How long do router bits last?

[Markbon]

Hello. I'm thinking of making the skirting and archtrave myself out of mdf. Can anyone tell me how long the bits are likely to last. I've seen some from a company called axminster and I,ve got about 100 metres of both to do.

Many thanks

 

[wotan]

Carbide tip router blades should last longer than HHS, but they are more expensive.

Wotan

 

[Markbon]

Thanks. I will get carbon, I reckon trying to guess how many metres a bit can last is a bit like asking how long is a piece of string. Im just hoping one bit will do the job (about 200 metres)

Also does anyone know a good seller. I've seen some I like the look of both torus and ogee but it doesn't say if they are suitable for skirting.

 

[DAZB]

If you plough through trying to take a deep pass at once it will blunt your cutters much quicker than taking several shallow passes.

 

[Markbon]

Yeah I must admit I probably would have tried to do it in one go

 

[foxhole]

Cheaper to buy the mdf already prepared and undercoated, and a lot lot quicker.

 

[big-all]

router cutter £40 router £150-300 table £100-200 call it £400

 

[Markbon]

These are my calculations.- I actually need about 60 metres of both skirting and architrave. Travis perkins want £3.10 for skirt and £2.75nfor architrave. so £351. But if I rip a sheet of mdf its 85 and 43p a metre so thats £76. I'll have to buy a router I got a table but its cheap so I better have a test. But Id still have the router so its a toss up between the two as its gonna take a lot longer.

 

[Monkeh]

I'd just buy the skirting. It'll come in longer lengths, pre-primed, and will save you hours of mucking about.

 

[big-all]

you need a half inch router
a specialist cutter for skirting / architraves not the general one with the roller bearing

ovolo bullnose chamfered is the style off cutter there are several different ones and sizes available
you need a big cutter for arcas/skirts

http://www.trend-uk.com/en/UK/productsubgroup1/69/Edge_Moulding.html
sometimes you need 2 or3 different router cutters to make a single moulding

 

[Markbon]

Thanks for the link. Some nice looking ones in there. Best part of a hundred pounds but the main worry is when it turns up it might not be what i was expecting. (this carpenrty lark is a headache, im a bricklayer all you have to do is stick one on top of another ).

 

[foxhole]

Travis perkin? you must be rich, SELCO do ready primed skirting for less than £7 per 4.2m length.Architrave is cheaper still.

 

[Markbon]

Now you're talking. We haven't got a selco round here so I wouldnt have thought of them. But I could pick some up when im in Croydon soon. Worth thinking about anyway.