Router Bit Help

[jsbiii]

Just joined this forum. I am a complete newbie to this CNC operation. 

My question is this: I need to get a good set of starter bits and I need some recommendations. I will mostly be working on 2D and making some carvings from silhouettes on some of my bird houses, butter fly houses and even some of my bird feeders. I also plan on making some signs with people's names on them, as well as holiday signs and the like. I will also be doing some carvings of various animals, flowers and the likes and then cutting them out.

I will also be routing out some of the pieces for my houses/feeders as I assemble them using dowel pins and this seems like the perfect way to insure that the holes line up perfectly. I want to also play around and see if I can mill the pieces to fit together with a minimum of screws.

Thanks in advance for any help you can give. 

[Hommer Woods]

Here are a couple of sources I use for bits. Of course there are also a lot on Amazon that may be cheaper and somewhat less quality. When starting out less expensive may be good as you may break more at first.

www.mlcswoodworking.com/

www.precisebits.com/

I do a lot of inlay work using 1/8 and 1/16 down cut bits. I also use them to cut out pieces for some projects such as boxes and wooden hinges. The smaller bits require an adapter for the collet.

For sign making you may need some Vbits.

I have also done some engraving with very small Vbits.

Haven't done any relief carving so others here in the forum that are experts at that can provide better advise on that.

Good luck. Enjoy the journey.

Attachments:

[James@fireaxe]

I have had good luck and good quality with www.2Linc.com very fast shipping and reasonable prices with a wide variety of style bits.

My main work horse is a 1/4 or 1/8 down cut depending on the size of the design im cutting. Up cuts leave a really nice smooth surface, where as down cuts can be a little rough with my experience.
Bits get smaller if you want to pick up even smaller bits for fine detail work

Pick up a V bit, either 60 degree or 90 degree to do engraving. My workhorse engrave bit is a 1/4 shaft 60 degree V

Get a ball end bit in 1/4 and 1/8 size. This will allow you to make good nice clean round over edges with the machine.

You can find a 1/4 collet to 1/8 bit adapter sleeve on Amazon.

[jsbiii]

Thanks to both of you. As a novice, every little bit helps. No pun intended.

[Big Man Black T-Shirt(Patrick)]

Oct 11, 2018 3:32:32 GMT jsbiii said:

I was turned on to this Ebay seller of bits by someone else on this forum last year and I've been happy with his selection, quality, prices, etc.

Drillman on Ebay link

[mbnaso]

thanks still waiting for my rtr getting things ready.

[mike1332]

I started a few months ago and I only have 4 bits right now, and they satisfy my needs pretty well, for now.

1/4 upcut that came with the m3. 1/8" straight bit. 90 degree and a 60 degree vbit. I've been doing small signs and vcarves.

[linkreincarnate]

Here is what I use for 90 percent of my jobs 1/4 and 1/8th 2 flute flat and ball endmills a .5 in 2 flute straight flute diablo router bit (great for everything wood probably my most used but because I hog out material with it) a 60 degree vbit from whiteside tools, and a 1/4th inch ballnose tapered endmill with a 1 mm tip