Router bits revisited

"SBH" wrote:
> I'm now more alert to the CMT's. Does anyone use these bits and how
> do you like them?

----------------------
My router bit business was CMT's to lose.

Infinity in Tampa was a 2nd choice.

Lew

On Jan 20, 6:30=A0pm, "SBH" <[email protected]> wrote:
> First, I wanted to point out about a good router guide book I forgot I ha=
d
> from Woodsmith which I read intently and learned much. Second, it mention=
ed
> a few high performance quality bits specifically Amana, Freud, CMT and ML=
CS.
> I know Amana and Freud are quality bits but never guessed the CMT and
> MLCS.Visiting my local Woodcraft retailer, who sells CMT, I always though=
t
> they were a lower quality bit equaling that of their own retail brand and
> never gave them a second look. After reading the Router book, I'm now mor=
e
> alert to the CMT's. =A0Does anyone use these bits and how do you like the=
m?

These days there are few if any really bad router bits around. Most of
us give them limited (non production) use so the carbide seldom gives
up. One company I have bought unusual bits from seems to have a more
extensive catalog than most: go to www.magnate.net and have a look. I
like MLCS, too. If you contemplate CNC work, magnate would be a good
choice.

Joe

> That said, Whiteside bits have repeatedly won the router bit comparisons
> in Fine Woodworking and other magazines.
>
> ~Mark.


Whiteside - I'll second that!

If it's a bit you'll use for one project - then pick most any of them.
If you're going to use it for a lot of projects - roundovers, chamfers,
slots, dados, rabbets - forget the pretty shiny colorful coatings -
and their hype. Whiteside - plain and simple - and last.

"Bob Balaso" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:72cbe110-9696-445b-be01-368dce91f17f@l19g2000yqb.googlegroups.com...
On Jan 21, 8:40 am, "Leon" <[email protected]> wrote:
> "SBH" <[email protected]> wrote in
> messagenews:%eN5n.1853$s%[email protected]...
> > First, I wanted to point out about a good router guide book I forgot I
> > had
> > from Woodsmith which I read intently and learned much. Second, it
> > mentioned a few high performance quality bits specifically Amana, Freud,
> > CMT and MLCS. I know Amana and Freud are quality bits but never guessed
> > the CMT and MLCS.Visiting my local Woodcraft retailer, who sells CMT, I
> > always thought they were a lower quality bit equaling that of their own
> > retail brand and never gave them a second look. After reading the Router
> > book, I'm now more alert to the CMT's. Does anyone use these bits and
> > how
> > do you like them?
>
> CMT has been around a long time. Long ago, CMT America?, an American
> company in Florida IIRC, pretty much only sold the quality Italian CMT
> bits.
> As time went by the American CMT company began making their own router
> bits
> and also branding them as CMT.
>
> Because of that the Italian CMT company took the American CMT to court and
> won the case. As a result the courts ordered the American CMT company to
> rename their router bits which late became known as Jesada. The name was
> derived from the first two letters from the owner's kids names.
>
> Jesada made a pretty good bit however IMHO it was never quite as good as
> the
> CMT bit.
>
> Jesada sold out and the current owner still uses the Jesada name.
>
> One of the original Jesada kids now has a router bit company that is known
> asInfinity. IMHO these bits are "ok" but not up to the quality standards
> of the old Jesada bits and certainly not up to the quality of the current
> and old CMT bits. IIRCInfinitydoes not or did not manufacture their
> bits, they have their bits manufactured by an off shore company.
>
> I have a set of rail and stile bits that are the real CMT bits and they
> have
> been working well for the last 15 years.

>Leon,

>Have you tried Infinity Tools router bits? What basis do you have to
>say that their products are not as good as others? The ones that I
>have are excellent quality and are as good or better than any of the
>other top brands I've used.

>Bob.

My experience as well. That said, I don't have any of the "early" Infinity
bits.
I have Infinity, Freud, CMT, Bosch, some Jesada, Eagle America, a few MLCS,
and a few from Sommerfeld.
I don't think there's much difference between Freud and CMT. Infinity a
very close 2nd. MLCS being a low cost bit good for those occasions when you
don't want to invest in an expensive bit for infrequent use.
Just my personal opinion.

