What bits to buy?

[ledaero]

I cut mostly sheet goods - ply and MDF. Mostly 3.6mm, 6mm, 12mm and 18mm. I want to start cutting 1" timber panels as well.

I made my machine to make 'arty' pieces made from laminated ply (15-20 laminated 18mm ply sheets) and things like scrollworked floor lamps, MDF signs, timber signs, boxes, and some complex assemblies made from laminating MDF blocks together.

I bought a few end mills to get me started cutting ply and MDF - a 50mm bottom-cleaning bit, for surfacing my spoilboard, a few of 6*18mm 2-flute spirals and 3*6mm two-flute spirals. I am still learning about feeds and speeds, but I am getting there.

They worked fine for my initial cutting needs, but now, I want MOAR!!!

My machine is down for a z-axis upgrade and a new controller (Smoothieboard) so it seems a good time to buy those extra bits I need.

I know I need a longer cutting edge, by a couple of mm, to cleanly cut through the thicker ply and MDF (I have only cut 3mm-12mm so far, so it hasn't been an issue) and I would like to start with v-carving and such.

So, ball nose, v-bit - so many choices, what the heck do I buy?

I want to start making some finer-detail stuff from 3mm ply, so I will need a 2.5mm bit for cutting slots, I would like a stronger bit for bulk-cutting heavier ply so probably something with 1/2"/12mm shank, but 1, 2, 3, 4 or how many flutes? Straight or spiral?

Can anyone give me an idea of a basic beginners range of bits that will cover the things I want to do?

My machine is 1.5M x 2.3M and I run a 2.2KW DC spindle. It's belt/pinion drive.

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[louieatienza]

I have a thread in the DIY router section, it's stickied to the top, describing different endmills and their uses...

[ledaero]

I have a thread in the DIY router section, it's stickied to the top, describing different endmills and their uses...

Louie, you're a legend! Thanks a lot - just reading it now - great post!

[ledaero]

"I am a US resident and have a US shipping address"

Yeah, about that...