Originally posted by NeoMoses
Do you have any recommendations on where to buy tooling? I'm looking for good HSS and Carbide end mills, hopefully not too expensive. A place with a website would be nice, but if they only have a catalog available, that's fine too. Any recommendations? |
I use OSG, Niagara, Dapra, Robb Jack, Richmill, Fullerton, Micro 100 & Bentz for 98% of my tooling needs. All of them have distributers all over the place and they all have websites, not sure about Robb Jack though. I learned early on in my machining career that cheap tools are for the most part junk. There are exceptions though. My lead times are extremely short and I absolutely must have tools within a day or sooner. Example: last week-10 layup molds for composite wind tunnel models in 3 days. So I only use distributers that are local, generally stock the tools I use most often and can get me tools that are not in stock fast.
OSG is pricey but almost no other tool can touch them performancewise. Very good tools. I get them from Richmill. About Richmill-they stopped selling their toolholders through distributers about a year ago. You buy directly through them and the pricebreaks the distributers got are passed on to you (25-40%). That applies to OSG tools too.
Niagara I get from McMaster. These are the high performance 45deg endmills for aluminum & non ferrous materials. Average price.
Robb Jack, Dapra & Micro 100 I get from US Shop Tools (usshoptools.com)
Fullerton I get from discount-tools.com. Good prices.
For more tools I suggest you go to Modern Machine Shop's website (mmsonline.com), go to the suppliers link and start looking. A good resource for tools.