Axminster quality?

[Eric D Matson]

I am looking at buying a euro cutter head and some profiles for my shaper. I was looking at axminster's website. I got sidetracked, like I often do, and found a lot of tools seem reasonably priced. Has anyone ordered from there? Have you had good luck? Are there any other places I should look?

Thanks

Eric

[Peter Kelly]

I think those manual-feed Euro cutter heads from Axminster are all made in the same factory in Switzerland as the ones from Laguna, Amana, FS, etc.


I have the orange CMT version, quality is very good.

[Sean Troy]

They have always been top quality in the past. I don't think anything has changed.

[Erik Loza]

I think those manual-feed Euro cutter heads from Axminster are all made in the same factory in Switzerland as the ones from Laguna, Amana, FS, etc. ...

Flury?

Erik

[jack forsberg]

There made by Whitehill . Whitehill us been supplying tooling to the UK including companies like Wadkin for over 80 year.

http://www.whitehill-tools.com/

[Peter Kelly]

http://static.axminster.co.uk/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/6/9/693078_xl.jpg

http://www.axminster.co.uk/axcaliber-euro-cutter-head-ax20842


http://www.cmtutensili.com/media/files/474_228_fz_693.jpg

http://www.cmtutensili.com/show_items.asp?pars=HK~693~2

These are made in Luton by Whitehill?

[Andrew Joiner]

Peter,
I'm out of the loop on modern tooling.
Why 4 knives? Do you run them like that? Do they all have the same projection?
It looks like the reversed bevel would burn.
Thanks

[Peter Kelly]

There are actually only two knives that do any cutting with this style of head. The other two are limiters that project about 1mm less and just there to prevent kickback when hand-feeding.

[Peter Kelly]

Flury?

ErikPossibly? Almost as mysterious as the German company that makes the vacuum hoses for Festool, Bosch, Starmix, Nilfisk, etc.

[Erik Loza]

Possibly? Almost as mysterious as the German company that makes the vacuum hoses for Festool, Bosch, Starmix, Nilfisk, etc.

All that OEM stuff that Euro mfrs. use is a huge mystery. For example, try to find who actually makes the Euro-style (or "GL") guides that we all use on our bandsaws. Or the Euro-style jointer guards (not Suva, the "common" ones). I've tried, and I can't. It's like they only exist in spare parts catalogs or you have to actually buy the machine to get them. Someone must make them, right? But who? I need a beer now.

Erik

[Warren Lake]

Illuminati :)

[Alan Beech]

Axminster in the UK have a 5star reputation for customer service and always doing the "right" thing for customers. Thats been hard won over the past 25+ yrs.

Axminster sells the same brand names as everyone else and usually are the Uk Wholesaler for such as Lee Valley/LN etc.

They manufacture their own lathe chucks and have created the UJK branded tools. I have walked around their multi-storied automated warehouse and it took over 4 hrs.

They are a trusted company in the UK and will ship to anywhere in the world.

regards
Alan

[jack forsberg]

http://static.axminster.co.uk/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/6/9/693078_xl.jpg

http://www.axminster.co.uk/axcaliber-euro-cutter-head-ax20842


http://www.cmtutensili.com/media/files/474_228_fz_693.jpg

http://www.cmtutensili.com/show_items.asp?pars=HK~693~2

These are made in Luton by Whitehill?
I believe CMT is Swiss or Italian but yes Whitehill make Axminster tooling.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJMOnTxPkeE

[Joe Calhoon]

For those that have ordered how are the shipping rates to the US? Do you get a bill from US customs? Can you pay by credit card?

The not so great conversion from Pounds to USD is better now with the referendum. I ordered some Wadkin spares and metric chisels from AMS a while back and shipping and customs was as high as ordering from Germany or Italy. Just wondering if they might have better shipping rates.

