End mills for ringwork

[josie]

I am trying to get set up to do ringwork using a horizontal mount laminate trimmer. Where can I get endmills to fit in a porter cable with 1/4" shank. I want different sizes to inlay different thicknesses of material ( .020" to .125").

Also, what size endmill shold I get to cut a groove for .020" veneers. Should it be a little undersize to get a snug fit or a little oversize to allow for glue or just go with the exact size of the inlay material?

As you can tell I am just a beginner. Thanks for the help.

 

[Graciocues]

Braina has great prices on endmills. You can pick up a 1/8" collet for under $5.
A dremel tool works great and doesn't make all the noise.

 

[Tony Zinzola]

I used to do my rings manually on my lathe, using a Proxxon Tool instead of a Dremel. The dremel has way too much runout. If you want to cut a .125" slot with the dremel, you need a .010" end mill, that's how bad they are. I guess I exaggerated slightly, but they are horrible. With the Proxxon, if I cut a .125" slot, that is what I get.

You can get bits at http://www.precisebits.com/applications/cuetools.htm

As for what size you need for a .020 veneer, you will need to test yourself. Depends on how good or bad your laminate trimmer or dremel tool is. Keep in mind that the thinner the bits you use, the more expensive they are and the easier they are to break. Especially when doing it by hand. I broke nearly $200 worth of bits this week all on the same cue and I was going extremely slow. It took over 4 hours to cut out 8 inlays. If I had been able to use a .0313 bit, it would have taken about 5 minutes.

 

[matta]

Keep in mind that the thinner the bits you use, the more expensive they are and the easier they are to break. Especially when doing it by hand. I broke nearly $200 worth of bits this week all on the same cue and I was going extremely slow. It took over 4 hours to cut out 8 inlays. If I had been able to use a .0313 bit, it would have taken about 5 minutes.

Wow, what size bits were you using?

I've yet to try anything smaller than the 1/32" bits.

 

[brianna187]

Braina has great prices on endmills. You can pick up a 1/8" collet for under $5.
A dremel tool works great and doesn't make all the noise.

thanks scott i only carry .020 and .032 think tinker or presice bits
is where to go

 

[cueman]

I sell the 1/4" to 1/8" collet adapter for the Porter Cable router or any other 1/4" router for $10. Once you get the adapter you can get your 1/8" shank endmills from Lee and you will be in business.