Plug cutter Recommendations

[james bell]

Finally going to spring for some plug cutters and can't find any reviews on the net or this site. There are lots of brands and companies selling them for hardwood, any recommendations?

[Jim Tabor]

This is an excellent set, not cheap but good.

http://woodworker.com/14-516-38-12-58-set-of-5-mssu-908-347.asp?search=rts2000&searchmode=2

[Paul Saffold]

Lee Valley has some that have a carbide cutting edge. That is important if you can't keep the drill or drillpress speed slow. The cutters will over heat easily but the carbide won't loose it's temper. No one wants a mad cutter:rolleyes:. Seriously though, once the temper is gone the cutter won't stay sharp very long, even if resharpened.
Paul
http://www.leevalley.com/US/Wood/page.aspx?p=42292&cat=1,180,42288&ap=1

[Rodney Hoyle]

Jim,

I use the Bosch that I get from Lowe's. They are sold individually so you buy what you will use. They are good quality. I use a japanese fine cut flexible blade to saw off the stubs prior to sanding. I put a piece of cardboard over the plug prior to cutting so I don't scratch the surface. Hope this helps.



r
odney

[Dave Richards]

On the topic of cutting plugs, I use an old boat builders trick. I cut the plugs on blanks only slightly wider than the diameter of the plugs leave a very them attached by a very thin bit of wood. This gives a stick of plugs. I can dip the end plug into the glue and locate it in the hole. A smart tap with a hammer or mallet seats the plug breaks it loose from the stick. The stick makes it dead easy to align the grain of the plug with the grain around the hole and I don't get glue on my fingers. If I think the plug will ever have to come out again, I "glue" it in with the varnish I'll use on the project. No glue line, the plug will stay just fine and it's easier to remove the plug if needed.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8015/7656187590_d8bee32927_m.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/8294157@N08/7656187590/)

[Brian Tymchak]

On the topic of cutting plugs, I use an old boat builders trick. I cut the plugs on blanks only slightly wider than the diameter of the plugs leave a very them attached by a very thin bit of wood. This gives a stick of plugs. I can dip the end plug into the glue and locate it in the hole. A smart tap with a hammer or mallet seats the plug breaks it loose from the stick. The stick makes it dead easy to align the grain of the plug with the grain around the hole and I don't get glue on my fingers. If I think the plug will ever have to come out again, I "glue" it in with the varnish I'll use on the project. No glue line, the plug will stay just fine and it's easier to remove the plug if needed.



Nice tip! thanks! Cutting plugs this way should minimize or eliminate any issue with overheating the cutter too, which I've done cutting plugs in white oak.

[Bryan Cramer]

I have to add that the plug cutters posted here work best with a drill press. I bought a set before I had a drill press that has a retracting self centering piont. They work great in a hand held drill.
http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=11486&site=ROCKLER

[peter gagliardi]

W.L. Fuller in Bristol, Rhode Island make some of the best, along with a ton of other boring bits of all sorts.

[james bell]

Dave, great tip. Thanks.

[Mark Wooden]

I use the Fuller cutters, they cut very cleanly. I always drill the plugs on a wider, thicker piece of stock and then rip them off on the bandsaw when I need a lot, but leave them on the strip when I want to take just a few with me to the job.

[Dave Richards]

Nice tip! thanks! Cutting plugs this way should minimize or eliminate any issue with overheating the cutter too, which I've done cutting plugs in white oak.

Yes, it does because the sides of the cutter get some air during the entire cut.

It's important to put the plugs in so their grain aligns with the grain of the piece being plugged. With some species of wood it can be difficult to see the grain on the end of a plug that has been pried or bandsaw from the blank. It's so much easier to handle the plugs this way. And a lot less messy.

[Joel Gelman]

Any updated recommendations on plug cutters? I see Amana and Montana and CMT are possible choices now as "best plug cutter". I have some old Fullers, but not sure if the newer offerings offer some advantage. Thanks.

[jack duren]

I buy Hitachi. Montana brand are the same . Have used them for years. Used them recently…40th