Dropped $600 on a CNC router bit set and it was a total bust

I bought this big set of carbide router bits off a random website last month for my CNC setup in the shop. Told myself it was a steal at $600 compared to buying them one by one from a known brand. Well, the first bit snapped on a simple plywood cut after like 10 minutes. Tried another one and it chipped right away on some maple. So yeah, I basically lit $600 on fire and now I'm back to buying Amana bits individually. Has anyone else had bad luck with those bulk bit packs from no-name suppliers?

3 comments

3 Comments

bell.felix4d agoTop Commenter

Six hundred bucks for a random set from a website you never heard of sounds like a gamble from the start. My experience is that cheap carbide usually means it's softer or has bad geometry, so it snaps or chips the second it hits anything with grain. Buying a smaller set from a known brand is boring but ends up cheaper in the long run.

diana_west274d ago

Miller tools set me back about 400 bucks for a 15 piece set five years ago and I'm still using the same bits today. It's the same thing with power tools or even tires for your truck. People see a big cheap set and think they're getting a deal, but the stuff wears out fast or breaks and you end up buying twice. A smaller kit from a solid brand costs more upfront but the bits actually hold up. I've watched way too many guys learn that lesson the hard way on job sites.

christopher9434d ago

Diana is right on the money here @diana_west27, I've seen the same thing happen way too many times. A smaller set from a known brand just works out better in the long run.