sharp pointed v-carve bits

[twelchPTM]

It seems as though every v-carve bit I look at has a very small flat area at the very tip. I tend to be a little bit OCD about sharp corners and was wondering is anybody could point me to a source for a v-carve bit with a sharp point?

[Brady Watson]

The insert bits are awesome....

http://www.amanatool.com/grooving.html

-B

[Chuck Keysor]

Thomas, I have tried a number of brands, and initially, I hit the same problem you did. The first V-bits I purchased for my Shopbot actually had slightly flat ends. And two actually had the tips rotating off the main axis of the spindle! So what should have been a little point hole, was instead a little doughnut.

I too purchased a set of the Amana "In-groove" insert engraving bits. The tips are surgically sharp, and are of course on axis with the body of the tool. Everything seemed to be first rate, except the price of the replacement bits seems to be too high given my following point. In cutting for 30 minutes in new MDF, the tip of the bit got nicked. I thought maybe I just had bad luck, but others posted that they found these bits to be very delicate and said that they would not stand up to cutting oak.

I solicited more opinions, and someone recommended CMT's "laser" 60 degree v-bit. I bought two, and have been completely satisfied. I have cut maybe 25 hours with the one bit, mostly in white oak. I haven't had any nicking of the blades, and it is still as sharp as a razor. I recommend it highly, as have others before me. But the CMT "laser" bit is only available in one size. That seems to be an unfortunate bit of marketing. I'd like a 90 degree and maybe a couple of other sizes.

Chuck

[Brady Watson]

I should have stated the insert bits that use a rectangular insert are top notch. I'll defer to Chuck's wisdom on the "In-Groove" sharp pointed insert variants, which I always thought looked frail and seem to be suited for small narrow designs.

The larger insert bits are absolutely dead on and give you a crisp laser point finish. I'm very impressed with them compared to the hit or miss quality that you'd get from a brazed tip bit.

The thing you always have to keep in mind with v-bits is that the point really doesn't cut - it scrapes. There is no cutting flute at the very point where the two cutting edges join. You should keep this in mind if you intend on v-carving plastics. You may get some hairs at the crotch of the V because the material is not being sheared, it is being scraped.

-B

[knight_toolworks]

I have a onsrud 90 degree 1.5" wide bit that is nice and sharp and was only about 45.00

[twelchPTM]

I did see the ingroove bits but I found out pretty early on that engaving bits are all pretty fragile due to the favt that the edge is not only razor sharp but very thin as well. My problem isn't so much that my bits aren't sharp for cutting its that I don't like when the fully formed prism has a "valley" in the bottom. I have several v-groove bits from different manufactures and I even tried getting the smaller diameter cutters thinking they would have a smaller valley but it turns out that the complete opposite is true. Chuck, If you read the the very small print under each one of the insert style bits there are two grades of carbide available, they have standard and MDF grade cutters but I don't know if the MDF grade carbide is available for the ingroove bits. That being said does the CMT "Laser" produce a sharp point at the bottom or does it leave that slight valley? I pose the same question to Brady concerning the Amana insert style V-groove bit?
I was also looking at the drill style end mills from havey tool as they come to a perfect point at the tip and I have had alot of luck cutting with endmills however If I went that route the largest diameter I can get is .5"(not bad for the small stuff but two small for the big stuff).

[steve_g]

I've tried them all (not inserts though) and nothing beats the CMT laser point... it's a three flute bit and comes to a true point! Amana comes in a close second... it's carbide isn't as durable as the CMT, and I can only get them with a 1/4" shanks locally. Twice now I've had the shank come off the body, it appears to be some crazy potted attachment or something. (???)

SG

[Brady Watson]

The Amana inserts create a sharp point, EXACTLY what the angle should be, with NO FLAT on the tip, NO wally donut shaped point pattern & if it gets dull or the point knocked off, you just rotate the insert & you are as good as new. I'm so happy with the results of this insert cutter, that I'll probably not be using conventional v-bits anymore.

Depending on the angle you need, a Mill/Drill from Oberg Brothers (1/2" dia with 90 deg tip) is perfectly ground to a point solid carbide. In the smaller diameters, nearly all v-bits/engraving bits have the tips knocked off of them to create a cutting flute.

-B

[beacon14]

Centurian (http://www.centuriontools.com/router_bits_toolcase/centurion_tools_showcase.html?cart=134206142435477 743&splashPG=y&__max=6&pageID=1&id2=15&startat=1&--woSECTIONSdatarq=15&--SECTIONSword=ww) makes solid carbide bits that are sharpened to a perfect point. They don't have conventional flutes but they are mighty sharp and work very well in hardwoods. I have not used the insert bits except for our surfacing bit so I can't compare.