Folks -

I need to make some frame and panel doors and haven't done this before. I'd
appreciate any brand, etc, recommendations for 2pc bit sets for routing
rails and stiles - also, brands perhaps that should be avoided.... maybe I
should have joined the HCA after all... curses!

Also, it seems that the rail bit would see only a fraction of the use of the
stile bit - when the stile bit wears do you have to purchase a new set of
bits? That's either 1) Odd; or 2) I'm missing something...

Thanks!

John Moorhead

John,

I like Freud and have several sets of their rail and stile cutter sets and
haven't had a problem with them yet. But before you decide on a brand,
decide on what your needs are first. For instance, do you have a router
with enough hp to swing a large horizontal bit or should you be looking at a
vertical panel bit? What shape / design are you looking to make. There are
more than a few methods for making raised panels and not all of them involve
using large router bits.

As for the bits dulling, they can be resharpened and you can do touch up
with a small diamond sharpening plate or powder. Making raised panels out
of MDF is rough on bits so if that's the material of choice, then you may
want to consider that in your purchasing decision.

Bob S.


"John Moorhead" wrote in message
m...
Folks -

I need to make some frame and panel doors and haven't done this before.
I'd
appreciate any brand, etc, recommendations for 2pc bit sets for routing
rails and stiles - also, brands perhaps that should be avoided.... maybe I
should have joined the HCA after all... curses!

Also, it seems that the rail bit would see only a fraction of the use of
the
stile bit - when the stile bit wears do you have to purchase a new set of
bits? That's either 1) Odd; or 2) I'm missing something...

Thanks!

John Moorhead

Aye. My Freud bits are fine.

Cheers

Frank

"Bob" wrote in message
...
John,

I like Freud and have several sets of their rail and stile cutter sets and
haven't had a problem with them yet. But before you decide on a brand,
decide on what your needs are first. For instance, do you have a router
with enough hp to swing a large horizontal bit or should you be looking at
a
vertical panel bit? What shape / design are you looking to make. There
are
more than a few methods for making raised panels and not all of them
involve
using large router bits.

As for the bits dulling, they can be resharpened and you can do touch up
with a small diamond sharpening plate or powder. Making raised panels out
of MDF is rough on bits so if that's the material of choice, then you may
want to consider that in your purchasing decision.

Bob S.


"John Moorhead" wrote in message
m...
Folks -

I need to make some frame and panel doors and haven't done this before.
I'd
appreciate any brand, etc, recommendations for 2pc bit sets for routing
rails and stiles - also, brands perhaps that should be avoided.... maybe
I
should have joined the HCA after all... curses!

Also, it seems that the rail bit would see only a fraction of the use of
the
stile bit - when the stile bit wears do you have to purchase a new set
of
bits? That's either 1) Odd; or 2) I'm missing something...

Thanks!

John Moorhead






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I've used Freud, Amana, and MLCS. All work very well. Avoid the
super-cheap sets, and you'll be happy.

Brian.



"John Moorhead" wrote in message
m...
Folks -

I need to make some frame and panel doors and haven't done this before.
I'd
appreciate any brand, etc, recommendations for 2pc bit sets for routing
rails and stiles - also, brands perhaps that should be avoided.... maybe I
should have joined the HCA after all... curses!

Also, it seems that the rail bit would see only a fraction of the use of
the
stile bit - when the stile bit wears do you have to purchase a new set of
bits? That's either 1) Odd; or 2) I'm missing something...

Thanks!

John Moorhead

How many do you expect to do?!
If you buy a set, you are probably right, but it won't happen for a while.
You can avoid the problem by buying a reversal bit.

With router bits, you get what you pay for. The cheap ones don't last as
long or cut quite as well; but if you needs are small, cheap ones are okay.

So, it really depends on what you need.

I have a CMT set that I have been using since 1995 and it still cuts well
with out having being resharpened. I have done several projects and
remodeled a kitchen full of doors with this set.

As for you indication that the rail bit will get less wear than the stile
bit, maybe so maybe no as the routing and or cutting across the end grain is
considerably harder on the cutting surface than cutting with the grain.


"John Moorhead" wrote in message
m...
Folks -

I need to make some frame and panel doors and haven't done this before.
I'd
appreciate any brand, etc, recommendations for 2pc bit sets for routing
rails and stiles - also, brands perhaps that should be avoided.... maybe I
should have joined the HCA after all... curses!

Also, it seems that the rail bit would see only a fraction of the use of
the
stile bit - when the stile bit wears do you have to purchase a new set of
bits? That's either 1) Odd; or 2) I'm missing something...

Thanks!

John Moorhead

I just got the Freud set with the Raiser (with backcutter) and the
Stile/Rail cutters. I am very impressed with this set. The raiser
(the big horizontal one) can cut the panel in one pass. It has four
cutters, two at different heights that allow you to do this. VERY
smooth results. And for the stile and rail set, the thing I noticed is
that the Freud set does not leave any chipout where the panel groove is
cut. Other sets (yes Whiteside included) have some trouble in this
area. The Freud is smooth as can be. I can highly recommend this set.

John Moorhead wrote:

Folks -

I need to make some frame and panel doors and haven't done this
before. I'd appreciate any brand, etc, recommendations for 2pc bit
sets for routing rails and stiles - also, brands perhaps that should
be avoided.... maybe I should have joined the HCA after all...
curses!

Also, it seems that the rail bit would see only a fraction of the use
of the stile bit - when the stile bit wears do you have to purchase a
new set of bits? That's either 1) Odd; or 2) I'm missing something...

Thanks!

John Moorhead

"John Moorhead" wrote in
m:

Folks -

I need to make some frame and panel doors and haven't done this
before. I'd appreciate any brand, etc, recommendations for 2pc bit
sets for routing rails and stiles - also, brands perhaps that should
be avoided.... maybe I should have joined the HCA after all...
curses!

snippage
Great experiences: Whiteside, Freud, Amana
OK experiences, but don't stay sharp as long: Rockler

By the time you drop around $100 on these sets, you may want to check with
a good local sharpening service to see what they sell and recommend. I'd
bet you could find one near Santa Rosa. (Maybe Dave Hastings in Rohnert
Park?) Our guy in Concord sells Whiteside, and only Whiteside.

BTW, good on ya' with the Mt Storm gloat the other day! That's one well run
yard up there.

Patriarch

"John Moorhead" wrote in message
m...


I need to make some frame and panel doors and haven't done this before.
I'd

Ditto. See my post from a few days earlier.

rails and stiles - also, brands perhaps that should be avoided.... maybe I
should have joined the HCA after all... curses!

Since I don't expect to be doing a lot of these (especially if I find out
that it's too damned hard and much easier to break into new houses under
construction and steal theirs), I wanted a good value. After much
rumination - I went with the MLCS Katana bit set for $79. (Their non-Katana
brand is ten bux cheaper).

Googlin' showed me that the MLCS proponents slightly offset their
detractors, which was not the case on Woodline (their's is $59) where the
unhappy posters outnumbered all.