[kuroguy]

I've got about $100 to spend on end mills, cutters, etc. What should I buy to maximize my abilities to cut things. I want to make signs, carve stuff, and make circuit boards. Where are the best deals on bits? What do I need and what can I do without? My router can take 1/4" and 1/8" shanks. I'd also like to engrave aluminum and possibly cut 1/8" aluminum.

I'm sure I need more money to do it all.

Help me spend my money wisely.

Thanks in advance.

[Trotline]

I buy a lot from Drillman's Ebay store, BARGAIN BIN, NEW CARBIDE PCB DRILLS items in CARBIDE PLUS store on eBay!

For sign work, you'll want 1/4" V-shaped bits. I use 60deg and 90deg ones for small signs and general V-carving.

1/4" Single Flute endmills are good for wood and plastic. They're workhorse tools for profiling, roughing, etc.

I use ballnose endmills in 1/4", 1/8", and 1/16"(1/8 shank) sizes for finishing work.

He has a variety of small tools for PCB engraving, but I'm not familiar with that work, so I can't help you there. He sells very high quality tools, and I always recommend him.

Luke

[ger21]

Don't buy bits for future use. Buy what you need, when you need them and you'll waste much less money on bits you'll never use.

+1 on the Drillman for the best prices by far on small bits.

[kuroguy]

drillman has ball tip bits but they're stub type. how long of a cutting depth do you recommend? As you can tell, I'm pretty new to this.

[JerryBurks]

The stubbier the better (as long as the collet clears the work piece). Shorter bits run quieter, less runout and less breakage. However, for cutting through a board with an end mill the flute length should be about the board thickness to get the chips out of the slot.

[kuroguy]

just ordered $70 worth of bits from drillman1 and roginsf. Both had great prices. We'll see how my new router cuts soon enough. Thanks for the advice.