Bauer 15pc Carbide Router Bit set.

[dbhost]

When I bought my Bauer trim router, I had very few 1/4 shank bits aside from my Rockler bits for the signmakers kit... Well I figured Harbor Freight has been upping their game, might as well take a shot at their Router bits...

I ordered the 15pc carbide router bit set, and it sat in the bench until this past weekend.

https://www.harborfreight.com/carbid...ece-59555.html

Decided to finally do something about my camper van bed platform, radiusing the corners and rounding the edges so that they can go in and out of the camper without thrashing everything...

I got less than 1 radius in when the flush trim bit threw the bearing off and bit into my jig...

Long story short. I was right to avoid Harbor Freight bits and blades years ago, and I should have stayed fast to that rule...

On the plus side, the 1/4 roundover bit did exactly what it was supposed to do without any rude surprises...

[LCHIEN]

did the bearing come unscrewed and fall off, or did something break - the screw or the bearing?

[dbhost]

The bearing apparently unscrewed itself and got lost. I was working on a folding table in the driveway. No clue where the bearing and screw could have shot off to...

[LCHIEN]

I see 10 bearings on 15 bits... better check them make sure they're tight or else lose the set.

router Bearing replacements are available as well as maintenance kits with screws and washers if the bit is not damaged. You can borrow a bearing off another bit if you trust the bits and bearings.

[Jim Frye]

I know it is after the fact, but given the high rpms involved, I have always checked any bearing it is when new. I use blue thread lock on the screw and torque it well and I lube the bearing every time with a teflon based oil. My stock of bits are from all sorts of sources from Whiteside all the way down to El Cheapos. No fails so far and some bits are 30 years old.

[leehljp]

I am not a good of a tool keeper that you are, but I do oil mine occasionally and at least every other year when I go through my bits one at a time. I don't always clean mine after using unless I am doing pine or some oily/sappy woods - and then I clean them and oil them. Sappy wood can lock a bearing up like it is glue if allowed to set up for a while.

[dbhost]

Wish I had done that... I did that with all my MLCS bits... I just jumped on the project and went at it. Oops...

[Jim Frye]

As Grandma said: The hurrier I go, The behinder I get.

[dbhost]

Jim Frye's Grandma was VERY right!

[dbhost]

I haven't taken the calipers to it yet, but just looking at it, the OD of the bit seems to pretty much be the same as the OD of the shank, so I am guessing I need a 1/4" bearing...

[dbhost]

Okay solved the problem entirely, sort of. Ordered a Freud bit to replace the Bauer... I am going to use this a LOT and figure I would be better served with a higher quality bit anyway...

Need to get this sorted soon. I need to get that countertop done and need this bit to radius the corners.