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Does anybody have a source for reasonably-priced, good quality 1/8 shank bits? I'm looking for something to use in working on rosettes (with the Dremel).
I've found that the burr and end-mill style work fine in ebony etc for inlay but that it's more difficult finding something that will do a good job in softwoods. For pre-made (classical-style) rosettes, I've used a standard dremel 1/4 router bit.
The common procedure in making solid-wood rosettes seems to be to glue in the inlay then rout for the 'lines' afterward. I realize that my stock of narrow router bits is pretty limited.
Thanks
John

Your dentist can give you some "worn out" bits. They are still plenty sharp for our purposes and he will have a never ending supply. Best of all it gives you pain free reason to see him.

Actually these may be a bit smaller than what you're looking for but it doesn't hurt to find out.

I found this place in passing and bookmarked for later:

American Carbide

I have absolutely no experience with them and can't say if they're good or
bad, but they're probably worth looking into.

[QUOTE=RCoates] Your dentist can give you some "worn out" bits. They are still plenty sharp for our purposes and he will have a never ending supply. Best of all it gives you pain free reason to see him.

Actually these may be a bit smaller than what you're looking for but it doesn't hurt to find out.[/QUOTE]

Ronn-
Thanks for the suggestion. My dentist cast-offs will cut ebony or shell, but not spruce. Perhaps they are really worn out?
John

I've used Stew Mac's downcut spiral bits and they work really well in spruce, nice clean edges.

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Jonathan Kendall, Siloam Springs AR

I heard woodcraft had some on sale for $5 each. But I m not sure what type or size.

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I've had good service and products from these folks....
http://www.drillbitcity.com/

Gasawdust -- the bits from Drill Bit City are great and very cost effective. For rosette's I'd be careful as all of the ones I have purchased from them have been up cut bits which are not what you want to use for cutting rosette channels in spruce.

I use their bits a lot for cutting inlay pockets where a fuzzy edge on ebony doesn't matter.

Rod, I checked the RobbJack site and couldn't find 1/8" shank bits.

http://www.american-carbide.com/
I have several 1/32", 1/16" and 1/8" spiral End mills all with 1/8" shaft. I love them. Prompt delivery, quality product. Cuts purfling grooves, channels and other small dados. I now use the 1/16" to circle cut sound holes.Greg39058.7308101852

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Greg
http://garibaldiinstruments.com/

Thanks, everybody- I've got a bunch of leads now.
No more excuses for my raggedy rosette edges!
Cheers
John
PS: The Woodcraft bits are a good buy, but none of them is a 'straight' bit- various roundovers and veiners. The small roundover might be useful for rounding binding, but I think I'll stick to the scraper for now.

[QUOTE=Anthony Z] Rod, I checked the RobbJack site and couldn't find 1/8" shank bits.[/QUOTE]

Anthony, did you only look at the woodworking catalog, check out the main catalog, the first several pages have sizes as small as 0.005" with 1/8" shank bits. Actually, most of the series of end mills have 1/8" shank bits. They have more than you could shake a stick at. 2 flute, 3 flute, 4 flute, ball end mills etc...

Rod True39058.9721412037

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"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

Good to see a positive experience with American Carbide. We've been
thinking of going through them for bits for our homebrew CNC machine.

Also, I've heard only very good things about Drill Bit City, particularly from
the "maker" community.Jocafa39058.9984606481

Thanks Rod -- are they upcut or downcut spirals?

www.carbide.com has a good selection.

I think this is different from the one mentioned above.

Kirt

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Horton, MI

[QUOTE=Anthony Z] Thanks Rod -- are they upcut or downcut spirals?[/QUOTE]

You can get both

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"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson