ML

"Mr. Lucky"

30/07/2012 2:48 AM

MLCS Router Bit experience

I bought several (what I thought to be mid-range) MLCS triple wing router
bits
http://www.mlcswoodworking.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/smarthtml/pages/tripl
ewing.html recently. THey aren't all their web site claims.

I attempted to use the 1/2" flush trim 1 /36" long bit today. First thing I
noticed was a lot of vibration when I turned it on. Thought it was due to
it being a bigger bit than I usually use. I tested it on scrap 1st and it
seemed ok. I started trimming a 1" pice of walnut with it - Largest bite
was probably 1/16" of an inch. I hit a small pinhole knot . The bit
grabbed on the knot and almost torqued the router out of my hands (yeah I
did have a firm grip on it). The bit jumped up into the guide and took a
bite out of it and a large bite out of the walnut rail of a footboard. Of
course I had the tenons on the sides cut as well as all the mortices for
the slats. This was the 'final' decorative cut. So now I have to find
another piece of 5/4 walnut and start from scratch.

Lesson learned -- I'll go to my local tool store and buy a top line router
bit. It will cost but I probably won't have to remake the footboard rail
again.

I have several other of the triple wing bits. I certainly will think before
using them.


This topic has 12 replies

Jt

Jimbeaux the Cajon Handy Man

in reply to "Mr. Lucky" on 30/07/2012 2:48 AM

30/07/2012 9:34 AM

On Mon, 30 Jul 2012 14:04:27 +0000, Wood Butcher
<[email protected]> wrote:

>On Mon, 30 Jul 2012 02:48:13 GMT, "Mr. Lucky" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>I attempted to use the 1/2" flush trim 1 /36" long bit today.
>
>Free Clue: You should never use power equipment while intoxicated AND
>you should never post drunken gibberish to Usenet.
>
>--- Posted via news://freenews.netfront.net/ - Complaints to [email protected] ---

Wul, I have ye no dat I dint tink he wuz intokated and da
jibberish dint seem ta be drunk.

rp

routerman

in reply to "Mr. Lucky" on 30/07/2012 2:48 AM

30/07/2012 6:52 AM

What does 1/36" refer too?

LH

"Lew Hodgett"

in reply to "Mr. Lucky" on 30/07/2012 2:48 AM

30/07/2012 12:35 PM


"Mr. Lucky" wrote:

>I bought several (what I thought to be mid-range) MLCS triple wing
>router
> bits
--------------------------------
That was your first mistake.
---------------------------------

http://www.mlcswoodworking.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/smarthtml/pages/tripl> ewing.html recently. THey aren't all their web site claims.----------------------------------------> I attempted to use the 1/2" flush trim 1 /36" long bit today. Firstthing I> noticed was a lot of vibration when I turned it on.--------------------------------Contact MLCS directly.Lew

Ll

Leon

in reply to "Mr. Lucky" on 30/07/2012 2:48 AM

30/07/2012 10:43 AM

On 7/30/2012 10:31 AM, tiredofspam wrote:
> On 7/29/2012 10:48 PM, Mr. Lucky wrote:
>> I bought several (what I thought to be mid-range) MLCS triple wing router
>> bits
>> http://www.mlcswoodworking.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/smarthtml/pages/tripl
>>
>> ewing.html recently. THey aren't all their web site claims.
>>
>>
>
> First you say this was a flush trim bit, I have never had a router jump
> from using a flush trim bit. I have had chatter.
>
> The vibration should have been Isolated before using it.
> So did this flush trim bit come from MLCS???? you only talked about your
> flush trim bit. I don't use 3 wing cutters in a hand held router. I
> usually use them in the table, and they require less RPM.
>
> So please clarify what happened. Was this all about a flush trim or a 3
> wing cutter? Did you check your colet for dirt after experiencing the
> vibration? Did you remove the bit and turn it? Did you seat it all the
> way at the bottom, and it was not able to tighten all the way??? You
> know a bit gets pulled down and if you bottom it out from the very
> beginning it won't seat correctly and can vibrate and also come out.
>


If you check his reference it will indicate the bit used, a triple wing
flush trim bit.

http://www.mlcswoodworking.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/smarthtml/pages/triplewing.html

Ll

Leon

in reply to "Mr. Lucky" on 30/07/2012 2:48 AM

30/07/2012 10:49 AM

On 7/29/2012 9:48 PM, Mr. Lucky wrote:
> I bought several (what I thought to be mid-range) MLCS triple wing router
> bits
> http://www.mlcswoodworking.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/smarthtml/pages/tripl
> ewing.html recently. THey aren't all their web site claims.
>
> I attempted to use the 1/2" flush trim 1 /36" long bit today. First thing I
> noticed was a lot of vibration when I turned it on. Thought it was due to
> it being a bigger bit than I usually use. I tested it on scrap 1st and it
> seemed ok. I started trimming a 1" pice of walnut with it - Largest bite
> was probably 1/16" of an inch. I hit a small pinhole knot . The bit
> grabbed on the knot and almost torqued the router out of my hands (yeah I
> did have a firm grip on it). The bit jumped up into the guide and took a
> bite out of it and a large bite out of the walnut rail of a footboard. Of
> course I had the tenons on the sides cut as well as all the mortices for
> the slats. This was the 'final' decorative cut. So now I have to find
> another piece of 5/4 walnut and start from scratch.
>
> Lesson learned -- I'll go to my local tool store and buy a top line router
> bit. It will cost but I probably won't have to remake the footboard rail
> again.
>
> I have several other of the triple wing bits. I certainly will think before
> using them.
>


If you allow the bit to bottom out in the router it can very often lead
to the bit not being parallel to the arbor/collet and you will get
vibration.

Even a poor quality bit with this small diameter should not vibrate,
this is not a large bit. If you were spinning a 2"+ diameter bit I
could see how a poor quality bit could be less than desirable.

tn

tiredofspam

in reply to "Mr. Lucky" on 30/07/2012 2:48 AM

30/07/2012 11:57 AM

On 7/30/2012 11:43 AM, Leon wrote:
> On 7/30/2012 10:31 AM, tiredofspam wrote:
>> On 7/29/2012 10:48 PM, Mr. Lucky wrote:
>>> I bought several (what I thought to be mid-range) MLCS triple wing
>>> router
>>> bits
>>> http://www.mlcswoodworking.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/smarthtml/pages/tripl
>>>
>>>
>>> ewing.html recently. THey aren't all their web site claims.
>>>
>>>
>>
>> First you say this was a flush trim bit, I have never had a router jump
>> from using a flush trim bit. I have had chatter.
>>
>> The vibration should have been Isolated before using it.
>> So did this flush trim bit come from MLCS???? you only talked about your
>> flush trim bit. I don't use 3 wing cutters in a hand held router. I
>> usually use them in the table, and they require less RPM.
>>
>> So please clarify what happened. Was this all about a flush trim or a 3
>> wing cutter? Did you check your colet for dirt after experiencing the
>> vibration? Did you remove the bit and turn it? Did you seat it all the
>> way at the bottom, and it was not able to tighten all the way??? You
>> know a bit gets pulled down and if you bottom it out from the very
>> beginning it won't seat correctly and can vibrate and also come out.
>>
>
>
> If you check his reference it will indicate the bit used, a triple wing
> flush trim bit.
>
> http://www.mlcswoodworking.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/smarthtml/pages/triplewing.html
>
Thanks, I didn't check his link. I thought he was talking 2 different
things, one a slot cutter and the other a flush cutter.

dd

"dadiOH"

in reply to "Mr. Lucky" on 30/07/2012 2:48 AM

30/07/2012 7:09 AM

Mr. Lucky wrote:
> I bought several (what I thought to be mid-range) MLCS triple wing
> router bits
> http://www.mlcswoodworking.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/smarthtml/pages/tripl
> ewing.html recently. THey aren't all their web site claims.
>
> I attempted to use the 1/2" flush trim 1 /36" long bit today. First
> thing I noticed was a lot of vibration when I turned it on. Thought
> it was due to it being a bigger bit than I usually use. I tested it
> on scrap 1st and it seemed ok. I started trimming a 1" pice of walnut
> with it - Largest bite was probably 1/16" of an inch. I hit a small
> pinhole knot . The bit grabbed on the knot and almost torqued the
> router out of my hands (yeah I did have a firm grip on it). The bit
> jumped up into the guide and took a bite out of it and a large bite
> out of the walnut rail of a footboard. Of course I had the tenons on
> the sides cut as well as all the mortices for the slats. This was the
> 'final' decorative cut. So now I have to find another piece of 5/4
> walnut and start from scratch.
>
> Lesson learned -- I'll go to my local tool store and buy a top line
> router bit. It will cost but I probably won't have to remake the
> footboard rail again.
>
> I have several other of the triple wing bits. I certainly will think
> before using them.

I don't know what is going on with the grabbing and jumping(?) but I
seriously doubt the problem lies in the bit.

The vibration worries me. Vibration as if the bit was out of round or not
properly seated in the collet?

--

dadiOH
____________________________

Winters getting colder? Tired of the rat race?
Maybe just ready for a change? Check it out...
http://www.floridaloghouse.net

dn

dpb

in reply to "Mr. Lucky" on 30/07/2012 2:48 AM

30/07/2012 8:56 AM

On 7/30/2012 6:09 AM, dadiOH wrote:
> Mr. Lucky wrote:
>> I bought several (what I thought to be mid-range) MLCS triple wing
>> router bits
...

>> I attempted to use the 1/2" flush trim 1 /36" long bit today. First
>> thing I noticed was a lot of vibration when I turned it on. Thought
>> it was due to it being a bigger bit than I usually use. I tested it
>> on scrap 1st and it seemed ok. I started trimming a 1" pice of walnut
>> with it - Largest bite was probably 1/16" of an inch. I hit a small
>> pinhole knot . The bit grabbed on the knot and almost torqued the
>> router out of my hands (yeah I did have a firm grip on it). The bit
>> jumped up into the guide and took a bite out of it and a large bite
>> out of the walnut rail of a footboard. ...
...
>> Lesson learned -- I'll go to my local tool store and buy a top line
>> router bit. It will cost but I probably won't have to remake the
>> footboard rail again.
>>
>> I have several other of the triple wing bits. I certainly will think
>> before using them.
>
> I don't know what is going on with the grabbing and jumping(?) but I
> seriously doubt the problem lies in the bit.
>
> The vibration worries me. Vibration as if the bit was out of round or not
> properly seated in the collet?

I've seen the MLCS and wouldn't be surprised if one were out of
balance--they're pretty typical low-ball market stuff imo. That said,
if it's enough that one can feel it, one needs to find the cause and fix
it before going ahead whether it is the collet, shank, dirt in collet,
bearing or the bit itself. It's dangerous if out of balance as the high
speed combined w/ the load imbalance can cause a shank to fail as well
as potentially damage the workpiece.

I'm not positive of what OP means w/ "jumped up into the guide"
precisely--whether it moved in the collet or the overall router got away
from him or the reaction caused the depth setting of the base to move or
what so can't comment too much other than if it moved in collet that's
indicative of a problem there of dirt or size or somesuch.

If the knot was so small as indicated, it's hard to conceive of the
router even knowing it was there unless was severely underpowered and if
that were the case perhaps the bit wasn't the culprit at all...no way to
tell from just the description.

Either way, my acquaintanceship w/ the MLCS hasn't been enough to make
me relieve them from perhaps some culpability--I don't think they're any
great shakes for sure.

--

WB

Wood Butcher

in reply to "Mr. Lucky" on 30/07/2012 2:48 AM

30/07/2012 2:04 PM

On Mon, 30 Jul 2012 02:48:13 GMT, "Mr. Lucky" <[email protected]> wrote:

>I attempted to use the 1/2" flush trim 1 /36" long bit today.

Free Clue: You should never use power equipment while intoxicated AND
you should never post drunken gibberish to Usenet.

--- Posted via news://freenews.netfront.net/ - Complaints to [email protected] ---

dd

"dadiOH"

in reply to "Mr. Lucky" on 30/07/2012 2:48 AM

30/07/2012 2:27 PM

dpb wrote:

> I'm not positive of what OP means w/ "jumped up into the guide"

Yeah, that puzzled me too. At first I thought he meant he was using an edge
guide attached to the router but why would he be using one of those with a
trimming bit?

As far as jumping goes, I don't ever recall a router trying to jump up;
sideways sometimes but not up (or down).

