How Long Does a 1/16" Carving Bit Last?

[seabass]

I have dressed up(clean it and a quick pass with a little diamond tool) a bit during a carve or a routing, but after that I toss it. That goes for my router bits too. I have never found resharpening to make them much better.

I have found sometimes I forget just how good a new bit works. I tend to use them to long and than am so surprised when I change them!

[jcorder]

Beautiful Litho!

I change mine when I notice the machine starting to work harder on a carve.


Jeff

[billybehr]

I used to sell Trex (50% recycled hardwood and 50% recycled grocery bags) when I worked for a lumber company years ago and we always recommended to our customers to have two different saws or blades for cutting: one for the Trex and one for any wood. The blades would cut the plastic quite well, but once you did cut any of the plastic it would dull it considerably for the wood. I guess the long and the short of this whole novel I am writing here is to go with Bud's recommendation and have a bit specifically for cutting Corian or any other plastic-type stock.

By they way, on a side note; thanks Bud for your contribution on your vacuum head. I bought and built one and am quite happy with how clean my machine is after a carve. Now with Bud's vacuum head and Ron's Rock Chuck I am one happy carver!

Bill

[AskBud]

Bill,
Thanks for the good review on the Vacuum Head. Enjoy your projects.
AskBud