Source for inlay bits

Allen · Post by **Allen** » Sat Apr 12, 2008 5:15 pm

I've been looking around for bits for inlay that fit my dremel tool. I've bought the usual fair from the hardware store, and tried some misc. ones bought on ebay. None of them are really blowing my fur back. In fact they are any where from mediocre to down right crap. Anyone got a great source or suggestions for a source of bits suitable to cut inlay into some of our very hard local woods?

graham mcdonald · Post by **graham mcdonald** » Sat Apr 12, 2008 5:40 pm

your dentist. They throw them out after one use

Allen · Post by **Allen** » Sat Apr 12, 2008 5:56 pm

You must have a more generous Dentist than I do. I've tried mine, and all my work mates as well as my wife's have asked their dentists and they won't part with them. It was my first option that seems to have run into a dead end.

Kim · Post by **Kim** » Sat Apr 12, 2008 6:01 pm

Allen, I have tried dental burs and the x-circuit board bit and just about everything. The bottom line, your time and workmanship deserve TC downward spiral bit from stewmac (and other places no doubt). These are excellent, pricey at around $17.00 each, but excellent. They come in 1/32", 1/16", and 1/8". My advice, grab 2 of each and be done with it.

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Inlay,_pear ... _Bits.html

(edit) I see they do a few other sizes and knock $10 off if you buy all 5, I use 1/8" to cut rosettes, 1/16' to hog out the bulk of inlay rebate and 1/32" into the fine edges etc.

Cheers

Kim

Craig · Post by **Craig** » Sat Apr 12, 2008 7:54 pm

G'day Allen,

Ditto what Kim says. You get a fair life span from them too. Great on rosettes ,brace pockets and purfling channels as well as inlay. A clean cut !

Cheers , Craig

Bob Connor · Post by **Bob Connor** » Sat Apr 12, 2008 8:04 pm

I think I bought ours from Stewmac.

I also got some 1/4 inch shank ones from LMI to use in the mini-trimmer.

They don't wander as much as the 1/8 ones in the Dremel and do a much better job of routing bridge saddle slots and rosettes.

Bob

SteveF · Post by **SteveF** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 10:22 am

Hey all
I found this on Luthierforum .www.bitlady.com,this is a link to her 1/8th single cut bits..http://tiny.cc/55G0e there are other sizesas wellI.f you send her an email for more info she may be able to supply smaller sizes,might be good for a mass buy up to......Steve

Hesh1956 · Post by **Hesh1956** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 11:30 pm

Stew-Mac spiral down-cut bits are the way to go IMHO. I tried dental burs too and the cut was not nearly as clean. You get what you pay for.....

Kim · Post by **Kim** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 12:01 am

SteveF wrote:Hey all
I found this on Luthierforum .www.bitlady.com,this is a link to her 1/8th single cut bits..http://tiny.cc/55G0e there are other sizesas wellI.f you send her an email for more info she may be able to supply smaller sizes,might be good for a mass buy up to......Steve

I believe these are the ex CNC circuit-board bits, I bought a few dozen of various sizes a few years back. Most are more of a burr than a routing tool IE; they grind as apposed to cut and therefore have a tendency to burn the edge of the wood and to wander around. Don't get me wrong, they are still useful, but I have found they are simply no match at all for a good TC downward spiral.

Cheers

Kim

Allen · Post by **Allen** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 6:02 am

Well, it looks like another order off the Stew Mac. Thanks guys.

MetcalfGuitars · Post by **MetcalfGuitars** » Sun Apr 27, 2008 7:28 am

These are good ones....if it's not too late.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Luthiers-Inlay-Bit- ... dZViewItem

Kim · Post by **Kim** » Sun Apr 27, 2008 8:22 am

MetcalfGuitars wrote:These are good ones....if it's not too late.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Luthiers-Inlay-Bit- ... dZViewItem

They do look perfect Tim but the $21.00USD to ship 3 tiny bits to AU soaks up most if not all of the savings

Something that size could ship from USA for under $5.00 USD, but it would need to be unregistered letter post and therefore does carry risk, but I have shipped small stuff this way and not had any issue, yet

Cheers

Kim

Dennis Leahy · Post by **Dennis Leahy** » Sun Apr 27, 2008 11:42 am

Kim wrote:
MetcalfGuitars wrote:These are good ones....if it's not too late.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Luthiers-Inlay-Bit- ... dZViewItem
They do look perfect Tim but the $21.00USD to ship 3 tiny bits to AU soaks up most if not all of the savings Something that size could ship from USA for under $5.00 USD, but it would need to be unregistered letter post and therefore does carry risk, but I have shipped small stuff this way and not had any issue, yet

Cheers

Kim

Too bad you don't have any friends in the USA...

But wait!

You do!

So, it would cost $3 to ship to me, and then I stick them into corrugated cardboard (or maybe tape them to a small scrap of hard plastic) and put them in an envelope. $3 to $4 postage to Australia for 3 to 4 ozs. First Class USPS postage might take 3 weeks to get there though, as the USPS website shows 6-10 days for Priority Mail @ $21, and does not say how long First Class Mail will take. Do you think they float it over?

Note that he says in the Ebay ad that you can add extra bits for $12, in case you would want to get more at the same time. At $12 each, it saves $5 per bit compared to StewMac prices, which I know is not a huge savings.

Dennis

Allen · Post by **Allen** » Sun Apr 27, 2008 2:00 pm

I placed an order with Stew Mac about a week ago now and hope that they will be showing up in a few days. Thanks for the info though. It'll be helpful to someone. Maybe he'll still have them available the next time I'm shopping for some.

Allen · Post by **Allen** » Sun May 18, 2008 4:47 pm

I gave the new Stew Mac inlay bits a run in the dremel yesterday. Put some notched diamonds in a fret board. They cut like a hot knife through butter, and I'm amazed at how precise you can be, following the line for your inlaying.

I'm kicking myself over not biting the bullet and getting them sooner.

If you think that you'll try your hand at inlaying, I highly recommend these bits.

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Source for inlay bits

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