PSA: That $200 router bit set from Amazon is a fire hazard waiting to happen

I bought a 15-piece set off Amazon for like $180 last spring. Seemed like a steal. First time using a straight bit on some cherry, it started smoking after 30 seconds. The bearings felt gritty and the bit wobbled like crazy. I threw the whole set out and went back to buying bits one at a time from my supplier. Cost me way more in the end. Anyone else had bad luck with those cheap bulk sets?

2 comments

2 Comments

rodriguez.cora1mo ago

Funny you mention that... I had almost the same thing happen with a set from a big box store. Ended up trashing all of them after one bit caught fire on some maple. What worked for me was switching to buying individual bits from a local shop that sells Whiteside. Cost more up front but they last way longer and I havent had a single problem since.

kim.stella1mo ago

Yeah but just to be clear, the bit catching fire on maple is almost always a feed rate issue, not the bit itself. Maple is a hardwood but its not that crazy dense. If you're pushing too slow and letting the wood burn instead of cutting, even the best bits will overheat and catch. I've used those cheapo big box sets on maple before and yeah they dull fast but catching fire is more about technique. Not saying Whiteside isnt better because it totally is, but that specific problem might come back to bite you.