Official Luthiers Forum!

i just bought a bosh colt router, but all this is new turf for yours truly (possible TAS here ). could you advise me which router bits should be first on my shopping list? the list seems endless...

first thing i´m thinking of using it for is building some plywood moulds, so i guess some flush trim cutters would be in order?

thanks in advance,
miguel.

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what you want for molds is a pattern bit...it has the bearing on top of the bit as opposed to the end of the bit...

since you are going to be using your laminate trimmer which has a 1/4" collet you will DEFINITELY want to cut close to your desired final shape with a jigsaw or bandsaw (like within at maximum 1/8" from final shape)..why?, because even with taking off little bits of material you will still be subject to getting some chatter caused by the bit vibrating on its 1/4" shaft and also of course it is far less of a load on your router to be taking off 1/8" of material as opposed to having material on both sides of the bit...

whiteside bits are damned good I won't argue that, but I've found the mid priced (as compared to both cheaper and more expensive bits) porter cable bits to be quite acceptable...

Hey, thanks for the replies! Mike, thanks for the tip on using a bandsaw first... that´s the way i´m gonna do it.
Filippo, it´s a bit tough trying to be a luthier here in Portugal... all fine tools sellers have closed doors many moons ago and we seem to have only the run-of-the-mill, average-at-best hardware department store. the premium brand they sell seem to be wolfcraft. I tend to fill my tool-needs on-line, and i think i´ll have access to CMT bits through axminster, i´ll check that out. as for ordering them from the US, as of late my overseas orders have always been held in customs, and i´m a bit put back by all the money/time/bureaucracy it implies.. too bad.

thanks again,
Miguel.

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Someone heard of the "Klein" brand, it´sold by dieter schmid: http://www.fine-tools.com/fraeser.html ?

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member of the guild of professional dilettantes

In Europe, it is always worth while checking out the router bits offered by Wealden Tools (google) , whose quality (and customer service) is second to none, and whose prices in my experience are extremely reasonable.

I've been very pleasantly surprised by MLCS' "Katana" line.

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I have used some CMT products and they are quality, but most of my router bits are Amana.

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thanks again!

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member of the guild of professional dilettantes