co.uk/Yonico-177...9883&sr=1-12&keywords=router+bit+set+1/2+inch which look like a fairly comprehensive starter kit but I am unsure as to their quality. I appreciate there are thousands of router bits out there and I can buy specific kits to do specific jobs such as tongue and grove and dado bits (as these were shown on a website I was looking on at the time). I am after something which is good quality lasting me a while as well as being fairly comprehensive so meeting most of the jobs I would be doing.

All suggestions are welcome about the bits mentioned and your own personal experiences with bits.

Thank You

James

XtraRaptor · 4 Jan 2017

What size of router and what sort of jobs are you hoping to do?

big-all · 4 Jan 2017

for the near £160 with postage on the set you linked to
toledo from rutlands when on special
http://www.rutlands.co.uk/sp+woodwo...utter-set-66-piece-x-1-2-shank-rutlands+tr303
'cutters from axminster
http://www.axminster.co.uk/accessories/power-tool-accessories/routing/router-cutters
wealdon tools
https://www.wealdentool.com/acatalog/Router_Cutters_1.html

and trend to name a few all dependant on quality and longevity required
http://www.trend-uk.com/en/UK/product/product_index.php?section=Router_Cutter_Ranges

foxhole · 4 Jan 2017

Personally think sets are a waste of time, you will use less than a handful and the rest will sit rusting in the shed, buy what you need for each job and buy quality.

morpheus83uk · 4 Jan 2017

Thank you both for your comments.

It's a half inch collet dewalt router and I will be doing some chamfering, rounding and grooving in some aspects as well as creating holes for things such as candle holders as the things at the moment.

I am lookng at something which will last a good while and will be a good variation of bits which will cover what I need and possibly more if required.

I hope that helps in some respect?

Thanks

James

Deleted member 174758 · 4 Jan 2017

As Foxhole says buy the cutters you need for the task at hand. If you buy a set there will always be cutters you don't use and the selection will inevitably influence what you do rather than you deciding (really, because it's only natural to want to get your money's worth out of that set, isn't it?). In addition Yonico aren't good value for money. I buy Trend, Freud and Wealden in the main - probably more Wealden than the rest because their service is excellent, their prices attractive (to me) and their quality whilst not in the Trend Professional or Titman league ir more than good enough for medium to heavy Trade use and miles better than many cheaper Chinese brands.

morpheus83uk · 4 Jan 2017

Thanks so essentially buy the bits I am going to be using.

If that's the case how do people store their bits?

I did look at the set which was linked above does that show which bit is which inside the case?

I was thinking a decent set so th eery could be easily stored and found when required is all.

Thanks

James

Deleted member 174758 · 4 Jan 2017

You could get some ideas here. Other firms do similar stuff. TBH A lot of my cutters (possibly 60 to 70%) are Wealdens and they always come in little individual green polythene boxed - so I stuff a bit of oiled cotton wool or rag in the bottom and leaave the cutters in in the boxes. It saves them from a lot of damage and re-oiling a couple of times a year with a few drops if 3-in-1 keeps them from going rusty, even in the van

chappers · 4 Jan 2017

I use lots of Wealden or trend too.
I agree on the set thing too, most will be profiles you won't need or in the wrong size.
At under £2 a pop they ain't going to be any good spend the money on some decent ones that you will use.

big-all · 5 Jan 2017

whilst i fully agree most will never see any use
for any one starting out with very little clue at to what they need a small cheap 15-30 bit set can let you practice and work out the profiles you may need then buy the decent ones as you go at £10 to £50 for a decent cutter its better to find on on the cheaper ones first

morpheus83uk · 5 Jan 2017

Ah right. I have an idea about what sort of cutters I will need to start based on what I am doing so:

Straight bits (again unsure of size)
Roundover bits (I am not sure on how big the roundover should be though)
Chamfer bits (22.5, 45 degree at the moment)
Guide bushes (a possible mix based on templates?)

So what would people recommend for the above? Is it better to buy a set of specific bits like a set of chamfer bits for example? Do these exist? Or is it better to buy individual bits?

Thank you for the link I will have a look around for something similar if individuals are the way to go in my situation.

Thanks

James

Gerrydelasel · 5 Jan 2017

I would suggest you get a very cheap set of bits and use them to learn with. Once they're knackered you can throw them away or use them for rough work, by which point you will have figured out what expensive bits you actually need.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-12PC-...hash=item51b7c1e336:m:mF7RH2AEedMSm8aLuONt5EA

(I have two sets of these, one that I use for rough, one that is newer that I use for cleaner cuts and harder wood. Once they start to dull I will buy yet another set, and so on. They're so cheap they're disposable.)

Chud · 5 Jan 2017

morpheus83uk said:
If that's the case how do people store their bits?

I inherited quite a few loose bits with a router I bought what I did was this:

Got a segmented hobby/craft container from home bargains (£2)

Got a short length of copper pipe and some of that rigid'ish foam that computers, electronics etc come in (not polystyrene - see pic below)
Cut the foam into pieces that fit sideways in the sections of the box, and in each piece of foam push and twist the copper pipe into the face of it twice to make two holes - each hole will take a 1/2" cutter and the foam stops them banging together.

Deleted member 174758 · 5 Jan 2017

Just to further confuse you, here's a photo of the end of the deWalt DW622 tool box (supplied with the tool) showing the tool storage facility of the box (the DW625 doesn't have this AFAIK):

deWalt DW622 Box Showing Cutter Storage 001 01.JPG

The box allows me to carry 6 each 1/2in shank, 8mm shank and 1/4in shank cutters with the router (plus the fence, rods, fine depth adjuster, two spare collets, 4 x guide bushes, one or two extra cutters in boxes, two wrenches and a screwdriver) - in theory - in reality it's nearer 6 to 8 cutters that can be accommodated without the carbide touching. And here below are a few of my Wealden cutters, almost all bought for specific tasks rather than for general use:

Those green poly boxes are actually quite durable and I'm happy with the level of protection they offer. Just as well considering the value of that lot

For templating the most useful sizes are something like 16 and 30mm (at least for a tradesman as those are the two sizes used on the vast majority of templates by Trend and their competitors) and a useful straight cutter might be 12mm diameter to go with these (again, same reason). TBH the average user doesn't need a huge selection of template guide bushes - those two will cover a lot of the requirements you'll have, at least until yopu've become more adept at using the router.

big-all · 5 Jan 2017

the wealden boxes are as j&k says are very light very sturdy clip together well
i often wrap 2 or 3cutter top to tail in kitchen roll in the same plastic box to save space not ideal but for a short day or two job works well

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Router Bits

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