Router Bits Reviews

So I just bought a house in NE DC that I am renovating. Lots of work. Every last thing in the place is a disaster that needs attention. So I am focusing on the building envelope, a part of which are the windows. My sashes are so entirely screwed that I originally assumed that I would have to eventualy buy all new windows. Problem. All of the windows are non standard sizes. Another problem, I don't have the money to buy all new windows. So while trying to repair a window I broke a pane and replaced the sash with an piece of an old door. It looks great from the street. About one step above plywood on the scale of ghetto to fabulous (do not confuse with the "ghetto fabulous" scale, it measures something completley different). So in my research on how to build a sash, I came across some instructions, and router bit sets. I got the 13 piece Freud set a few weeks ago, so came back to check out if Amazon had a sash set by freud. Needles to say I found the set, and read the review that R. Feeser wrote. After reading that review, I got so excited about building my own windows I just about wet myself. That was yesterday. Today I am still freaking excited. If I wasn't so cheap, and didn't allways use the supersaver shipping, I'd be rushing home to start pumping out window sashes. So thank you R. Feeser! Your review was so freaking awesome I wan't to wet my pants all over again!!!

This Freud 99-051 and 050 work as a set to give you complete sash making capabilities. My woodworking buying of equipment went into overdrive when I went into my local home center and saw how expensive it would be to replace the windows in my house. This Freud bit combination is making my intentions realizable. I made my first window sash and am ecstatic over how professional it looks. Each sash is the standard 1 3/8" thick, and has true divided light (French door style sash bars, and mullions) All done by using these two bits.
I must admit the instructions that come with the Freud bits leaves you a little dizzy. They eliminated all hand holding, and went into mechanical-arithmetic formulas for getting the job done. Then I discovered the CMT USA bit manufacturing instructions that are available at the CMTUSA.com web site under "How To" It is a lot more intuitive, whereas they give you step by step instructions. The thing about the CMT set is they are based on 5/8" of an inch spacing on one side, and 1/2" on the other. That makes for a lot of adjustment in doing the different stages. This Freud bit set, which is similar to the CMT in every way, except one. They are 9/16" on both sides, with 1/4" tongue area in the center.
You could make a casement sash with these bits, and simply build a frame to mount it in, and include the necessary configuring to allow for handles and opening mechanisms. That and a little weather-strip and you're set. This bit set also makes twin sashes for your standard double hungs. I bought a book here at Amazon called Windows and Skylights, and it went into a lot about making different style windows. Not about how to buy them, but about how to build them. Highly recommended book, listing suppliers of hardware, and the ins and outs of insulation properties of different styles. In that book the author states that using vinyl jamb liners with built in springs are preferred, and will save you a lot of time.
What I am actually going to do, is buy Honduras Mahogany, and make beautiful windows. I am looking for a good supplier of high quality solid polished brass for the locks and hardware. I could go on for hours, but this is supposed to be a review of the Freud bits, and it is.
These bits are not cheap, but if you plan on building lots of windows, and may possibly need to build more than one set, their strong carbide, and balanced, no vibration cut, will give you the quality you are looking for. It is nice to not have to sand the edges at all, or at least not very much, when they are as highly figured as these edges are.
The local largest window showroom has suggested that I carry a sample of the Mahogany creations in their showroom. I'm honored, and plan on doing that once I am confident in my own houses creations. Once you see what the truth is about the lack of true insulation properties of the common vinyl window, you will all the more want solid wood windows. Combining the insulating properties of solid wood, with the natural weather resistance of mahogany, and you have a combination that is hard to beat. I am leaning toward the single glass, and then doubling that on the inside with a removable storm panel, and tripling it with an exterior storm window. (That is a popular Pella design)
What is significantly different is with typical "insulated glass" windows, you have a vinyl shell, which conducts cold instead of insulating, and then passes that cold through the aluminum wedge that is sealed between the glass, which also transmits cold readily, on through to the inner glass, which is cold on the outer areas, and only warm on the inside center. Consequently the major window testing association, using a rating system that measures both the center of the glass on the inside, and the outside edges, and averages them. With your own wood windows, you eliminate that. In addition to Mahogany's natural wear properties (Decks are built from it without any finish put on it whatsoever) You have to look into Sikkens line of semi clear finishes. I coated my Cedar Addition with it five years ago and it looks as new right now as it did when I first applied it. It is expensive, but worth every dime.
Anyhow, get the Freud bit set, turn out your first sash, and get excited about the possibilities.

I have had two of these for quite a while. It would be hard to find an easier to use lightweight freehand router. It is hard to believe, but it has plenty of power for almost any task. Many routers have low tech collets--massive things with few compression slots. They require a lot of force to close securely on a bit. They also tend to freeze on to a bit making removal a chore. Makita uses a high tech finely-machined collet with many compression slots. The result is a collet that holds securely and releases easily with only very modest tightening required. Height adjustment is primitive by current standards.

We are a cabinet shop, and bought several of these routers many years ago. Now needing more routers, this is our first choice, and are glad they are still offered. Aside from replacing the occasional cord, they have been been totally reliable and a great all around tool to work with- not too heavy, not too light. They are used almost everyday and haven't needed any servicing in 15 years. We can't believe they keep on going.

