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CMT router bits

5K views 10 replies 11 participants last post by  eflanders 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
It has been along time since I used their bits. What the word on them?
 
#2 ·
I have a couple and they cut well. I don't recall, but I likely bought them based on price. It wouldn't be my go-to brand though. I think Whiteside and Freud are better bits.

I've never done any in-depth testing on different brands of the same type bit however. This is just my opinion based on experience.
 
#3 ·
CMT, Freud, other brands. Many are good. And I own different brands with different profiles. Quality bits usually will fair quite well for standard shop use. But….

I needed a beading bit for one piece of furniture I was making. Probably never use it again. It was expensive. I saw on Amazon a yellow painted one called Yonico at about half the price. I was shocked at the quality in it's appearance. Cheap bits usually have pitted paint and dubious looking carbide blades. And it cut as good as my expensive bits. Since then I've purchased a few more with other profiles and used them. Half the price and the same performance and longevity. Strange but true.
 
#7 ·
CMT seems hit or miss to me. I run through a lot of them on a router table and have been buying dozens of them since they're stocked locally at Menards. The first one I bought was impressive. One of the recent ones I got felt dull right out of the box as it was causing more than usual burning and chipping on cherry. Switching it to another one solved the problem.

The black contractor grade bits aren't that great. I've used about 3 and while one was decent, the others did not leave a very clean cut at all.

I like Amana bits better. Whiteside I still need to give a test but my regular supplier tends to send Amana bits when I place an order.
 
#8 ·
There are actually 2 levels (at least) of CMT bits now apparently. Menards carries both if you want to see them side bu side. The cheaper ones are of Chinese (or Asian) origin. The orange ones are still Italian, and my experience is they are just as good as they've always been (haven't tried the Asian ones). I have always ranked the orange CMT bits as good as the Whiteside and Freud bits. They do seem to cost a little more than the others, so I normally pick Whiteside. Besides, in most cases WS has a broader selection.
 
#9 ·
It's been a while since I bought any, but the last one I got had thinner carbide that most others….it cuts well though. I prefer Whiteside, Infinity, Freud Quadra Cut for premium bits.
 
#10 ·
The biggest difference between expensive and not so router bits is the thickness of the carbide cutter. The thicker it is the more times you can resharpen it. For hobby use it really does not matter.

- Carloz
I have to disagree. The quality of the carbide has a lot to do with it and how long they stay sharp. Asian bits use a lower grade of steel for the bodies and a lower grade of carbide, some even use recycled carbide. The composition and grain structure of the carbide is what will keep the bit sharper longer.
 
#11 · (Edited by Moderator)
I used to work in the carbide industry and I agree with Holbren that the quality/grade of the carbide has a lot to do with both wear and sharpness. The use of recycled carbide and steel also affects the quality. Using virgin steel and using virgin carbide will produce a higher quality product regardless of it's quality/grade. The wear and strength factor of carbide has a lot to do with grain structure and getting consistent grain structure using recycled materials is difficult at best. The same holds true for steel. If you want the best buying American, Italian or German is the way to go as they use less recycled steel and carbide than most Asian companies do.
 
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