Max

On Jan 21, 8:40=A0am, "Leon" <[email protected]> wrote:
> "SBH" <[email protected]> wrote in messagenews:%eN5n.1853$s%[email protected]=
d...
> > First, I wanted to point out about a good router guide book I forgot I =
had
> > from Woodsmith which I read intently and learned much. Second, it
> > mentioned a few high performance quality bits specifically Amana, Freud=
,
> > CMT and MLCS. I know Amana and Freud are quality bits but never guessed
> > the CMT and MLCS.Visiting my local Woodcraft retailer, who sells CMT, I
> > always thought they were a lower quality bit equaling that of their own
> > retail brand and never gave them a second look. After reading the Route=
r
> > book, I'm now more alert to the CMT's. =A0Does anyone use these bits an=
d how
> > do you like them?
>
> CMT has been around a long time. =A0Long ago, CMT America?, an American
> company in Florida IIRC, pretty much only sold the quality Italian CMT bi=
ts.
> As time went by the American CMT company began making their own router bi=
ts
> and also branding them as CMT.
>
> Because of that the Italian CMT company took the American CMT to court an=
d
> won the case. =A0As a result the courts ordered the American CMT company =
to
> rename their router bits which late became known as Jesada. =A0The name w=
as
> derived from the first two letters from the owner's kids names.
>
> Jesada made a pretty good bit however IMHO it was never quite as good as =
the
> CMT bit.
>
> Jesada sold out and the current owner still uses the Jesada name.
>
> One of the original Jesada kids now has a router bit company that is know=
n
> asInfinity. =A0IMHO these bits are "ok" but not up to the quality standar=
ds
> of the old Jesada bits and certainly not up to the quality of the current
> and old CMT bits. =A0IIRCInfinitydoes not or did not =A0manufacture their
> bits, they have their bits manufactured by an off shore company.
>
> I have a set of rail and stile bits that are the real CMT bits and they h=
ave
> been working well for the last 15 years.

Leon,

Have you tried Infinity Tools router bits? What basis do you have to
say that their products are not as good as others? The ones that I
have are excellent quality and are as good or better than any of the
other top brands I've used.

Bob.

On Jan 21, 8:40=A0am, "Leon" <[email protected]> wrote:
> "SBH" <[email protected]> wrote in messagenews:%eN5n.1853$s%[email protected]=
d...
> > First, I wanted to point out about a good router guide book I forgot I =
had
> > from Woodsmith which I read intently and learned much. Second, it
> > mentioned a few high performance quality bits specifically Amana, Freud=
,
> > CMT and MLCS. I know Amana and Freud are quality bits but never guessed
> > the CMT and MLCS.Visiting my local Woodcraft retailer, who sells CMT, I
> > always thought they were a lower quality bit equaling that of their own
> > retail brand and never gave them a second look. After reading the Route=
r
> > book, I'm now more alert to the CMT's. =A0Does anyone use these bits an=
d how
> > do you like them?
>
> CMT has been around a long time. =A0Long ago, CMT America?, an American
> company in Florida IIRC, pretty much only sold the quality Italian CMT bi=
ts.
> As time went by the American CMT company began making their own router bi=
ts
> and also branding them as CMT.
>
> Because of that the Italian CMT company took the American CMT to court an=
d
> won the case. =A0As a result the courts ordered the American CMT company =
to
> rename their router bits which late became known as Jesada. =A0The name w=
as
> derived from the first two letters from the owner's kids names.
>
> Jesada made a pretty good bit however IMHO it was never quite as good as =
the
> CMT bit.
>
> Jesada sold out and the current owner still uses the Jesada name.
>
> One of the original Jesada kids now has a router bit company that is know=
n
> as Infinity. =A0IMHO these bits are "ok" but not up to the quality standa=
rds
> of the old Jesada bits and certainly not up to the quality of the current
> and old CMT bits. =A0IIRC Infinity does not or did not =A0manufacture the=
ir
> bits, they have their bits manufactured by an off shore company.
>
> I have a set of rail and stile bits that are the real CMT bits and they h=
ave
> been working well for the last 15 years.

I bought my rail and stile bits from Lee Valley. I don't know who
makes them, but they are excellent quality.

