Are these router bits any good?

[leapinlew]

On Amazon for around $50.

I'm a light user. I really only wanted the flush trim bits, but for a few bucks more I can get all 50 bits. I realize they aren't high quality, but am I in any kind of danger using these with my router?

I don't anticipate using many of the bits - just figured they'd be nice to have. Will they go bad even if I'm not using them?

[ScottS]

Is it better to have 50 crappy bits that will make crappy cuts and ruin your wood? Or a few high-quality bits that will cut well? That's the question you have to ask yourself...

[leapinlew]

Is it better to have 50 crappy bits that will make crappy cuts and ruin your wood? Or a few high-quality bits that will cut well? That's the question you have to ask yourself...

Thanks Scott - when phrased like that - the answer is obvious, but I was curious about these specific bits.

Are you saying these bits are no good? What do you look for when your looking at Router Bits to determine if they are any good? I believe it was you who said the bits from MLCS weren't the quality of bits you would prefer, but I think they've been pretty good. Would these be better or worse than those?

[NiteWalker]

There's a few things to look for when shopping for router bits; carbide thickness, ground quality on the carbide, quality of the brazing, etc. Also reputation is a good thing to follow too. I stick with whiteside because they are the best router bits made. Fine woodworking just did another test on a bunch of manufacturers and whiteside came out on top again (they were tested back in 1993 too with the same results). With free shipping, holbren has the best prices bar none on whiteside bits.

Other good quality bits include Bosch, Freud and CMT, but those you'll not find at whiteside prices often.

 

[ScottS]

Are you saying these bits are no good? What do you look for when your looking at Router Bits to determine if they are any good? I believe it was you who said the bits from MLCS weren't the quality of bits you would prefer, but I think they've been pretty good. Would these be better or worse than those?

I don't know anything about these specific bits. But the $1 per bit price makes me very suspicious... I'd wonder how much (if any!) carbide they had, how much runout, etc. I'd be surprised if you could pay for the carbide necessary to make a decent router for $1!

My experience with super-cheap bits like that is that they don't tend to cut very cleanly. As NiteWalker suggests, I tend to stay with Whiteside, Freud, and CMT.

[leapinlew]

Thanks for all the info.

I don't know enough about bits to know if I'm getting a good deal on good bits or a get what you pay for kind of deal on bad bits.

[RecklessAbandon]

do you guys in america use trend stuff much for routing?
http://www.trend-usa.com/

they're possibly the make you can get in england imo

[NiteWalker]

Trend is a very good brand for england. I think they sell that brand over here too. Good tools though.