Almost lost a finger to a cheap router bit from Amazon

Picked up a 10-pack of straight bits for $12 off Amazon last month, figured I'd save some cash for a job in Denver. The third cut on red oak, the carbide tip just flew off - bounced off my safety glasses hard. Learned my lesson about buying bits from brands I've never heard of, has anyone else had a cheap bit fail like that on them?

2 comments

2 Comments

karen_perry381mo ago

That's a tough break, but I've had good luck with cheap bits if you know what to look for. The key is checking reviews for specific complaints about tips coming loose, not just overall ratings. Maybe it's more about the seller than the price point, because some of those budget brands hold up fine for softer woods.

jamesf261mo ago

I get where you are coming from @karen_perry38 but I just cant agree that cheap bits are safe if you pick the right ones. The problem is you never really know how well the carbide is bonded to the steel until it fails. I have had mid priced bits from known brands chip on me too but never had one shoot a tip off like a bullet. Red oak is not even that hard compared to things like hickory or maple so that bit should have handled it fine. For me the risk is not worth saving a few bucks on something that spins at 20,000 rpm right next to my hand.