On Jan 20, 7:30=A0pm, "SBH" <[email protected]> wrote:
> First, I wanted to point out about a good router guide book I forgot I ha=
d
> from Woodsmith which I read intently and learned much. Second, it mention=
ed
> a few high performance quality bits specifically Amana, Freud, CMT and ML=
CS.
> I know Amana and Freud are quality bits but never guessed the CMT and
> MLCS.Visiting my local Woodcraft retailer, who sells CMT, I always though=
t
> they were a lower quality bit equaling that of their own retail brand and
> never gave them a second look. After reading the Router book, I'm now mor=
e
> alert to the CMT's. =A0Does anyone use these bits and how do you like the=
m?

They make a few bits which I use constantly. A bottom bearing flush
trim bit which has a bit of a downward angle of cut (shear) and we
work them pretty hard. We take a 1/2" thick x 1/8" trim off the sides
of Corian in one swipe, day after day. They hold up great. Nice solid
bearing. I also use their slot cutters. Well-balanced and duarble. A
well-made arbor too.

On Jan 20, 7:30=A0pm, "SBH" <[email protected]> wrote:
> First, I wanted to point out about a good router guide book I forgot I ha=
d
> from Woodsmith which I read intently and learned much. Second, it mention=
ed
> a few high performance quality bits specifically Amana, Freud, CMT and ML=
CS.
> I know Amana and Freud are quality bits but never guessed the CMT and
> MLCS.Visiting my local Woodcraft retailer, who sells CMT, I always though=
t
> they were a lower quality bit equaling that of their own retail brand and
> never gave them a second look. After reading the Router book, I'm now mor=
e
> alert to the CMT's. =A0Does anyone use these bits and how do you like the=
m?

infinity makes good stuff
shelly

p.S. good overstock sales, too

"SBH" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:%eN5n.1853$s%[email protected]...
> First, I wanted to point out about a good router guide book I forgot I had
> from Woodsmith which I read intently and learned much. Second, it
> mentioned a few high performance quality bits specifically Amana, Freud,
> CMT and MLCS. I know Amana and Freud are quality bits but never guessed
> the CMT and MLCS.Visiting my local Woodcraft retailer, who sells CMT, I
> always thought they were a lower quality bit equaling that of their own
> retail brand and never gave them a second look. After reading the Router
> book, I'm now more alert to the CMT's. Does anyone use these bits and how
> do you like them?
>

CMT has been around a long time. Long ago, CMT America?, an American
company in Florida IIRC, pretty much only sold the quality Italian CMT bits.
As time went by the American CMT company began making their own router bits
and also branding them as CMT.

Because of that the Italian CMT company took the American CMT to court and
won the case. As a result the courts ordered the American CMT company to
rename their router bits which late became known as Jesada. The name was
derived from the first two letters from the owner's kids names.

Jesada made a pretty good bit however IMHO it was never quite as good as the
CMT bit.

Jesada sold out and the current owner still uses the Jesada name.

One of the original Jesada kids now has a router bit company that is known
as Infinity. IMHO these bits are "ok" but not up to the quality standards
of the old Jesada bits and certainly not up to the quality of the current
and old CMT bits. IIRC Infinity does not or did not manufacture their
bits, they have their bits manufactured by an off shore company.

I have a set of rail and stile bits that are the real CMT bits and they have
been working well for the last 15 years.

Joe wrote:
> On Jan 20, 6:30 pm, "SBH" <[email protected]> wrote:
>> First, I wanted to point out about a good router guide book I forgot I had
>> from Woodsmith which I read intently and learned much. Second, it mentioned
>> a few high performance quality bits specifically Amana, Freud, CMT and MLCS.
>> I know Amana and Freud are quality bits but never guessed the CMT and
>> MLCS.Visiting my local Woodcraft retailer, who sells CMT, I always thought
>> they were a lower quality bit equaling that of their own retail brand and
>> never gave them a second look. After reading the Router book, I'm now more
>> alert to the CMT's. Does anyone use these bits and how do you like them?
>
> These days there are few if any really bad router bits around. Most of
> us give them limited (non production) use so the carbide seldom gives
> up. One company I have bought unusual bits from seems to have a more
> extensive catalog than most: go to www.magnate.net and have a look. I
> like MLCS, too. If you contemplate CNC work, magnate would be a good
> choice.
>
> Joe

I have Freud, CMT (Italian), Infinity, Amana and Jesada router bits.
They all perform reliably and I can't discern significant differences
between any of them.

That said, Whiteside bits have repeatedly won the router bit comparisons
in Fine Woodworking and other magazines.

~Mark.