Not a shill for Makita, and have a lot of tools from other good brands that are great- PC's biscuit joiner, Bosch's jig saw, etc. That being said, when we replace a tool the "M" brand is hard to beat. Hope this helps. -Rob

I bought this router from Amazon.com a couple months ago. Being the first router that I have ever bought, I did a lot of research. After reading many reviews, I decided to go with the Makita RF1100. I liked it because of it's light weight and variable speed settings. Having used it for some time now, it lives up to all of the praise that I read about it. A finish carpenter friend of mine asked to borrow it from me after his died in the middle of a job. He absolutely fell in love with it, and it took over three weeks to get it back from him!! For my money, you can't go wrong with this router.

After a lot of research on what my first router would be, I decided on the Mak RF1101. However, when I found the RF1100 on special, I decided I could live without variable speed. Compared to the PC 690 (kind of the standard for mid-size fixed base routers) the RF1100 is marginaly more expensive, but it weighs less, is more powerfull, has soft-start, and makes a lot less noise. The RF1100 has worked beautifully in every application I've used it: plowing dadoes, rabbeting, flush triming, triming edging using a shop built baseplate, and rounding over edges

One interesting thing is the fact that the base uses the same bolt pattern as the PC 690. This means that the RF1100 can use sub-bases, router table inserts, and/or template bushings designed for the 690.

This is the only 3/16" drywall cut-out tool on the market!I use it to do "ALL" my cutting.It speeds up the job and last for a VERY LONG time!Not too much worries about them breaking.Just remember to hold on tight and be careful not to miss a box or vent.I use it for everything:boxes,vents,doors,windows,ect.If you have not mastered cutting out bowes with the stanard 1/8" bitts then I would deffinitley NOT RECOMEND you using this 3/16" bitt on boxes or vents just yett.The finishers will thank you for waiting untill you gain more experience.Lots of luck.I NEVER PURCHASE another 1/8" bitt or use a saw again!!My job is completed faster and thus I make more money by the hour.

Portercable is the only manufactuer of the size 3/16" drywall router bit.It fits all drywall cut-out tools(rotozip,portecable,dewalt).It cuts out doors and windows faster than backcutting & using a hand saw.It also cuts out vents and boxes.It does the job faster than any 1/8" bit on the market.The 1/4" window/door bits are not usable with boxes & vents, where this 3/16" bit is.The bit has a very long and durable lifetime.The best router bit on the market.Only the real drywall profesionals are even aware of it's existence.Be one of the 1st.

When I bought my P-C 690 I should have gotten both plung & fixed bases. Now I have a realy usefull tool, in this lightweight router.

Porter Cable's 6931 Plunge router base is an excellent buy. It adds versatility to the #693. I highly recommend purchasing this item for anyone that does not want to go to the expense of purchasing an entire router just to have the plunge feature.

This is one of the best set of bits I've owned. I was skeptical about ordering tools online, ordered this set anyway as a gamble and was pleasantly surprised by how happy I am with them. Upon calling Woodline to express my happiness I learned more about their lifetime warranty, and it actually is a lifetime warranty, no fine print (but I doubt I'll ever have to use it) and was pleased with their friendly customer service.

Like many of you I have purchased many router bits over the years and I have been dissapointed more times than not. However, after the speedy delivery of my 30pc set from Woodline (I recieved the set only 2 days after I ordered IT!) I was amazed with the quality of the router bits. The carbide is superior to anything I have used before and the bits cut so smooth without any burning or chatter. I have used everything from expensive Italian imports, US made, Taiwan, and Chinise, and I will never use anything other that Woodline router bits again! Bob Mcowski - Devoted Woodline User

I was a little leary about this order only due to the low, low price for this particular set of router bits. Don't let that stop you, in fact, if available, I plan to order another set to have on hand when this set has to be sent in for sharpening. These are good quality bits at an incredibly low price, I will definately be looking for other items this seller has to offer.

Excellent quality

I purchased the Bosch fixed based router last fall before the combo kit came out. I eventually mounted the fixed base to my home built router table. It is a bit of pain to remove the base from the table when I wanted to use it freehand. Since Bosch created a reat quick release for the router motor I decide to Purchased the plunge unit for portable use. The base also has fine depth adjustment (1/64") marks so you can actually adjust within 1/128th depth. The unit stops are easy to read and adjust. The motor slips in and out easily but can't fall out by accident. When you place the router into the base the bit is dead on center. No worry about bit cuts wandering if the base is running against a fence or pattern as you run your router. The plunge base works smoothly and the lock mechanism is easy to use.

If you have the Bosch EVS router then use your fixed base in your table and buy this to make your unit quickly portable again.

If you already have the Delta Shaper this stub spindle fits
(43.355) then you're already half way there! This item lets you use both 1/2" spindle shaper cutters and 1/4" or 1/2" router bits
Fit and finish of the accessory was very, very good. No idea if it is made offshore, but given Delta's track record the last few years it wouldn't surprise me. Nonetheless, it it a well made accessory and given the amount of machining to make it the price
Amazon charges is quite reasonable.

The stability and usability of the Delta shaper is far superior
to any router table setup I've seen yet. This accessory will let
you leverage your collection of router bits and avoid the high cost of seldom used shaper cutters.

Amazon was a little slower than usual getting me this item, but
then hardly any other online tool source could even order it! Kudos to Amazon for getting me this fine addition to my tool collection.