Anyone routing polycarbonate/acrylic?

[gloomyandy]

Hi Scrit,
Where in the UK are you? I'm based just outside of Leeds. You don't by any chance have any recommendations for UK based suppliers of cutting tools do you (in small quantaties for hobby use)?

Thanks

Andy

[Scrit]

Hi Andy

I'm about 25 or so miles from you going towards Manchester. If you want off the shelf router cutters for wood/plastics I'd try (Carbide UK in Hull on 01482 227234 - they are a trade outfit (the make their own spirals) but they will do credit card and their prices make Trend look sick. Another way of doing it is to find a Freud dealer in Leeds (you could always ring Freud UK on 0113-245 3737 for your nearest dealer) and try to get a discount - Freud is a bit pricy at list (almost as bad as Trend) but I generally manage to squeeze a reasonable discount out of them - some of the builder's merchants like Travis-Perkins sell their stuff at quite good prices, too. The final "choice" is to try the local Trend dealers (almost every power tool shop you'll ever come across). All three makes have solid carbide spirals in their range. Another option is to talk to ATA Engineering Processes in Hemel Hempstead on 01442-264411 - they are the Onsrud agents in the Uk and seem to carry stock of most things. Finally, you could always contact Clico Tooling in Sheffield on 0114-243 3007 - Clico don't yet do solid carbide, but they do make high quality spirals is HSS (suitable for UHMW, polycarbonate, etc) and they will do mail order.

Beware! Solid carbide spirals are not cheap!