Beginner router kit

[Croolis]

I've bought Bosch plunge router 'cos I want to practise mortising.

I've bought a Makita trim router because I want to mount it into router table (cheers fella ) .

Both 1/4" (with 6mm and 8mm collet on plunge router at least, unsure of trim router 'cos not delivered yet).

I'll be getting separately a 2 flute upcut bit for the mortising.

But what about this? Worth it do you think for an absolute beginner?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Trend-SET-...088-a70c-897e318f1444&pd_rd_i=B004ZRMO30&th=1

Thanks for help .

 

[robgul]

The problem with "sets" is that you'll get quite a few cutters that you'll never use - better to work out what you might need and buy individual ones [Tip: Trend has an ebay shop's that's usually cheaper than their online store]

 

[Rhossydd]

Worth it do you think for an absolute beginner?

Generally sets are a bit of a waste of money as you'll buy cutters you'll never end up using. However for that price, £22, it's probably worth it. There's probably 4 or 5 cutters there you'll find useful in the long term, so a decent saving over buying individually.
Trend used to be a well regarded make, but at this price you're probably getting 'Made in China' cheap and cheerful cutters which should be OK for occasional use.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

If you don't use a few cutters, so what at that price? I have the Trend 1/4" and 1/2" sets (35 years for the 1/2", and I have an untouched replacement set - it's cheaper than getting them sharpened) - I can't fault them for value. All my heavily used stuff is Wealden bought as needed, but the sets are a good start. Incidentally, the thickness of the cutters is exactly the same from the new to the old.

 

[Blackswanwood]

I concur with Phil at that price.

 

[TRITON]

Generally sets are a bit of a waste of money as you'll buy cutters you'll never end up using. However for that price, £22, it's probably worth it. There's probably 4 or 5 cutters there you'll find useful in the long term, so a decent saving over buying individually.
Trend used to be a well regarded make, but at this price you're probably getting 'Made in China' cheap and cheerful cutters which should be OK for occasional use.

I'l disagree here and say small sets are a good start, and theres always the chance you need something obscure. Plus if you do need something obscure its nice to have it and be ready to go rather than have to wait a week for something to arrive.

Trent green(hobby) make a good range and you can get things like finger jointer at a fraction of the cost of pro stuff. Chances are youre only going to use it a few times and why spend 100 quid plus on some pro cutter for that

Bearing guided template cutters are good to have in both long and short format, as well as rebate cutters - but make sure you got a set with a range of bearings

The corner mitre lock is also a good cutter, and very handy. Stile and rail cutters are good for things like kitchen doors, but like the corner mitre lock, the stile/rail needs very careful setting up, and always check for each door so it hasnt moved

Oh, and big cutters are best in 1/2" as the thin shank on a 1/4" with a big body can vibrate its way out the collet a bit. 1/2" is really sturdy, so maybe keep small moulding cutters at 1/4 and the bigger ones are 1/2
As ever small cuts and multiple passes are considerably better than attempting the whole cut in a single pass. In a final pass, only cutting a fraction of a mm with cut very quickly and very easily as is good to remove any burn marks

Ebay 2nd hand is a good place to buy from.

 

[johnnyb]

I've found those trend sets amazing value. There decent quality. Tooling and jigs are the key things that make a router so so versatile.(you can often make the jigs yourself but the tooling has to be brought. The only cheaper way is used imho.

 

[Croolis]

Trent green(hobby) make a good range and you can get things like finger jointer at a fraction of the cost of pro stuff. Chances are youre only going to use it a few times and why spend 100 quid plus on some pro cutter for that

That's Trend, right? When I google Trent Green I get NFL player

 

[Fitzroy]

Looks like a great deal, and a pretty cheap way to get started in 'routering'.

 

[Croolis]

OK, ordered the set.

Can anyone advise on the spiral upcut bit that I want to use for mortising? We've discussed in the other thread how 1/4 inch isn't ideal, but it's what I have.

I want to do mortising on larger joints like table legs but also (one day) nicer thin cabinet.

I guess two different bits would be required for length purposes.

But what brands and appropriate lengths fo rthese purposes do you recommend, just to get me going? I'd hate to buy one and find it's too short for purpose. Plunge router is yer entry level Bosch Green 1200 AE .

 

[deema]

Here you go, perfect, really easy to use, no practice required
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/16703363...1DT0ITXWE9_xJ3-uKIYaAl50EALw_wcB&gad_source=1

The gear it comes with is worth about asking price!

 

[Croolis]

Cool

Here you go, perfect, really easy to use, no practice required
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/16703363...1DT0ITXWE9_xJ3-uKIYaAl50EALw_wcB&gad_source=1

The gear it comes with is worth about asking price!

