Question on routers and bits....

[Bruce Weldy]

Buying a router and bits.....

Planning on the Bosch 1617 EVSPK. Comments?

What is the proper radius for a roundover bit in order the use the Small Chevron corners? The metal corners?

[jjohnson]

I used a 3/8" for the plastic edges and kept it shallow. You might look for a roundover bit kit with something like 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" - I found that the Ryobi kit at $20 was cheaper than a single high-end bit at $25+. Make sure you set it up and test it on a spare piece to see how well the edge of the corner piece meets the plywood edge.

[SeisTres]

i'm currently using the 3/8" roundover for all my cabs as this is what i could get on the cheap, but my first titans were done by my uncle with a 1/2" roundover which seems to be better for corners and just looks better IMO.

[Israel]

ryobi kit from hd works fine for hobbyists if you got the skills and money you can buy A grade bits

[Bruce Weldy]

ryobi kit from hd works fine for hobbyists if you got the skills and money you can buy A grade bits

Thanks. I own some Ryobi drills and circular saws. However, when it comes to routers - I'll be buying either Bosch or Porter Cable. I'll scrimp on the utility stuff, but when it comes to precision tools, I always step up for the better stuff.

But I do love my old Ryobi battery operated kits.....

[badgerman]

I scored a set of 8 bits for $1.99 + $5.99 shipping on ebay. Had a 1/2 round over I used on a amp I modified, worked well (all of the foul-ups were my fault). For $8, well worth it, especially when the brand name stuff is like $20/ea...

[Benj Ross]

I have the Bosch and I love it. I recently finishe a house and of the four of us three had the Bosch. Porter cables are nice but the Bosch takes it IMO. Super smooth great plunge base. Plenty of power.

As far as bits. I don't like to skimp on bits. I buy grizzly (purple) for rough stuff or if I think I might clip a brad nail. Amana or whiteside for the rest. Take care of them and they really last. Amazon usually has good enough prices that it doesn't hrt too much to get the bit I need. Honestly purple grizzly works good for most stuff but they are just not as sharp as the others. They hold the edge they do have though. If plywood is mostly what you deal with you could a step down from whiteside. I deal with everything from alder to zebrawood from time to time and some of that stuff is picky about what bits work.

Benj

[jjohnson]

All of my main router bits are Freud with the exception of my quarter-rounds. I wasn't willing to pay $75 for the three bits to experiment with on the corners I had to do. Maybe I'll get a better bit for the next build.

Beware of the harbor freight bits - I have broken three of the straight bits from their kits. Luckily they just dropped straight thru the cut I was making and didn't go spinning.

[LelandCrooks]

Freud quadra cut. Amazing bit, 4 cutters on a roundover. Slick smooth cut, never had it chip bb, which the duals will if you run the wrong direction.

I have a Bosch 3 hp plunge and it's an animal. I also have a Porter cable and a Craftsman. Don't remember the models, but I like the Craftsman better than the PC. The PC is a fixed base, the Craftsman is a fixed/plunge.

[DMueller]

Stick with the Bosch router. It will last forever. The Portercable, while also quality tends to be more difficult to adjust height. Too much slop in the base. The Bosch has little markings on the base showing 1/32" changes. So far as bits go, you get what you pay for. If you get "a great deal on Ebay for $1.99", you'd better buy 10. The carbide is softer and they don't last. Even the sharpening guys don't like messing with them. Bosch, Delta, and Freud are all great, but a little bit on the pricey side. Amana Tool, in my opinion has the best value. Just as good as the others and usually 75% of the cost. I've been in the cabinet business for 22 years and made the cheap bit mistake. Nothing sucks more than getting 3/4 of the way through a project and a chunk of carbide comes off of a bit, or it dulls so fast that it's smoking and burning the wood for your last 5 edges.

[Bruce Weldy]

Thanks everyone....

Just pulled the trigger on the Bosch. Should be here Tuesday. Now for some bits..

[bzb]

Before BF addiction, I used my router very infrequently. The cheap bits were fine. Post BF addiction, I've broken bearings off Ryobi bits, dulled the rest of the cheapos, and acquired a half dozen Freud bits.

[Ken Lustgarten]

You will be happy with the Bosch 1617, I have 3 of them 2 are kits and 1 is a D handle. It is great having interchangeable motors and bases. Saves a lot of time when you need to use several bits repeatedly. As for router bits I like Whiteside http://www.whitesiderouterbits.com You can view their products on the site but you will have to search on google for an online store that sells them. You will not find better router bits and they are less money then the top brands such as Freud.

[Bruce Weldy]

got the Bosch a couple of days ago. Already used it to make spacer rings with a homemade circle cutter jig. I think I'm really gonna' like it.

[LelandCrooks]

You will be happy with the Bosch 1617, I have 3 of them 2 are kits and 1 is a D handle. It is great having interchangeable motors and bases. Saves a lot of time when you need to use several bits repeatedly. As for router bits I like Whiteside http://www.whitesiderouterbits.com You can view their products on the site but you will have to search on google for an online store that sells them. You will not find better router bits and they are less money then the top brands such as Freud.

I came across those guys the other day. How do they compare with the freuds?