Router Bit Breakage

[Sportique]

Well put Jim - and price (high or low) is not necessarily a good guide. Most of us have experienced low-priced good buys and high-priced poor buys. Fortunately we do not often come across the latter.

In the end you can't beat personal experience and recommendation - which is partly what this forum is all about.

Dave

 

[Titmantiptoolsltd]

It hasn't happened to me yet, and maybe that's because I have more than one router and a few spare collets.

The collet is the most forgotten link in the chain and probably the most important as it is in direct contact with the tool. Remember even if there is no damage or wear to be seen collets wear due to metal fatigue. Heat is directly transferred from the tool to the collet. these heating/cooling cycles remove the original tempering of the steel. Collets are made from spring steel allowing them to have a certain amount of elasticity to grip the tool. As the heat cycle is repeated this elasticity diminishes. Over time, a collet requires increased tightening to maintian the tool in proper position.

As for cheap sawblade or TCT routers ask any Saw Doctor and they will give an honest and valuable opinion.

http://www.sdauk.co.uk/membersites.asp

I hope this enlightens and saves you a few quid with less breakage.

Kind regards

Titman

why do companies spend 100's of K on CNC machine yet forget about a £25 collet.

 

[Mike Wingate]

With straight router bits, I never cut deeper than the diameter of the bit with each plunge. I would rather spend time cutting gradually, building up the depth of cut, than spending money on a new bit. Maintain both collets and bits, clean and sharp.

 

[Titmantiptoolsltd]

I never cut deeper than the diameter of the bit with each plunge

this is a very good rule of thumb up to 12.7mm diameter cutters, depending on LOC,

The info I was trying to give was for using the tool you have correctly. if you have for example a H122 worktop cutter(12.7mm DIA 50mm LOC) I would recommend cutting 12mm to 15mm with care being taken with the first few passes as the pressure is all at the bottom of the cutter.

Obviously if you have a choice of cutter between a 25mm length of cut (LOC) and a 50mm LOC to cut a depth of 15mm always choose the smallest LOC, This will not be under as much pressure as a longer tool.

If you only have a longer tool cut as close to the shank as possible.(which is only possible when trimming rather than plunging and cutting through a board)

Kind regards
Titman