1/2" or 12mm router bits ?

[vjeko balas]

Hi,
I came from Australia, have been in Germany and am now in Croatia.
I have a router with 1/2" collet and a 12 mm collet assembly and would
like to decide which collet assembly to use i.e. does it make more sense to
go with one or the other with regards to availability/price of router bits ?

Any recommendation on shops which sells to Europe where one can get good quality bits at reasonable prices ?

 

[JonnyD]

Hi vjeko 1/2inch is pretty much standard in UK. 12mm is available but not very common. For mail order you could try Wealden Tool Company or Axminster Power Tools for CMT or Perform cutters. I dont know if these companies supply to europe but both companies have good customer service so i would give them an e-mail or call to enquire.

http://www.wealdentool.com/

http://www.axminster.co.uk/category-Routing-206821.htm

Jon

 

[John. B]

I'd stick with 1/2" I think there is more choice.
Wealden for me, Their TCT cutters are as good as any quality manufacturer and cheaper than most. The majority of my cutters are from Wealden

John. B

 

[SVB]

OK - head above parapet time.

I regularly use 6mm bits in my 1/4" collet and have had no problems to date.

Whilst that is only 0.35mm oversize, the 1/2" collet would of course be 0.7mm oversize but I am not sure how much of a problem that would be.

Try gripping a 12mm drill bit if you have one in the 1/2" collet as a trial.

Obviously I would recommend caution as you build confidence with this arrangement but it may be worth a go?

BRgds

S

 

[JonnyD]

Athough it might work using the wrong diameter cutter in a collet is potentially very dangerous. The cutter wont be gripped as well as it should and could easily be ejected from the machine under load. I think the only advice here is to use the right diameter cutter in the right collet and avoid any potential for accidents.

jon

 

[sometimewoodworker]

OK - head above parapet time.

I regularly use 6mm bits in my 1/4" collet and have had no problems to date.

Whilst that is only 0.35mm oversize, the 1/2" collet would of course be 0.7mm oversize but I am not sure how much of a problem that would be.

Try gripping a 12mm drill bit if you have one in the 1/2" collet as a trial.

Obviously I would recommend caution as you build confidence with this arrangement but it may be worth a go?

BRgds

S

I have had exactly the opposite experance. I was not aware that the bits were 6mm and could not understand why I could not tighten the collets enough to stop the bits slipping. Now I know better.

And I will always use the correct collet size.

 

[Krysstel]

Wealdon supply 8mm, 12mm, 1/4" and 1/2" cutters and have no problem with shipping to anywhere in the world. I recently ordered both 8mm and 12mm from them and received a message back within an hour that they were despatched to me in Norway - although to date they havn't arrived over 1 week leater. Good prices and extremely cheap postage costs.

 

[John. B]

I think using using a wrong size bit-to-collet could be quite dangerous.
A bullet sized piece of metal coming adrift at 25 to 35,000 RPM would behave in a similar way to bullet sized piece of metal, if you get my drift.
8-[ 8-[ 8-[ 8-[

 

[Racers]

Hi, vjeko balas

If you have a 12mm collet try milling cutters, they are very cheap! slot drills can plunge into the work and rebate/slot cut and the leave a very good finish.


Pete