Router cutter quality issues

Handyman · 24 Oct 2004

Looking at router cutters, I have found varying prices for what are, apparently, very similar products. Trend cutters seem to be dearest, followed closely by Freud. On the other hand, I've just bought on of these http://www.routerbox.co.uk/detail.htm and they seem to be good quality and good value.

But do the Trend/Freud ones warrant their 5 times higher price? Do they use better grade T Carbide tips? Or are the tips brazed on to a higher standard? Are they better balanced? Are the cutting edges honed to a higher standard? Will a £20 Trend/Freud cutter last 10 times longer than the cutters in my set which average out at a 2 quid a piece? Or am I just paying £18 for the Trend name etched on the shank of a 2 quid cutter?

big-all · 24 Oct 2004

my advice to you is get a cheap 30piece set the argos set will do ok
or any cheap set you like the look of

http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/s...&langId=-1&searchTerms=7015555&go.x=9&go.y=10

use the bits as they wear out you can buy the decent ones
now you wont actualy use half of them you probably only realy use 5 or 6 cutters[out of 30 but this allows you to workout the cutters sutable to your needs

Jasonb · 24 Oct 2004

You may find this of interest:

http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/pages/w00045.asp

Although some of the makes are not available here quite a few are.

I tend to use Wealden and CMT bits, just buy the profile you require as and when.

http://www.wealdentool.com Price includes VAT & next day delivery

http://www.axminster.co.uk/category.asp?cat_id=207673

Jason

Handyman · 24 Oct 2004

Big-all, I've already got the Router Box selection for exactly the reasons you suggested. It's better, too, because the foamy lined box will accommodate different cutter sizes that those supplied (i.e. they're not contained in plastic cutouts like the Argos one), as I develop my preferred sizes (like a 21mm dia cutter for housing 6x1 PAR shelves).

JasonB, Interesting article. Wealden Tools is a good find. I might well contact them. However, I've just purchased a cutter from Data http://www.datapowertools.co.uk/acatalog/index.html

Dewy · 26 Oct 2004

2 weeks ago Aldi had routers at £16 as a weekly special.
Before they had them in they had some 12 piece TC boxed sets at £4.99 for a couple of weeks.
When the routers went on sale most of the bits had gone.
I bought a few sets.
They may be cheap and nasty but are OK to get you out of a hole if something happens to your decent cutters.
These sets came complete with two 1/2" to 1/4" collets and an allen key for the bearings.

JCGRAY · 1 Nov 2004

I bought a 15 piece set from Trend recently, great valu @ 24.95
look on the web site under Router Bit Sets
www.trendmachinery.co.uk

Handyman · 5 Nov 2004

I think I've found out why some router bits are cheaper than others. I've noticed that some of the cheaper brands (not all that I've tried, just some) tend to burn the wood and don't leave such a clean cut across the grain. I can only assume that cutting tip angles are less precise. May be they are brazed in less efficiently and at slightly the wrong angle, or simply less sharp, but one or two certainly don't cut as well as others of similar size bought from, say, Data.

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Router cutter quality issues

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