which router bit set for a weekend warrior?

[gychang]

I just bought a hitachi router set, and would like to get a basic router bit kits, which I will use for building a coffee table, speakers etc. what is the most cost effective solution for a weekend handyman?

thanks in advance.

gychang

[lcm1947]

I recommend buying bits as you need them but I'm sure lots of the guys will recommend a set. I just can't see buying bits you'll never need when you can buy exactly what you need for a project. Course saying that when you do need one you'll have to order ahead so that's kind of a bummer but that's the way I do it. So do you have a particular coffee table in mind? The reason I ask is I too am planning on building one but can't seem to find one I want so am searching and searching.

[SHADOWFOX]

Check out the bit sets from www.holbren.com, they have the Whiteside starter bit sets or you can check out the Holbren 35 Piece Multi-Profile Set 1/2" Shank.

[vaking]

In my opinion you want to start with reasonable size set (10-20bits) from good but not top of the line manufacturer. MLCS, Holbren, B&B offer such sets. A set like this will allow you to try things out, understand what bits do. As bits in a set wear out - replace with higher class. Set gives you ability to start with a price around $2 - $3 per bit rather than paying $15 for each bit individually. If you only use 1/3 of bits in a set - you are still ahead than buying single bits. Plus at the beginning you don't even know what bits you need until you try.

[LinuxRandal]

There was a magazine article recently (check your local library, don't remember the name), that had the 10 most needed bits. I bought a set, years ago from thewoodworkerschoice (no longer around), decent at the time, but I would probably reccomend against it now.
What have you done so far?
What types of projects are you looking at doing?

Those are the first two questions that I would ask, as they would have led me to a set of straight bits, a roundover, and a spiral bit and an ogee. Look for projects, and let them determine how complete of a set you need, is my view.

[Tom Hintz]

A while ago Infinity Tools came out with an 8-piece "Professional" set that I think is the best mix of useable bits that I have seen. All have 1/2"-diameter shafts, all are very high quality and all are commonly used in the woodworking shop. While I seldom like buying sets of anything, this Infinity set is the exception and makes a good base for someone to begin building the collection of bits that best fit their shop.
See the link below for my review of the set with more on the bits included.

http://www.newwoodworker.com/reviews...cbitsetrvu.htm

[Knottscott]

Holbren is a great supplier with excellent prices. As mentioned, he carries both value Asian imports with the Holbren bits, which are comparable to MLCS, Woodline, Woodcraft, Grizzly, etc., but he also has the highend US made Whitesides. The Whiteside 7 piece features the most commonly used profiles and is $79.20 shipped using the "woodnet10" discount code....a fantastic set for the price. You will use all of these profiles regularly, they'll perform flawlessly, and will hold an edge for a very long time.


http://www.holbren.com/home.php

[BigguyZ]

I personally don't know why whiteside and other companies are so much more $$ than the other off-brand bits. Frankly, I've used both and can't tell a difference. I've bought a few very cheap sets from HF and Tool Shop (Menards brand), and they've been good in a bind. But the bits I use on a constant basis are almost all from Woodbits.com. Their prices are great, $4 shipping on any order, and they have a lifetime guarantee. I get most of my single-bit buys from there- or Holbren now that I know of it. The 45 bit set that MLCS has on sale right now for $99 seems like a very good deal to me also. Even though I've used only 3 or 4 prifiles for the majority of my projects, I like the idea that I don't have any downtime should I decide that I want to incorporate another profile.

One thing- if you want to do mostly speakers right now, you really can survive with three bits: Flush trim, spiral, and the biggest roundover your router can hold and/or you feel safe to use!

[Ken Massingale]

gychang,
Woodcraft has 10 profiles on Sale again for $5 each, regularly up to $24 each. For $5 they are real good bits.
I like Holbren bits, too.
ken

[Knottscott]

I personally don't know why whiteside and other companies are so much more $$ than the other off-brand bits. Frankly, I've used both and can't tell a difference.

The Whitesides, Eagle America, Freud, Amana, CMT, etc. have better grade carbide, better shafts, better bearings, better brazing, often thicker carbide, and are honed to a sharper edge. Better bits are analogous to better saw blades...they perform better and last longer. I notice a difference even with brand new value bits, but that difference gets amplified after some use as the cheaper bits dull faster. Also, the better bits are worth sharpening.

[LarryG]

Better bits are analogous to better saw blades...they perform better and last longer.

+1 on all that Dustmight mentioned. Also, with bearing-guided bits, my experience has been that the less costly the bit, the greater the chance the bearings and the cutters won't be perfectly aligned.

I use my budget bits mostly for non-critical work: stuff for the shop, prototyping, and just plain ole foolin' around. I'll also use one when I need a profile that I use so little it wouldn't make economic sense to pay big money for a name brand (this, BTW, is one of the two main advantages of buying a mid-sized budget set to get started with, the other being that a set will allow you to experiment and figure out which profiles you like well enough to justify buying a better brand). For everything else, I use my Whitesides and CMTs.

[gychang]

In my opinion you want to start with reasonable size set (10-20bits) from good but not top of the line manufacturer. MLCS, Holbren, B&B offer such sets. A set like this will allow you to try things out, understand what bits do. As bits in a set wear out - replace with higher class. Set gives you ability to start with a price around $2 - $3 per bit rather than paying $15 for each bit individually. If you only use 1/3 of bits in a set - you are still ahead than buying single bits. Plus at the beginning you don't even know what bits you need until you try.

any particular set, ?web page?

thanks,

gychang

[gimpy]

I've got a set of 1/2 inch shank bits from Blade n Bits and a set of 1/4 inch shank from Holbren's. Both are a decent set of bits for the good price I paid. Now I will purchase only the exact bit that I need as I go along. One I am looking at is a 3/4 inch roundover bit. I will use one of the two companies that I mentioned to purchase it, more than likely.

Locally, I have seen the Freud (I think) 3/4 inch roundover, but for about twice the money.

Frank

[BigguyZ]

The Whitesides, Eagle America, Freud, Amana, CMT, etc. have better grade carbide, better shafts, better bearings, better brazing, often thicker carbide, and are honed to a sharper edge. Better bits are analogous to better saw blades...they perform better and last longer. I notice a difference even with brand new value bits, but that difference gets amplified after some use as the cheaper bits dull faster. Also, the better bits are worth sharpening.

I'll give you that on the REALLY cheap bits (HF and Tool Shop), but I really haven't noticed that on the Woodbits.com bits I've gotten. They seem just as substantial as teh Whiteside I own, and the bearings and everything have never failed or gone out of alignment. Maybe once I get better at WWing than I am now I'll see a difference. But for the weekend warrior, buying a $20 bit you can get for $5 does not seem preactical to me.

[Knottscott]

...But for the weekend warrior, buying a $20 bit you can get for $5 does not seem preactical to me.

The bargain hunter in me agrees with you, but that's where the Whiteside set at Holbren's price comes in...you can get those $20 bits for closer to $10. There's very few basic bits I'd spend $20 bucks on, but at $10 for something that performs better and stays sharp longer, they're actually pretty economical.