Router advise needed

[Dalejones]

ok I have just bought my first router, It's a dw624 now I'm looking for some bits to start me off, can anyone recommend a good starter kit, I was going to get myself a worktop jig and some kitchen bits to get scribing work tops but I know there is so much more I can do! Thanks advise is welcome

 

[Adam9453]

Trend sell good starter kits which give you a nice selection of bits, great for just playing around.
You'll generally just buy the bits you need for a specific job and gradually build up your router bit arsenal

 

[Dalejones]

Thanks for the quick response, yer I have noticed trend are the top brand for bits, where is the best place to buy bits? Cheers

 

[mseries]

As Adam said, a Trend starter set will be OK. Not the cheapest you'll see but they are reasonably good - I have one of their 1/2" sets. You'll have some cutters that you may never user in anger but you will have plenty to learn with. When you have specific projects you'll probably need some specialised cutters. Re: worktop cutters, many cheap ones are just that cheap and not great. They'll do one project, that is half a dozen cuts or so before needing sharpening or replacing. Worktops are cruel on cutters. And remember, not all are suitable for plunging (deep morticing).

EDIT: for Trend, try trenddirect.co.uk or eBay. Trend Professional range are better than the craftpro ones but more expensive

 

[Phil Pascoe]

The Trend starter sets are good. Wealden are excellent to buy one at a time as you need them. Look at item No. 272077682872 on evilbay - a useful bearing guided cove cutter from Trend for £3 inc. p&p.

 

[custard]

It's all about what you intend to make. There's no such thing as a "set" of router bits in the way you can get "sets" of spanners or drill bits.

A full time kitchen fitter might buy double flute 1/2" cutters in packs of ten but would never need an espagnolette cutter. I get through template copy bits like they're going out of fashion and I'm happy to pay a lot more to get a tiny improvement in how clean the cut is, for someone else that's a waste of money.

Think projects first then tooling second.

Good luck!

 

[Cordy]

Got 6 oak boards the size of A4 paper by 12mm thick and need to reduce to about 7mm thick

Don't have a planer/thicknesser might try my HITACHI M12VE router

What would be a good router cutter to use ?

Also, is it possible to do it with router in table ?

 

[mseries]

Got 6 oak boards the size of A4 paper by 12mm thick and need to reduce to about 7mm thick

Don't have a planer/thicknesser might try my HITACHI M12VE router

What would be a good router cutter to use ?

Also, is it possible to do it with router in table ?

I would use my 1 1/4 mortice cutter and my route on skis for that. If you were to use a table you'd need to suspend the workpiece in a frame above the cutter and in use you'd not be able to see the cutter which is always less than ideal

 

[Cordy]

Thanks for reply mseries; do you mean something like
This

 

[mseries]

Thanks for reply mseries; do you mean something like
This

No, I use the 1 1/4" one from here http://www.cmtutensili.com/show_items.a ... ~7/8/901~2 this one actually 801.317.11 It doesn't need a depth of cut but wider cut is better, those specific morticing bits have different chip clearance for end milling, otherwise a straight cutter with end (plunge) cutting would work well enough.

 

[Adam9453]

Got 6 oak boards the size of A4 paper by 12mm thick and need to reduce to about 7mm thick

Don't have a planer/thicknesser might try my HITACHI M12VE router

What would be a good router cutter to use ?

Also, is it possible to do it with router in table ?

There's something to be said for trying to do as much yourself as possible but I would say in that instance, I would find someone local to you with a decent size planer thicknesser (and preferably a large drum sander) to thickness it for you for a reasonable sum of money. I would expect to end up with a better result and much more quickly.
If you do want to go the route of routing it yourself to thin it then you'll need to make yourself a nice sturdy jig and make sure the depth/height lock is solid with no play in it. Otherwise you'll spend an eternity flattening those little holes out afterwards!!

 

[Cordy]

Cheers Adam; no way can I ask for physical help with boards !

They started off at 25+mm but my ankles played up so had to stop for a while; I was using a hand plane

Need physio now for ankles which are improving
Just started to make a sled; designing as I go -- I'll make it robust

 

[williams1185]

i see your in swansea cns power tools are the local trend stockist

 

[Cordy]

Swansea: :lol:

Wigan; a small town in Lancashire
Although my heart is in Llandudno, would love to have a holiday pad there but sadly Mrs C doesn't share my fondness of North Wales

Only a beginner at woodwork, retired gardener
Made the jig and done a trial -- scraped down to 9.5 mm approx., decent finish
Will tune up and crash on tomorrow

Making place-mats with inlay using scroll-saw

 

[Woodmatt]

As phil.p says Wealden are good for quality and service but I really like the quality and selection from CMT as suggested by mseries

 

[Cordy]

Mseries;
Early this morning I ordered CMT 801.317.11 Mortising 0.5 inch shaft
from Amazon USA

Delivery 7th January
Cheers