Which milling cutters first?

'That' time of year approaches and family are asking me "What do you want for Christmas Dad?" As I expect to be the proud owner of a new Sieg 2.7 mill at around that time I thought I would ask for cutters. I will be using Metric ER32 Collets and I don't posses any milling cutters at all so looking for advice on what I should be getting first. I expect to be building Stuart Turner kits to start with and making my own workshop accessories, T Nuts, Grinder rest etc.

From my own experience - I'd go for a few cheapish10mm diameter end mills to start with. [I assume as you specify a metric ER32 chuck, you'll be working in that system.] I have a small drawer full of 10mm cutters, in varying states of bluntness, awaiting a session on the grinder. Once you get used to the new mill and what sort of feeds and speeds it will cope with, then I'd go for something of superior quality. They'll last longer and cut better, too. Later, when you've gained enough experience to actually build something, you'll doubtless find you need cutters of different dimensions, even ball-ended, dovetail or tee-slot ones perhaps.

Enjoy your Christmas presents,

John

After end mills and slot drills, one of my most used tools is a flycutter. Home made in my case.

One answer would be "Milling: A Complete Course", by Harold Hall. 10mm end mills would get you started quite nicely.

Steve

A bit off topic.

Being an American I am a bit confused about the difference between a slot drill and an end mill. I think I have it figured out. A slot drill has 2 flutes. An end mill has more than 2. Did I get it right?

John

An endmill as you say has 2 flutes, one flute extends over centre of the cutter so it can cut when plunging into material.
Also end mills can have 3 flutes or 4 or more, 6 flutes are quite common.
For cutting slots it is best to use the 2 flute cutter.

Emgee

Things used to be simple, a slot drill could plunge as it had a full radius cutting edge and with two flutes it would cut a slot the nominal size of the cutter, end mills would not plunge cut as it had no cutting edge in the centre as they usually had four or more flutes they tend to cut oversize slots. Now you can have three flutes and plunge cut, and I think they will hold a good slot width and work well as an end mill so we have plenty of choice.

Mike

I would buy one of the assortments from arc , from what i have read elsewhere on this forum Ketan has sourced acceptable quality cutters at a reasonable price . If you can swing it i would get a set each of slot drills and 4 flute endmills that top out around 10 or 12 mm dia a lot or these sort of set usually have 4 ,5,6,8,10 and sometimes 12 mm cutters in a set.

I did the same thing when i got my first mill and as they got blunted or broken ( it will happen - trust me !) i kept my eyes open for top quality cutters on ebay that are going for the right price and buy them as replacements .

Edited By XD 351 on 02/11/2017 23:14:08

To Emgee and Mike, Thank you for the clarification. Re: 4 flute end mills, I have some that are center cutting, and some that are not. If I re-grind the ends hey wind up non center cutting.

To XD 351.

Years ago I bought some sets of Chinese end mills. Sizes from 3/16" to 3/4" by 16" increments, both 2 flute and 4 flute.. I have used them a lot and most are still sharp. I assume Ketan sells similar sets in metric sizes. I would recommend something like that.

Yes all from China but ARC has the generic set which are fine for newbies and general use they also have premium cutters i believe they sourced from a manufacturer in China .

There is nothing wrong with the Chinese made stuff so long as the person or company that is importing them knows what they are looking for in regards to quality , consistency and can sort the good manufacturers out from the crowd which i believe Ketan has become very proficient at !

XD,

I have generally had a good experience with most Chinese tools. A few proved to be bad. The last bad one broke a flute about 4 hr. into a job. It resulted in scrapping the work and starting over. On really critical work like that I will source my end mills from USA, Europe, Japan, or Korea.

I usually keep an eye out on ebay for sutton cutters here in Australia , sometimes they pop up dirt cheap and i buy the lot .

One thing i have learned to avoid are cheap carbide cutters though !

XD

I had good luck with lathe tools and inserts from Banggood. I also bought some insert type milling cutters. I haven't much use of them yet but they seem OK. They call them boring tools and use APMT inserts. They have ridiculously shanks, 200mm, and need to be cut down for use as a milling cutter. Ridiculously cheap.

XD

I had good luck with lathe tools and inserts from Banggood. I also bought some insert type milling cutters. I haven't much use of them yet but they seem OK. They call them boring tools and use APMT inserts. They have ridiculously shanks, 200mm, and need to be cut down for use as a milling cutter. Ridiculously cheap.

I've purchased from these guys in the past and been happy with their products. Not sure how the prices compare with the usual UK suppliers, and of course there's the VAT

**LINK**

Pete

Beware banggood. I have bought lots of items from them and been pleased with the value for money. BUT, if one has a complaint for rubbish products they are USELESS as far as sorting it out. So if you get something that is duff, don't expect to easily get a replacement or your money back.

Doubletop,

I used to buy a fair bit from CTC, when he shipped direct from China, but since he was ( I think ) forced to do business from Europe, I've found the postage costs negate any savings previously made, at least on small orders.

John

I bought a W type toolholder and either 10 or 20 inserts I ordered right hand, They sent me left hand, They let me keep the first tool and sent me an identical set with a left hand tool. The boxes the tools came in were maked right hand. The tool inside was left hand. I pointed out to Banggood the tool was i n the wrong box. They refunded all my money and let me keep the tools and inserts, I ordered the correct tool from another 'asian vendor

I found the postage a little dear but when it turned up 48 hrs later and fully insured i didn't mind paying it and it was still cheaper than buying here in OZ .

I haven't used them since they moved a few years back .

Hi Nigel If you haven't got a small angle plate and a couple of G clamps they would be an ideal present as I find mine so useful and couldn't machine some things with at them and a fly cutter.

David