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Custom router bits

| Posted in Tools for Home Building on March 15, 2002 05:10am

*
Has anyone here had occasion to order a custom router bit? I have a rough, off the top of my head idea of the profile I need attached. I realize that I’d need a better/more exact drawing to get it made, and I could probably send a 6″-1′ sample of the existing stuff I’m matching. I looked around, and haven’t been able to find anything locally even close enough. I just keep seeing the same bland profiles. It’s for base cap, so I’d be using on about 1″x2″ stock. I’m also more interested in a router bit than shaper/molder because I already have router & table.

I want to know about how much $ to expect. I figure a more complicated profile might run more, but a guesstimate would help. More importantly, can anyone recommend a particular outfit? One that keeps popping up in my web searches is “Ridge Carbide Tool”. Any comments, or other companies you have experienced?

Thanks.

(PS – I already looked through the archives, but maybe not deep enough – I didn’t see anything.)

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Replies

  1. bobl_ | Mar 14, 2002 12:29am | #1

    *
    Hhave you thought about posting on Knots?

    1. Mr._Pita | Mar 14, 2002 12:32am | #2

      *Not until you mentioned it. On my way...

      1. Mr._Pita | Mar 14, 2002 12:41am | #3

        *On second thought, they don't seem to like me over there. I have no "Add Discussion" button when I go in there, but I am still logged in. I have an email in to operations...time will tell. Thanks.

        1. George_Abramshe | Mar 14, 2002 03:40am | #4

          *Try W.Moore Profiles LTD.. The phone # is 1-800-228-8151 and the web address is http://www.wmooreprofiles.com . I haven't bought a custom bit yet but know afew guys who have had bits made with good results. Good luck.

          1. RonTeti | Mar 14, 2002 05:28am | #5

            *Pita,George just mentioned a company some guys either at knots or another board said make custom bits. try them and tell us how you like them

          2. jim_"crazy_legs"_blodg | Mar 14, 2002 08:59am | #6

            *I don't know how to open files like you posted, Mr Pita, but I often find myself matching oddball profiles, having to make just a few feet of one type of trim or another. I have always been able to piece together the needed cuts by using more than one bit and making several passes. It's pretty easy to visualize what bits make what parts of the finished profile if you start with a life size drawing. Every once in a while I have to buy a certain radius cove, or bead, bit, but after a while you'll find you have most of what you need to make most anything. Another thing you might try is buying blank high speed steel bits and grinding the profile yourself. I've never tried it, but there have been sidebars to articles in FHB a few times through the years explaining how. Doesn't seem like it would be that tough.

          3. Art_B. | Mar 14, 2002 02:25pm | #7

            *Jim/Pita: re: grinding your own. If you don't have a metal lathe to shape the blank first, it's heartbreaking work to try to get both sides of a cutter to the wanted profile just by grinding. Tried it years ago - even with bit in router spining as ground(grit is hard on router bearings)couldn't get profile wanted, may have just been lack of skill.On the other hand, with access to a metal lathe, it is quite easy. I've simply drilled a 1/2 inch hole in a piece of annealed 1095 1" to 1-1/2" dia rod (never tried anything bigger; for Milwaukee 1/2" router) , brazed in a 1/2" dia piece of drill rod for the shank, turned the 1095 blank to the desired profile, hacksaw out 2 notches, then grind back from edge like sharpening a drill bit, harden & temper, do final sharpening. Have never tried to make a carbide router bit.

          4. Phill_Giles | Mar 14, 2002 06:02pm | #8

            *Do you experience any balancing problems using this method ?

          5. Bucksnort_Billy | Mar 15, 2002 05:09am | #9

            *Meesta Pita, I've ground custom profiles into 3 blanks for a Sears moulding head, then run the stuff on a table saw. It does take a while to grind, but not nearly as long as it would to order and get a custom cutter. Shops around here will do it, $250 setup fee plus a lineal foot charge...hey, I can put up with some flyin' sparks...quench 'em with a Yuenling (sp?) for me...

          6. Adrian_Wilson | Mar 15, 2002 05:10pm | #10

            *I've ordered a few; I'd phone the local sharpening shops that deal with the shops first. The internet wasn't big last time I had occasion to do this, but there shouldn't be any shortage of options....search under 'tooling' and 'custom tooling', and again look for sharpeners. Most of the big tooling companies do this very routinely (try Guhdo, Gladu, L.R.H, Leuco for a start). Bull Sharpening Service in IL does this; Fred Bull is on a lot of cabinetmaker forums, seems very knowledgeable. I know one place (they do moulder knives only, so they won't help you), you can email them a CAD drawing (or fax in a drawing, and they'll scan it), and you'll have the knives the next day. I never had to wait long for a router bit, and the cost was reasonable. I've also ground a couple of HSS bits by hand, but without the proper tools, you won't get a great job....you can rough out the shape, but there is a lot of cleanup.

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