Official Luthiers Forum!

Anyone got tips? I'm running low, and I figured I'd order a few decent (carbide) bits before undertaking my next big inlay projects (currently in the cutting phase).

Thanks! I assume most folks go for straight (rather than ball) end mills.

Todd I`ve always used downcut bits,but the`re really expensive.Is it necessary to use down cuts for inlay and bridge saddles or what.
                      James

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James W Bolan
Nashville Tennessee

I've never found a need to use downcut bits, on the CNC or inlaying by hand, just make sure they're spinning as fast as you can get 'em.

I get my mills from PreciseBits.com

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Bob Garrish
Former Canonized Purveyor of Fine CNC Luthier Services

RobbJack, very very nice bits.

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Jim Watts
http://jameswattsguitars.com

PreciseBits have great stuff, and I buy a lot of bits from McMaster Carr.   For big CNC stuff...3/4" bits...I go to Onsrud Cutter.   

I buy my stuff through Harvey Tool at a local machine shop, I use .020 for inlay and .010 for really fine stuff and with them I get options on flutes and coatings, they also carry special bits for polycarb which I cut a good deal of when making jigs and pieces on the CNC.

Mattia I only use the ball end for cutting things I need with a round bottom, %90 of my bits are flat bottom.

Cheers

-Paul-

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-Paul-

Patriot Guitars

[QUOTE=ToddStock] Ouch, Bob...about double CET's prices...are the bits that much better?[/QUOTE]

If you can get the flute length you want, then buy 'em wherever you can find 'em. Precisebits also has collars shrunk onto their bits, so you don't need to reset length when one breaks or when switching.

That being said, I'm currently talking to another company about just having some custom ground in batches and I think they'll be able to beat PB's prices handily. The convenience of the collars will be missed, but I might just get another turbine spindle and be done with it.

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Bob Garrish
Former Canonized Purveyor of Fine CNC Luthier Services

Great source, Todd! I've been buying from Precise also and, like Bob, appreciate the collars. CET does look to have great prices and need to give them a try to compare quality.
Nelson

Mattia, the bits Todd Stock recommends work really well (thanks for the prior tip Todd).

Another source is Drill Bit City. They sell resharpened bits of all shapes and sizes and they are dirt cheap, a 10 pc set of 3/32" 2-flute downcut bits for example will cost you $15.95. They also sell a variety of diameters. On the really small diameter bits I find cutter to be too long. For those, I just tighten the excess length in a vise and snap them off to desired length. James Patterson and Mario Proulx put me on to this source years ago.

Anthony: thanks, I'll look into that for the future. I've placed an order with CET Direct, sorting out the shipping issues at the moment (looks like getting myself a FedEx account is the only way to get things shipped to me at non-ridiculous costs, since they won't do USPS...)