What bits should I buy for my spindle?

[Boyan Silyavski]

Hi,



1. First of all buy only insert cutters from brands. All else China. They are same quality if not better. I wouldn't have said that 4 years ago. But now yes.

2. Buy HSS only when you are not sure and want a bit to try something. When you are sure, buy carbide, they will cut all materials including mild steel.

3. 2 flutes are best choice when not sure. 1 flute is only for special jobs and many times will NOT drill properly so you need to tool change. Hence i use 2 flute spirals for aluminum.


I believe these are the bits you need that will save you a lot of hussle in the long run:

For general work:

A. Insert cutters

Insert bits from ebay and their corresponding inserts. These are a must, very cheap, extremely sharp and ultimately super duper durable. Compared to any brand bit. Main tools for wood, MDf, Plastic and i use them even on aluminum.
Most of the insert bits you see 2-5 times the price are actually rebranded CMT. The 90 degree cutter you can use for mitre cuts, folding and engraving. These are big cutters that you could use for surfacing, signs and so on.


CMT FRESA TAGLI DIRITTI C/COLT. Z1 S=12.7 D=12.7x29.5x89 DX COD: 652.627.11
CMT COLTELLO REVERSIBILE STD (4/35°) 29.5x9x1.5mm HW-F1730 COD: 790.295.09



CMT FRESA X INTAGLI A "V" 90° C/COLT. HW Z2 S=8 D=17x8.5x53 DX COD: 665.170.11

CMT COLTELLO REV. DIRITTO (4/30°) 14x14x2mm B6.4 HWM-U2300 COD: 790.140.03


Don't be cheap and buy them, you will thank me later.



B. Your fiend is Bang good. Buy from there 3mm and 6mm cutters. 6mm cutters are usually the typical cutter. Buy only Carbide. Also get from there engraving cutters for small jobs. get some straight flute 6mm cutters as when they dull you can sharpen them yourself using cheap 3$ diamond plate. Not so with spiral cutters that anyway i use mainly for aluminum. Again-carbide only. Dont buy cutters with more than 3 flutes as you can not plunge them and they are not for slot cutting.