[Eric D Matson]

So I have done some checking around and pricing. I have decided to check out Axminster and Dimar. I used the same 3 profiles and the associated insert cutter head as my basis. A couple differences are the Axminster cutter head is aluminum and the Dimar is steel and the bore is 30mm and 1-1/4" respectively. They both accept 40 or 50mm knives and have the same pinning and screw dimensions as most insert cutterheads. The price for the Axminster cutter head, 3 profile knives and associated limiters, and shipping/customs is $232.35 USD. The price for the Dimar cutter head and the same 3 profile knives and limters is $501.45. I forgot to ask Dimar for shipping charges. I think I am going to give Axminster a shot. It sounds like they value customers and offer decent quality.

Links are to the cutterheads:
http://www.axminster.co.uk/axcaliber-euro-cutter-head-ax20842
http://dimar-canada.com/pdf/MultiProfileCutters2.pdf

[Erik Loza]

Eric, none of my business but is there a reason you aren't looking at a domestic supplier for that cutterhead? Pretty much anyone ought to be able to supply that universal head and insert profiles. W Moore Profiles and Rangate (Garniga) come to mind.

Erik

[Eric D Matson]

Hi Erik. One reason was I was looking for a 30 mm spindle diameter because that is what is on my machine. When I decided to just use a bushing, I was looking at Dimar's website. I liked how they presented their profiles and seemed to have quite the selection. Just luck of the draw I guess. I haven't been able to get some of the other suppliers websites to display properly or even have access to them because of my works internet filter either.

[Erik Loza]

I didn't realize you were stuck with the 30mm bore.

E.

[glenn bradley]

Illuminati :)


Bwaaa-haaa-haaa.

[jack forsberg]

Eric, none of my business but is there a reason you aren't looking at a domestic supplier for that cutterhead? Pretty much anyone ought to be able to supply that universal head and insert profiles. W Moore Profiles and Rangate (Garniga) come to mind.

Erik
Eric not likly with limiter heads . As I said up post Whitehill manufactures xminister blocks . Whitehill also sells a number of bores and diameters in steel or alli in inch and a quarter and three-quarter or 30mm believe 40mm and 50 mm as well. You would be well served to look through their block selection of over 50 heads if you don't have any of this type. pin spacing of 24mm standard fits all blocks on the standard block and standard knife thicknesses of 4mm but some of Whitehill take up to 6 mm thick knifes for deeper cuts . Also other blocks at 45° For those without tilting head and Combo blocks The combine limiter heads and insert grooving blocks all-in-one with recessed heads for stub spindles To cut a long tenon with smaller diameter Tooling Of course Whitehill will also make custom block to order within 24 hours . There are a multitude of Pin spacings Beyond 24 mm up 100mm for larger profiles like crown . The knife Steel is German and contains 8% tungstand . You can special order high-speed steel with 14% if you wish . It makes no sense but not to deal directly with Whitehill as they are a pleasure to do business with even small single man shops . Deal with the people that make it not retailers

[Erik Loza]

Eric not likly with limiter heads...

This universal head (made by Garniga) has limiters and is available domestically...

http://rangate.com/products/profile-cutter-set

Of course, it's 1.25" though he implies that other diameters are available. I'm not saying anything against that vendor you mentioned. I'm sure they're great. For the record, I don't sell tooling but do talk to guys all the time who have no idea where to even start shopping and I was trying to suggest that you might be able to get your needs met by a US-based vendor.

Erik

[jack forsberg]

This universal head (made by Garniga) has limiters and is available domestically...

http://rangate.com/products/profile-cutter-set

Of course, it's 1.25" though he implies that other diameters are available. I'm not saying anything against that vendor you mentioned. I'm sure they're great. For the record, I don't sell tooling but do talk to guys all the time who have no idea where to even start shopping and I was trying to suggest that you might be able to get your needs met by a US-based vendor.

Erik
Erik very few in North America have caught up with the style of cutter blocks in the EU . At the Rust Fest this summer At the Wadkin temple my shop we had a demonstration of Whitehill tooling and we could not believe the response that we got . here's Brent doing a video on the Combo block which is about the cost that one you show .

prices of combi heads
http://www.whitehill-tools.com/catalogue.php?cid=2&c2id=60

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Z7DMBfzluY

the selection of heads
http://www.whitehill-tools.com/catalogue.php?cid=2

[peter gagliardi]

It would seem to me, that while the four knife setup- with 2 actually cutting, and the backs of the other two acting as chip limiters, also does double duty as an ideal setup to feed clockwise or counterclockwise for curved parts or reverse grain issues?
No need to stop, and flip head, and your height reference to table is unchanged.

