Collet sizes and Starting cutters

[NVTS]

Hello,

I have an ER20 collet chuck on my spindle. I am going to purchase collets and cutters. I will also be drilling holes for shelves as well. I was wondering the following:

1.What is a good starting set of cutters for carving and cutting of signs and cabinet doors? Will be using Vcarve pro as software.

2.The cutters shank will dictate the collet size, but was wondering what others have found as the main collets needed.

3.Imperial or Metric?


Thanks in advance.

Cheers…

Howard

[Oaktreeman]

For carving signs a 120 degree V bit is my favorite, but also handy are 90 & 60 degree. I always try to buy 1/2" shank...simply stiffer. As for ER 20 collets, I bought an entire set of American, but if I could only have three, they'd be 1/8, 1/4 & 1/2".

[NVTS]

Thanks for the reply,

I will make a note of that for carving. That is what I hope to be doing the most of.

But for drilling and cutting panels out of mdf and melamine and plywood, have you done this and what bits and collets did you use.

Cheers...

[brtech]

I'm roughly in the same state as you, but I have made some purchases.

I have 1/4 and 1/2 collets, and planning on purchasing a 1/8" from precisebits. For cutting MDF and Plywood, I have spiral upcuts 1/4 and 1/8" and several straight bits in 1/4 and 1/2 shank. Some recommend downcuts if work holding is a problem.

I have a V cut, although I don't anticipate much sign work. I have some dovetail bits, because I plan to make some of those, and I have a couple of roundover bits.

[NVTS]

Thanks for the info,

This helps with the basic bit and collet needs. Keeps cost down until those special bits are needed.

Cheers...