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| 3/32 end mills http://luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=41970 |
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| Author: | Dave Baley [ Tue Nov 19, 2013 1:21 am ] |
| Post subject: | 3/32 end mills |
So I am looking at the end mills at LMI and Stewmac and thinking they seem kind of expensive then I look at fleabay and amazon and find out that end mills seem to typically cost 1/5th the amount that LMI and Stewmac are charging. This seems too good to be true. What am I missing? Seems like a decent 3/32 end mill can be had for 4 or 5 dollars. Is there something special about the ones sold by luthier supply places or is it just not their business so their prices reflect their stocking charges? Dave |
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| Author: | Casey Cochran [ Tue Nov 19, 2013 6:56 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: 3/32 end mills |
Fastenall has Monster mills. Much less expensive and they do a nice job. |
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| Author: | Andy Birko [ Tue Nov 19, 2013 9:24 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: 3/32 end mills |
The $5 ones on e-bay work really well. I usually buy the Kyocera ones from DrillMan. He does have .0315" downcuts which actually do make a difference but I do find that so long as they're sharp, the up cuts do a pretty good job. Mine have been lasting forever too. |
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| Author: | Tai Fu [ Tue Nov 19, 2013 12:25 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: 3/32 end mills |
I bought the Stewmac ones, but not sure if I should have bought something cheaper... I mean a whole set of them runs close to 100 dollars, and no word on how long they last... |
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| Author: | Andy Birko [ Tue Nov 19, 2013 5:51 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: 3/32 end mills |
There's nothing wrong with the StewMac ones just that they're really expensive. The downcut aspect is nice and it can make a difference, even at that small size but I buy my bits 10 at a time - at their prices that would be pretty cost prohibitive. |
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| Author: | John Arnold [ Fri Nov 22, 2013 12:29 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: 3/32 end mills |
Quote: is it just not their business so their prices reflect their stocking charges? They charge that much because they can. They are about convenience and customer service, which comes at a price. For the smaller bits (1/16" and less), I use solid carbide dental burs, which I buy in quantity for about 60 cents each. They only have a slight righthand spiral, so 'upcut' is a bit of an overstatement. IMHO, downcut bits are mostly hype...whatever fuzz on the edge of the cut from using upcut bits can be sanded off in a couple of seconds. |
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| Author: | Tai Fu [ Fri Nov 22, 2013 3:57 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: 3/32 end mills |
Where can I get dental burrs? I do not know any dentists who are willing to give them away. |
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| Author: | Tai Fu [ Mon Dec 02, 2013 4:45 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: 3/32 end mills |
Sorry for bringing this thread up again but I got a problem. I bought some carbide end mills designed for PCB (they are 2 flute) and those bits are dull, I mean really dull. At router RPM it cuts very slowly and would sometimes burn the wood. I have seen even HSS end mills do better than this, and of course the Stewmac carbide end mill zips through materials (I use them for trimming back overhang sometimes) cleanly. I do not know if this is a case of "you get what you pay for" but maybe there's something to what Stewmac charges. I do not know of the Kyocera end mills are as sharp as Stewmac, I would hope so! Those bits feels really dull, almost as dull as drill bit flutes. |
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| Author: | bluescreek [ Mon Dec 02, 2013 5:57 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: 3/32 end mills |
I don't use down cut unless it has a cleared hole , I agree with Mr Arnold on that 100%. The chips can add heat and shorten cutter life. Here are the ones I use. Affordable and lets face it , SHARP , if the cutter is not sharp it is just a piece of shaped metal. http://www.bqtool.com/square-end-mills.html you can call them , They actually make a .020 bit for David Nichols and I they are great for detail work. |
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| Author: | jsmith [ Tue Dec 03, 2013 12:44 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: 3/32 end mills |
I get mine (downcut) from www.precisebits.com. Nice folks, wide selection & good product. They do have a $50 minimum purchase. However, that's no problem for me, as I like to use a new bit on about every second or third guitar anyway. |
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| Author: | windsurfer [ Wed Dec 04, 2013 9:39 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: 3/32 end mills |
Hi Dave, No need to go to Stewmac, Specialty Tool over on Aero Camino has good quality end mills locally. -jd |
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| Author: | whiskywill [ Thu Dec 05, 2013 12:03 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: 3/32 end mills |
Tai Fu wrote: Where can I get dental burrs? There are hundreds on offer on eBay. |
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| Author: | Dave Baley [ Sat Dec 07, 2013 10:30 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: 3/32 end mills |
windsurfer wrote: Hi Dave, No need to go to Stewmac, Specialty Tool over on Aero Camino has good quality end mills locally. -jd JD Completely forgot about specialty. Haven't been there in maybe 15 years. I definitely need to check them out again. thanks Dave |
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