Dovetail Bit, Blunt? Trend

[Chems]

I'll need to get a picture, but my Trend Dovetail bit which I bought a while back in the summer last year and have used only on my leigh jig.

Its got a lot of burning on it, and I mean a LOT! The last lot of dovetails I used it for had a fair bit of chip out on them, and I'm sure it was cause the cutter was blunt.

My question is, are there better ones than the Trend (IIRC this one cost £16 which is a fair amount of money for a 1/4 bit) or should I try and clean it up and sharpen it up?

I ask mainly as I've never tried sharpening bits up before and the burning is pretty well on there.

 

[wizer]

Wealden bits are very good. There may be others. Titman get a good rep, tho I've not tried them. Same with CMT. Wealden has always been good for me.

 

[Chems]

I've got a few Wealdon bits and they are good. I sort of thought trend was meant to be pretty up there.

 

[jasonB]

I prefer the 8mm shank Leigh bits they don't chatter so much in the bigger sizes, I get mine here. Wealden are good for other bits but stick with teh Leigh bits in teh jig.

Jason

 

[wizer]

I sort of thought trend was meant to be pretty up there.

I've never thought that. Trend are just re-badging bits made from who knows where? Fair enough Wealden are sort of doing the same thing, but have a better track record at getting it right.

 

[Chems]

I prefer the 8mm shank Leigh bits they don't chatter so much in the bigger sizes, I get mine here. Wealden are good for other bits but stick with teh Leigh bits in teh jig.

Jason

Thanks for that Jason, I'll order one of those for the next batch. Which one do you use? Is it just that top one that seems most popular? Your dovetails that you did using the Leigh looked great so I'll copy your choice.


Wiz, dunno why I thought that, miss conception from my beginnings maybe?

 

[wizer]

Well I might be wrong, I've just never really seen them as a sign of quality. They are popular among (some) kitchen fitters and trades.

Titman do bits that are specifically designed for the Leigh jigs. You might want to check them out. I have no personal experience with Titman, but I hear good things (despite their little Forum Faux Par ).

 

[Chems]

I remember that thread from coleysbiscuit and his Trend bit was disintegrating on those stairs he was making. Guess I should have known from that.

 

[Eric The Viking]

Trend are just re-badging bits made from who knows where? Fair enough Wealden are sort of doing the same thing.

I've only got a couple of Wealden cutters(a plunge straight cutter and a dovetail bit), but I think they're rather good, the plunge cutter especially.

I thought they made their own, or at least had them made to their specification. I know they're in your patch Tom, do you know different?

 

[cutting solutions]

You guys amaze me with...
I think I will give it a little sharpen...

These tools are 2 wing and are designed for both to cut.
How can YOU sharpen them and make sure both wings are cutting on the same circle? and a small difference will mean a lot
Send it to the saw doctor and get it done properly. Not that expensive and you get a tool that performs, often better, than when it was new.

Trend routers are made by Dimar.....IIRC an Israel based company.. (infact many of their tools are made by Dimar)
Titman are top end professional cutters. you can often pay less for titman cutters than trend if you ask for a little discount.
Titmans cutters have more carbide (not that important if you only use one edge for cutting ) and are British made so you are supporting manufacturing industry in this country.
Wealden dont make their own cutters.

 

[jasonB]

Which one do you use? Is it just that top one that seems most popular

Depends on the thickness of the material but most of the time its the 80-8 and for thinner stuff the 70-8

If you don't have an 8mm collet then they do the Leigh reducing sleeve to go into a 1/2" collet for about £6

Jason

 

[Chems]

Thanks Jason, I do have an 8mm collet.

You guys amaze me with...
I think I will give it a little sharpen...

These tools are 2 wing and are designed for both to cut.
How can YOU sharpen them and make sure both wings are cutting on the same circle? and a small difference will mean a lot
Send it to the saw doctor and get it done properly. Not that expensive and you get a tool that performs, often better, than when it was new

Yes! Thats what I thought the first time I thought about sharpening, like balancing a wheel it was going to be tough to do. I've read in places that you can get your diamond stone out and work on router bits but always thought it didn't sound like a great idea.

 

[wizer]

As Doug says, Wealden do not make their own cutters. They are just known for sourcing and supplying good ones.