We may never know :(

--

dadiOH
____________________________

Winters getting colder? Tired of the rat race?
Maybe just ready for a change? Check it out...
http://www.floridaloghouse.net

LJ

Larry Jaques

in reply to "Mr. Lucky" on 30/07/2012 2:48 AM

30/07/2012 7:07 AM

On Mon, 30 Jul 2012 07:09:49 -0400, "dadiOH" <[email protected]>
wrote:

>Mr. Lucky wrote:
>> I bought several (what I thought to be mid-range) MLCS triple wing
>> router bits
>> http://www.mlcswoodworking.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/smarthtml/pages/tripl
>> ewing.html recently. THey aren't all their web site claims.
>>
>> I attempted to use the 1/2" flush trim 1 /36" long bit today. First
>> thing I noticed was a lot of vibration when I turned it on. Thought
>> it was due to it being a bigger bit than I usually use. I tested it
>> on scrap 1st and it seemed ok. I started trimming a 1" pice of walnut
>> with it - Largest bite was probably 1/16" of an inch. I hit a small
>> pinhole knot . The bit grabbed on the knot and almost torqued the
>> router out of my hands (yeah I did have a firm grip on it). The bit
>> jumped up into the guide and took a bite out of it and a large bite
>> out of the walnut rail of a footboard. Of course I had the tenons on
>> the sides cut as well as all the mortices for the slats. This was the
>> 'final' decorative cut. So now I have to find another piece of 5/4
>> walnut and start from scratch.
>>
>> Lesson learned -- I'll go to my local tool store and buy a top line
>> router bit. It will cost but I probably won't have to remake the
>> footboard rail again.
>>
>> I have several other of the triple wing bits. I certainly will think
>> before using them.
>
>I don't know what is going on with the grabbing and jumping(?) but I
>seriously doubt the problem lies in the bit.
>
>The vibration worries me. Vibration as if the bit was out of round or not
>properly seated in the collet?

Yeah, I hope he figured that out and let MLCS know about it. They
might replace it for him, free of charge.

--
When we are planning for posterity, we ought
to remember that virtue is not hereditary.
-- Thomas Paine

(comparing Paine to the current CONgress <deep sigh>)

tn

tiredofspam

in reply to "Mr. Lucky" on 30/07/2012 2:48 AM

30/07/2012 11:31 AM

On 7/29/2012 10:48 PM, Mr. Lucky wrote:
> I bought several (what I thought to be mid-range) MLCS triple wing router
> bits
> http://www.mlcswoodworking.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/smarthtml/pages/tripl
> ewing.html recently. THey aren't all their web site claims.
>
> I attempted to use the 1/2" flush trim 1 /36" long bit today. First thing I
> noticed was a lot of vibration when I turned it on. Thought it was due to
> it being a bigger bit than I usually use. I tested it on scrap 1st and it
> seemed ok. I started trimming a 1" pice of walnut with it - Largest bite
> was probably 1/16" of an inch. I hit a small pinhole knot . The bit
> grabbed on the knot and almost torqued the router out of my hands (yeah I
> did have a firm grip on it). The bit jumped up into the guide and took a
> bite out of it and a large bite out of the walnut rail of a footboard. Of
> course I had the tenons on the sides cut as well as all the mortices for
> the slats. This was the 'final' decorative cut. So now I have to find
> another piece of 5/4 walnut and start from scratch.
>
> Lesson learned -- I'll go to my local tool store and buy a top line router
> bit. It will cost but I probably won't have to remake the footboard rail
> again.
>
> I have several other of the triple wing bits. I certainly will think before
> using them.
>

First you say this was a flush trim bit, I have never had a router jump
from using a flush trim bit. I have had chatter.

The vibration should have been Isolated before using it.
So did this flush trim bit come from MLCS???? you only talked about your
flush trim bit. I don't use 3 wing cutters in a hand held router. I
usually use them in the table, and they require less RPM.

So please clarify what happened. Was this all about a flush trim or a 3
wing cutter? Did you check your colet for dirt after experiencing the
vibration? Did you remove the bit and turn it? Did you seat it all the
way at the bottom, and it was not able to tighten all the way??? You
know a bit gets pulled down and if you bottom it out from the very
beginning it won't seat correctly and can vibrate and also come out.


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