Re: ATM what router bits to use?

["Bob May" <bobmay@nethere.com>]

I've learned to buy for long life on things like cutters.  This means
carbide cutters for wood and aluminum each and every time.  I don't even
think of getting any HSS cutters for wood as it doesn't last at all.  Even
when you compare price/life, carbide comes out so far ahead that I don't
even think about it.
As to style, the spiral cutters are what you want for doing cutting like
that as the scarf comes flying out of the cut and doesn't stay in there.
Square on cutters are good when the scarf has a place to go as they make a
good cut and aren't as expensive.
FWIW, professional shops always use carbide cutters (sole exception is the
bandsaw as there's not much available in the way of carbide tipped blades
for them) for everything as it means that you don't stop every few hours to
replace the cutters.  Compare that against a weekly change for carbide.

Bob May
http://nav.to/bobmay
bobmay@nethere.com