MLCS bits

[Jim Thiel]

I got an interesting e-mail from Penn State the other day, with a cross link to MLCS. Being the dope that I am, I went and found a set of brad point bits 1/16 - 1/2 for 20.00.

I thought to myself, that seems cheap even by my standards.

Anyone use them, are they true, and any other likes/dislikes. They are sitting in the basket, but I wanted to ask before buying a boxed set doorstop.

Jim

[Wes Bischel]

Jim,
I have purchased from MLCS before and had good luck with their products. I can't vouch for their brad point bits though.

FWIW,
Wes

[Mike Henderson]

I can't help you with the brad point bits, either. I do buy router bits from MLCS because they offer free shipping for any size order. And often, all I need is one bit for a special job. Much better than paying an extra $5 to have one bit shipped to me.

I find the quality of their router bits to be good for my usage. But I wouldn't expect a $20 set of brad point bits to be even close to the Lee Valley drill bit set.

Mike

[glenn bradley]

I have had nothing but good luck with MLCS except for those bits. I contacted them with my problem and as usual they were great. They asked me to identify the bits that were mis-sized or bent and they would send me replacements.

I carefully went about testing the bits in order of size; I got through a dozen without a single one drilling the right size hole due to mis-sizing or run out. Really made the 'by 64ths' feature moot.

They credited my account and told me to keep the bits. They're in a drawer somewhere . . . I still buy from them; just not those bits.

P.s. They're forstners are inexpensive and perform much better than the price would indicate.

[Jim Thiel]

I got through a dozen without a single one drilling the right size hole due to mis-sizing or run out. Really made the 'by 64ths' feature moot.



Thanks Glenn. I had presupposed them to be less than great, but sometimes you hope anyway. Out of the basket.

Jim

[Byron Trantham]

I have buying their router bits for years and frankly I like them. I have not bought their drill bits though so I can't comment on the quality. $20 for a box of bits seems too good to be true.:rolleyes:

[Lou Morrissette]

I have been buying their router bits for several years and have had good luck with them. Good quality and free shipping. Can't help you with the drills though.

Lou

[Curt Harms]

I have a pack of 7 from them, 1/8 to 1/2. I've never checked the size of the hole but never noticed a problem with over or undersized. They don't clear chips well though. I bought an equivalent set of german-made bits on sale at Woodcraft, they seem better. Brad points from Lee Valley seem to be well thought of.

HTH

Curt

[Quesne Ouaques]

I buy quite a bit of stuff from MLCS, and have been happy with everything. Their customer support is excellent.

I have one of their "red box" sets of brad point drill bits that I got from a scratch-and-dent table. Aside from a practically imperceptible ding on the box, they work great.

[Cary Swoveland]

I have been happy with all but the smallest MLCS router bits. I have broken four of their 1/4" straight and spiral bits, one with a 1/2" shank, the others with 1/4" shanks. MLCS replaces them, of course, but it's a nuisance. You might think I am pushing the bits too hard--depth of cut or forward speed--but I'm careful about that, and have not broken any other bits of that size obtained from other sources (e.g, Whiteside, Lee Valley).

Cary