Alternatives To Wealden Router Cutters?
- Thread starter pollys13
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otter
Established Member
Axminster?
TBH, those prices don't look too bad. Cheapy cheapy cutters are probably not worth the aggro in my opinion.
TBH, those prices don't look too bad. Cheapy cheapy cutters are probably not worth the aggro in my opinion.
Phil Pascoe
Established Member
If Axi aren't on a special offer, they're probably more expensive than Wealden anyway.
RogerP
Established Member
Buy cheap, buy twice.
Doug B
Shy Tot
Just google "cheapest router bits" there are a few suppliers including tool station, screwfix,etc
Personally if I'm standing next to a bit spinning 24000 rpm I want to know it's top quality hence I'd opt for Titman though if you think Wealden are dear they aren't the manufacturer for you.
Personally if I'm standing next to a bit spinning 24000 rpm I want to know it's top quality hence I'd opt for Titman though if you think Wealden are dear they aren't the manufacturer for you.
MattRoberts
Established Member
Done the rounds on router bits, starting off with a cheap set, moving on to decent trend bits and now settling on Wealden. I believe that Wealden are really good quality, and not too expensive considering that they're going to last.
Phil Pascoe
Established Member
They started in 1983 - I think I bought my first one if not then then in 1984, and I've never had any problem with them.
All my bits come from Wealdon now apart from the odd occasion they dont have what i need - usually a bit to work with a specific jig such as the Trend adjustable lock jig.
quality has always been spot on and delivery is nice and quick.
Currently in the process of making all the skirting and architrave for my new house using a Wealdon bit and my OF1400 and CMS set up and apart from a few limitations of the CMS itself i have been really happy with the finish.
quality has always been spot on and delivery is nice and quick.
Currently in the process of making all the skirting and architrave for my new house using a Wealdon bit and my OF1400 and CMS set up and apart from a few limitations of the CMS itself i have been really happy with the finish.
OK thanks people so far. I wasn't thinking of cheapo Poundshop quality. I thought there might be other quality makes Trend for one. Who might be competitively priced.
I'm so mean with money you wouldn't believe
I'm so mean with money you wouldn't believe
just keep in mind these are finished profile cutters you are looking at and not bog standard 2 flute cutters as used for worktop jointing etc - you will want a nice finish i am sure so you kinda get what you pay for.
Eric The Viking
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Seriously - there's a theme going above.
Wait till you've spent ages prepping something, then ruined it with tearout or burn marks (or both), or worse, the actual cutter disintegrates in an "interesting" way.
For most of us, life is just too short.
For the others... there are always hollows and rounds
Seriously I have a colection of dangerous cutters I use to frighten people with - ones where there's a single bit of carbide, inserted in a notch at the top squiffily, others with no anti-kickback arrangements, some that are NOT 1/4" shank although they are supposed to be (go ahead wreck that collet!), I even once had one straight, twin-flute bend through about 30 degrees - 18,000 RPM produced good vibrations - not. I never did work that one out - it's not an easy effect to achieve.
Wealden are consistently very good, and Axminster are my second choice (but better than they used to be). You buy it, you know _exactly_ what you are getting, and if there are any problems they are helpful. And they stay nastily sharp for ages (DAMHIKT).
E.
Wait till you've spent ages prepping something, then ruined it with tearout or burn marks (or both), or worse, the actual cutter disintegrates in an "interesting" way.
For most of us, life is just too short.
For the others... there are always hollows and rounds
Seriously I have a colection of dangerous cutters I use to frighten people with - ones where there's a single bit of carbide, inserted in a notch at the top squiffily, others with no anti-kickback arrangements, some that are NOT 1/4" shank although they are supposed to be (go ahead wreck that collet!), I even once had one straight, twin-flute bend through about 30 degrees - 18,000 RPM produced good vibrations - not. I never did work that one out - it's not an easy effect to achieve.
Wealden are consistently very good, and Axminster are my second choice (but better than they used to be). You buy it, you know _exactly_ what you are getting, and if there are any problems they are helpful. And they stay nastily sharp for ages (DAMHIKT).
E.
Mike-W
Established Member
The other good thing i found recently about using Wealden, if you keep your cutters 'for ever' and you need to double check the cutter profile dimensions - chance is that it will still be on there website (with the same cutter number) so you have an on-line reference to that long forgotten "what did i buy this one for?"
The other useful thing is that you can continue get replacement parts for cutters as they get lost or ware out, e.g. bearings.
The other useful thing is that you can continue get replacement parts for cutters as they get lost or ware out, e.g. bearings.
YorkshireMartin
Established Member
Eric The Viking":571xchks said:Seriously - there's a theme going above.
Wait till you've spent ages prepping something, then ruined it with tearout or burn marks (or both), or worse, the actual cutter disintegrates in an "interesting" way.
For most of us, life is just too short.
For the others... there are always hollows and rounds
Seriously I have a colection of dangerous cutters I use to frighten people with - ones where there's a single bit of carbide, inserted in a notch at the top squiffily, others with no anti-kickback arrangements, some that are NOT 1/4" shank although they are supposed to be (go ahead wreck that collet!), I even once had one straight, twin-flute bend through about 30 degrees - 18,000 RPM produced good vibrations - not. I never did work that one out - it's not an easy effect to achieve.
Wealden are consistently very good, and Axminster are my second choice (but better than they used to be). You buy it, you know _exactly_ what you are getting, and if there are any problems they are helpful. And they stay nastily sharp for ages (DAMHIKT).
E.
Yep. A lesson I learned early on. Life is too short to worry about an extra tenner, especially when it comes to woodwork.
An alternative you could try is Whiteside, but I've been looking at some new cutters myself recently, and theres price parity across the Whiteside, Trend Pro and Wealdon ranges, or pretty much anyway. Due to whats been said on here, I'm strongly favouring Wealdon at the moment. It's also nice to support a UK company and I think you'll get free postage too.
I have a box of Wickes cutters, never used, sat behind me. From brand new, they are blunter than a very blunt thing at the ministry of blunting.
skipdiver
Established Member
Wealden all the way. I've got Trend and Axi router bits and they are good but if i want a new one, i'll go to the Wealden site and it will be there next day. I needed a bit about a month ago and Wealden were out of stock, so i got the Trend equivalent from Amazon. Took three days to arrive and it was £4 dearer than the Wealden one. I don't know if it's my imagination but Wealden ones seem to stay sharper longer.
Claud1
Established Member
why settle for second best just get Wealden
