Any Router Experts in Here (Woodworking, not Computer Networking)

[Jer]

So years back I bought a Ryobi RE180PL 2hp plunge router with 1/2" collet and just found it brand new in a box while cleaning my garage this summer. Sweet, right?!? Well I don't have any bits for it. lol I'm wanting to get a nice starter kit for it and I know that I have projects lined up to cut holes out of the inside of a sheet of MDF (plunge cutting?) and some edge rounding and such. I've seen some use a table but for now I'm just looking to get some decent bits to get my going in the right direction. I don't do tons of woodworking but some and I have a couple things I need to get done now.

Do I go with 1/2" shank bits as they're more durable than the 1/4" bits?

What is a good kit to go with that won't break the bank? Keep in mind that I'm not a pro and I'm sure more money buys better bits but I don't need professional grade bits as it's likely that many of the bits will never even get used in my life time. If I had to guess I would likely use a round-over bit and a plunge cut bit mostly but don't know what I need.

I found a couple of kits on eBay. This kit is a 15pc for $35 shipped & this kit is 35pc for $55 shipped which seems cheap but it's probably just that... cheap. Home Depot had a starter kit from Ryobi for $10 but it was 1/4 shank. Don't I want to take advantage of the 1/2" shank for durability or am I over thinking this aspect?

Thanks for the help!

[Byte Stryke]

you tease... I Saw the first part of the title and clicked before I got to the rest...

[Tim K]

Try here.

http://www.mlcswoodworking.com/

They're decent for the money. If I were starting over, I'd buy a cheap set just as you are and replace whatever I wore out with a better quality bit.

You can probably also buy a 1/4" collet for that router. It's a good idea as some of the smaller profiles are only available in 1/4" shank.

[Jer]

you tease... I Saw the first part of the title and clicked before I got to the rest...

pwnt

Try here.

http://www.mlcswoodworking.com/

They're decent for the money. If I were starting over, I'd buy a cheap set just as you are and replace whatever I wore out with a better quality bit.

You can probably also buy a 1/4" collet for that router. It's a good idea as some of the smaller profiles are only available in 1/4" shank.

I forgot to mention that I already have the 1/4" adapter as it came with it. So the 1/4" is an option but I'm trying to see if I should go that route or not since they are cheaper. If there's a discernible difference in durability then I will do the 1/2" ones.

[Ah Pook]

!/4" vs 1/2" depends on the bit size. The second Ebay set looks to have more useable bits. I like Tim's idea of buying a set and replacing what you use the most. I don't use that many different bit patterns. Most of what I have is from one off projects.

Check out Woodcrafters and that little shop on the west side of downtown Loveland.

[th3w01f]

I'm with Byte ,I finally thought I'd get to add some real value.

[tmjohnson]

I've done quite a bit of wood work and using a router takes a lot of practice to get good. If I were you I'd start cheap and see how you get along. hose bits can get quite pricey. Also when you do start using a router set up a big table to stabilize your wood, the effort will be well worth it.

[Jer]

!/4" vs 1/2" depends on the bit size. The second Ebay set looks to have more useable bits. I like Tim's idea of buying a set and replacing what you use the most. I don't use that many different bit patterns. Most of what I have is from one off projects.

Check out Woodcrafters and that little shop on the west side of downtown Loveland.

So the more expensive one then, huh? Kind of what I thought someone would say. Why can't it ever be the less expensive one? lol

I'm with Byte ,I finally thought I'd get to add some real value.

I wish. MUCH easier to figure out than this woodworking mystery.

I've done quite a bit of wood work and using a router takes a lot of practice to get good. If I were you I'd start cheap and see how you get along. hose bits can get quite pricey. Also when you do start using a router set up a big table to stabilize your wood, the effort will be well worth it.

Will do!

[Tim K]

1/2" shank are not more durable, they are more rigid. They chatter less and leave a nicer cut.

Durability with a hand held router is almost impossible to achieve. To keep the bits cool, the feed rates need to be MUCH higher than most humans can achieve. Feed rates that high require more power than is available. As a result, most all bits die of overheating. We feed them too slowly with too fine a cut and there is no chip mass to carry away the heat.

Learning how to control depth of cut and feed rate is much more important than buying ultimate high quality.

[buffalobo]

1/2" shank are not more durable, they are more rigid. They chatter less and leave a nicer cut.

Durability with a hand held router is almost impossible to achieve. To keep the bits cool, the feed rates need to be MUCH higher than most humans can achieve. Feed rates that high require more power than is available. As a result, most all bits die of overheating. We feed them too slowly with too fine a cut and there is no chip mass to carry away the heat.

Learning how to control depth of cut and feed rate is much more important than buying ultimate high quality.

Listen to this^^^^.


Also when you do start using a router set up a big table to stabilize your wood, the effort will be well worth it.

And this^^^^

Get the best set of cheap bits you can find. The 15pc set on the site Tim K linked seems pretty reasonable and MLCS has good rep.