[Erik Loza]

Erik very few in North America have caught up with the style of cutter blocks in the EU . At the Rust Fest this summer At the Wadkin temple my shop we had a demonstration of Whitehill tooling and we could not believe the response that we got . here's Brent doing a video on the Combo block which is about the cost that one you show .

prices of combi heads
http://www.whitehill-tools.com/catalogue.php?cid=2&c2id=60

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Z7DMBfzluY

the selection of heads
http://www.whitehill-tools.com/catalogue.php?cid=2

What's it cost to get one of those cutterheads from the UK to the US? I'm assuming those guys don't have a US distributor.

Erik

[jack forsberg]

What's it cost to get one of those cutterheads from the UK to the US? I'm assuming those guys don't have a US distributor.

Erik

let me put it this way that head is $244 and yours simple head is $375 that leaves $125 for shipping . about any courier will do it for less with import fee and taxs. nowadays with the internet you don't need distributors

[jack forsberg]

It would seem to me, that while the four knife setup- with 2 actually cutting, and the backs of the other two acting as chip limiters, also does double duty as an ideal setup to feed clockwise or counterclockwise for curved parts or reverse grain issues?
No need to stop, and flip head, and your height reference to table is unchanged.


Peter i think the limiter knifes pins are set back 1.1mm so the knifes are ground the same. here are the tooling regs

http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/wis37.pdf

[Erik Loza]

let me put it this way that head is $244 and yours simple head is $375 that leaves $125 for shipping

LOL, it's not "my" head. Remember, I don't sell tooling. Folks can buy whatever they want. But it's not like there is only one place that makes a BG-certified cutterhead or even a qualioty cutterhead. I wonder if Rangate's site is old or something? Those Garniga heads are not THAT expensive. Or shouldn't be. Minimax USA used to sell them while Garniga is excellent quality, it is on the budget end of tooling.

To the OP, I would still give W Moore Profiles a call and see what they can do for you. They must have them. Also, DeHart Tooling I believe handles Flury and Flury makes the same head as well.

Erik

[jack forsberg]

Whitehill just invest 2.8 million GBP to up grade the manufacturing .


if you want quality you can't go wrong. very long history of tooling in the industry. i have there tolling in my old Wadkin catalog from the 1950s and Wadkin know tooling. Whithill is know for retooling older machine to bring them up to industry regs as well as tooling for the big CNC window machines


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efW6iAOIhQw

[Erik Loza]

For the OP, out of curiosity, I checked out what Felder has and they offer the bare head (100mm x 40mm) in 30mm bore for about $140. So, that's always an option. You can get the profile knives anywhere.

Erik

[Eric D Matson]

Thanks for more info Jack. I started to see yesterday where Whitehill will accept more knives. I will give them a good look. Thanks.

[brent stanley]

Hi Erik. One reason was I was looking for a 30 mm spindle diameter because that is what is on my machine. When I decided to just use a bushing, I was looking at Dimar's website. I liked how they presented their profiles and seemed to have quite the selection. Just luck of the draw I guess. I haven't been able to get some of the other suppliers websites to display properly or even have access to them because of my works internet filter either.


Hi Erik, did you ever decide on a cutterhead? Since i discovered Whitehill's combi head, I've been telling folks about it because it just seems so darn practical. Two (or three depending on how you look at it) cutterheads in one unit with no compromise in function. There are two sizes depending on the capabilities of your machine and both have shear cut carbide insert style rebate block with knickers top and bottom, and standard slots for HSS limiter tooling. Of course you CAN put blanks in where limters normally go so you don't have to buy/grind limiters but of course it's safer with them. These heads can also be used with a stub arbour for making full length solid tenons with scribed shoulders which is nice.