Cool . All I need now is to rip up my shed floor and add some RSJ .

Would be lovely. Any sort of stand drill would be lovely .

 

[deema]

Well, if you can stand in the floor, the Morticer will happily stand on it too. No need for RSJ IMO

 

[Croolis]

Yeah I'm kidding (I guess, I don't know how much it weighs). It's more of a space thing. 10x8 foot, plus a need to give a bit of it over to actual shed storage don't give much much leeway.

 

[Croolis]

When I look at this page, all the 1/4 inch bits they offer are 50mm long. Is this some kind of standard. I'm at work so I can't check, but when I look at the online manual for the Bosch it actually doesn't say what length bit is recommended.

I mean, if I want to do some deep mortising, then presumably I want the longest bit that the router can handle. At work so can't check.

 

[Diver Fred]

At that price the set is good value. Larger sets you are unlikely to ever use every cutter in the set. You will find that a 'Top' bearing cutter will be a useful purchase that is not included in the set - a 1/2x1/2inch is a good starting point. The Trend 'Craft Pro" cutters are good value and you can build your range of cutters slowly and as you need them.

The plunge router you have will do most work you ask it to but you should make multiple cuts on deep/large work to ease the load. Also don't force it especially with long bits.

 

[Croolis]

When I look at this page, all the 1/4 inch bits they offer are 50mm long. Is this some kind of standard. I'm at work so I can't check, but when I look at the online manual for the Bosch it actually doesn't say what length bit is recommended.

I mean, if I want to do some deep mortising, then presumably I want the longest bit that the router can handle. At work so can't check.

Dammit, I didn't actually put the link to what I was asking about. Again:

https://www.rutlands.com/products/s...UjHXUyPt1Pb1oTAXRgTiJ5xLULC6bXf3z2SsvKrTSEhvZ

Everything 1/4 inch is 50mm length bit. Is that some sort of standard for 1/4 inch?

 

[Croolis]

I am a bit annoyed. I took delivery of £98 Makita wired trim router today. It comes with a only a 1/4 inch collet and no bit. I have no 1/4 inch bits until that set turns up, so I can't even check to see if it works. The Bosch plunge router came with an 8mm straight bit and 8mm, 6mm and 1/4 inch collets.

When you pay Makita prices, I think you should get the cherries. I know folks will say that these are aimed at professionals and therefore the bit would often be superfluous, but what about the collets? I think that's just cheap leaving those out.

 

[Blackswanwood]

I am a bit annoyed. I took delivery of £98 Makita wired trim router today. It comes with a only a 1/4 inch collet and no bit. I have no 1/4 inch bits until that set turns up, so I can't even check to see if it works. The Bosch plunge router came with an 8mm straight bit and 8mm, 6mm and 1/4 inch collets.

When you pay Makita prices, I think you should get the cherries. I know folks will say that these are aimed at professionals and therefore the bit would often be superfluous, but what about the collets? I think that's just cheap leaving those out.

Here’s a bit of tough love - read what’s included before you buy. The firms selling power tools operate on narrow margins and specs differ.

A trim router is really only suited to smaller bits so I would expect a 1/4 inch collet only to be fairly standard.

You’ve asked in an earlier post about the depth of cut - I’d say if you are looking to make a plunge cut of 50mm depth that you are pushing the limits of a 1/4” bit and trim router.

 

[Sideways]

The Makita package is absolutely standard.
It's a trim router. A 1/4" collet is appropriate. Bigger collets aren't really. Imagine trying to control a big 1/2" shank bit in a single handed trim router format. It's inviting disaster.

Routers are used for such different things that including a bit is actually somewhat silly. If it's a good bit, then it will have some cost to it and yet may be a total waste to a user who doesn't need that one. If a cheap bit, then fit only for the bin anyway and won't show off the tool so what point in including one.

Through membership at a men's shed I've seen the workshops of elderly hobbyists being cleared when they pass away. It is quite common to find router sets like the trend one you have bought in this situation.
The sets are good value for money given you are paying £2 a cutter. At that price, you can afford to use them, throw them away and buy more. I happily use and abuse cutters like this. These are the bits I use when I want to rout or chamfer aluminium plate

You may find, and soon enough, that the sets don't contain the cutter you need for a particular job and then you'll discover that a quality TCT router cutter costs £20+ apiece. They are better made and you will value and care for them more. You'll sharpen them and still be using them in 30 years time long after you've tossed the Trend ones.

Wealden Tool Co is the place to look for good cutters.

Edit to add: And 50mm cut with a 1/4" router ? No. Far too long for that shank. Far too long for a trim router too.