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+-- Thread: Experience with Ekstrom Carlson router bits? (/showthread.php?tid=7327381)
Experience with Ekstrom Carlson router bits? - MyKidsDad - 01-27-2017
I'm in the market for a 1/2" carbide upcut spiral router bit. I have a Whiteside bit in my Amazon shopping cart. Looking on ebay, I came across an Ekstrom Carlson bit for 80% of the price of the Whiteside. Searching on Google, I can't find very much information about the bits, other than what's available on the Ekstrom Carlson website. I can't find any user reviews, comparisons, etc.
Does anyone have any experience with Ekstrom Carlson carbide spiral bits? If so, I'd very much appreciate hearing your thoughts on the bits and the cut quality.
RE: Experience with Ekstrom Carlson router bits? - Steve N - 01-27-2017
I've never heard of them. If you buy be sure to post a review. I use 85% Whiteside bits, and have always been pretty happy with their cut, and longevity. If these are that much cheaper and even close to as good, that would be something. But I keep hearing that "No free lunch" thing, goes right along with getting what you paid for
Knowing the lingo helps if they don't provide a key.
(SW) = Softwood, (HW) = Hardwood, (CW) = Composite Wood, (SP) = Soft Plastic, (HP) = Hard Plastic, and (SSP) = Solid Surface.
Looking I am not seeing an oranges to oranges comparison for any 80% differences in prices on bits I would use. Are you comparing specs, or pictures?
Plus make sure you are comparing HSS versus Solid Carbide. I am seeing a lot of HSS at Ekstrom, not knowing what bit you have in your basket makes it hard to say, but your description says carbide. If so that is your cost difference, now we need to determine quality, but for me Whiteside is a known quality item.
Plus if you are buying Whiteside you may want to go to Holbren, and get your Woodnet discount I find Brian very competitive, and with the discount then it's a no brainer.
RE: Experience with Ekstrom Carlson router bits? - MyKidsDad - 01-27-2017
Comparing this Ekstrom Carlson to Whiteside RU4900. The Ekstrom Carlson says it is solid carbide and says it is for SW, HW, CW, SP, SSP.
The Whiteside sells for ~$50 on Amazon. The Ekstrom Carlson lists for $32 on their site but can be had for ~$26 on ebay.
So it's almost 50% the cost of the Whiteside. Sorry, when I said 80% before, I was comparing a 1/2" Ekstrom Carlson bit to the 3/8" Whiteside bit. I forgot I already bought a Whiteside 1/2" bit.
Thanks for the reminder about Holbren. I remembered someone offered a WoodNet discount but couldn't remember who.
RE: Experience with Ekstrom Carlson router bits? - JGrout - 01-27-2017
I would consider one
I have been around Ekstrom Carlson tooling and they are good bits just not widely known
Joe
RE: Experience with Ekstrom Carlson router bits? - MyKidsDad - 01-28-2017
Was about to pull the trigger on the Ekstrom Carlson bit when I realized it's a 3/8" shank bit, not a 1/2" shank. So, my price comparison above was not an apples to apples comparison.
RE: Experience with Ekstrom Carlson router bits? - Brian in sunny FL - 01-28-2017
With solid carbide spirals you have to be careful about that, the cutting diameter is often the same size as the shank. It would cost a lot more to take a 1/2" carbide rod and machine the cutter down to 3/8" than it would be to start with a 3/8" rod.
Don't know how may of these you will use but if frequently, worth trying to get a 3/8" collet for your router.