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Woodworking Tip - Routers rule!
DrewKaree:
--- Quote from: tcheat on July 30, 2005, 05:07:17 pm ---
I was able to make great circular saw cuts with it.
--- End quote ---
I'd have to say that's about all you'll be able to make with it, since it IS a circular saw. If you were able to make great router cuts with it, you'd be a god among men! ;D
That reminds me of the announcers saying "now that's a great golf shot". As if any other time, he's attempting a three pointer or kicking a field goal ::)
--- Quote from: MonitorGuru on July 30, 2005, 05:52:06 pm ---Router bits don't have to be expensive.
Check out Menards or Harbor Freight or Homier if you have them in your area.
At menards you can get, when on sale, a 6 piece straight bit router set for $4.99 ! Yes, they're CARBIDE not the crappy HSS ones. Unfortunately that set doesn't have any edge trimming ones.
But all 3 places, PLUS eBay have larger sets that cost between $1 and $2 per bit total that do have the trim bits that last just as long as the $15 a bit ones individually from Home Depot and Lowes.
On eBay I got a 50 piece bit set with 5 different sizes of edge trimming bits (length/diameters varied) for about $45 shipped. Plus all the other bits that I may use sometime.
--- End quote ---
For a better buy, shop at www.grizzly.com
The reason those are so cheap is that you'll never be able to resharpen them. The reason you want carbide is it holds its edge WAY longer than HSS, but you ALSO want to be able to have 'em resharpened when they finally DO lose their edge. There's also different "grades" of carbide, differences in finish, bearings, angle of cutting surface, etc.
There's MANY different reasons for the price of a bit (and its cutting edge) and price alone will never tell you the reason for the differences.
I'd take my CMT bits every day over the $5 Menards specials.
MonitorGuru:
The problem is most users here are relatively new to the routering scene and will likely break multiple bits until they get the hang of it.
Start with a cheap $5 6 piece set, try em out, then once you know what ones you use a lot of, spend extra and get the ones that are higher grade.
TimmyB:
Router question for all of you seasoned woodworkers. I am shopping for a router and have seen most recommend getting one that has a 1/2" collet, etc. What if you are only ever going to work on MDF? Just seems that any router would tear through MDF pretty easy, not like a hard wood. If all I wanted to do was make a cabinet, and a couple of shelving units out of MDF wouldn't a cheaper router suffuce?
DrewKaree:
The larger collet allows you to use bits that might not even be avaliable in the smaller shank size. The short and dirty answer is YES, a cheap router WILL suffice, but having a larger collet (or an adaptor to allow both sizes) will give you a wider range, potentially, in the future.
Let me put it this way. Let's say you buy the cheap router for (example's sake here) $50. NOW let's say 2 years down the road, you're digging your router, and you think of a use for it on a project, only to find out that they EITHER don't make the bit you'll require in that size shank, or they DO make it in that size, but due to the smaller shank, you end up breaking it, most likely in the middle of your most important cut on the last side that needs to be done. Now you've got to buy another bit, another piece of material, and I'd bet you dollars to donuts that the smaller shanked bit of the size you need will cost MORE than the larger shanked bit, AND your router will thank you when you aren't bogging it down with a larger bit than it SHOULD be powering.
YES, you can do it....and YES you should invest the few extra bucks to get a larger collet if at all possible. (so NO, don't do it....but it's your decision :D )
wintermute:
I try never to get 1/4 shank router bits if possible. Using the reducing collet is a hassle, but more importantly the 1/2" shank bits are much stiffer, especially when you use things like flush-trimming bits, you want that extra stiffness to give you a smooth cut (regardless of the hardness of your material). Having a collet that will accept 1/2" bits seems pretty much standard to me for any normal router. I wouldn't even look at a router that wouldn't take 1/2" bits. There are plenty that aren't super expensive but still good value. Check out Porter Cable 690, Hitachi M12VC, etc.. They are a little over $100. Just my opinion but I think you'll thank yourself in the long run.
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