Are These Template Bits Any Good?

[dragonfly66]

I need to make some templates. I have never made or used a template before. I know to use a template you need template bits (bit with the bearing at the top) of which I have none. I have the following books somewhere in my house. They all seemed to have disappeared and I can't find them right now, but they are here somewhere.

• Make Your Own Electric Guitar by Melvyn Hiscock and Brian May
  
• Build Your Own Electric Guitar by Martin Oakham
  
• Building Electric Guitars: How to Make Solid-Body, Hollow-Body and Semi-Acoustic Electric Guitars and Bass Guitars by Martin Koch

One of these books, I think the one by Hiscok & May, has a section on how to create and use a template. One of the things I needed was a template router bit, but I don't recall the book giving any advise on what size.

So I've looked on Amazon and found some made by Freud. The router I have is a Dewalt DW618 router (1/4, 1/2 bit collets) which I have never used.

So my question is are these bits good template bits and what size is best to get.

Freud 50-118 Top Bearing Flush Trim Router Bit, 3/4-Inch Diameter by 1-3/4-Inch Carbide Cutting Length 1/2-Inch Shank

Freud 50-116 Top Bearing Flush Trim Router Bit, 3/4-Inch Diameter by 1-Inch Carbide Cutting Length 1/2-Inch Shank

[guitarbuilder]

You probably want a .5 dia bit. I particularly like the stew mac bit because it has a cutter only .5" long. Most folks get the cheaper 1" long bits that are 1/2" diameter. Freud, CMT, and Whiteside are your best bets. You can get them at WoodCraft or (amazon for just a few dollars more than the ones you can buy at a home center). If you have the half inch collet, I'd go for the 1/2" shank ones as they are more rigid. Some templates call for a 3/8 bit. I don't have a one in a template bit, but I do have one in a flush trimmer which has the bearing on the end of the cutter.

[Jack Wells]

Those look like good bits. A little pricey. They would be good for routing the body shape. However the diameter is too big for routing a Telecaster neck pickup cavity, a telecaster pickguard or a Telecaster neck pocket with tight fitting corners.

[dragonfly66]

Originally Posted by Jack Wells

Those look like good bits. A little pricey. They would be good for routing the body shape. However the diameter is too big for routing a Telecaster neck pickup cavity, a telecaster pickguard or a Telecaster neck pocket with tight fitting corners.

So what would be the diameter to get for routing the neck pick-up cavity, pickguard, and or neck pocket?

[guitarbuilder]

Read post 2 again.

[melomanarock]

Originally Posted by dragonfly66

So what would be the diameter to get for routing the neck pick-up cavity, pickguard, and or neck pocket?

1/2". you could get a 3/8" and use for routing both 1/2" corners and the 3/8" on humbuckers..
Freud is a very good brand, but pricy as Jack said.. I found Katana bits very good for the price. you can get them at www.mlcswoodworking.com

edit: messed up the link

[guitarbuilder]

Except 3/8 has to do a lot more work than the 1/2 and gets dull more quickly. I guess I haven't used mine in a while, I do have the stewmac 3/8" version too. It's used for the tight radii and not part of my regular-use arsenal of bits.

[Colt W. Knight]

http://www.mlcswoodworking.com/shops.../bt_flush.html

This is where I get my pattern bits.

I really like the 1/2" x 1/2" bit. Its a lot easier to use with 3/4" templates than the 1/2" x 1" pattern bits.

[flatfive]

I'd recommend getting this instead. Whiteside make really
excellent bits, and they're made in the US (in case you care).

http://www.amazon.com/Shank-Diameter-Cutting-Length-Bearing/dp/B000HZV5KM/ref=sr_1_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1321142034&sr=1-1

Here's one with shorter cutting length:

http://www.amazon.com/Whiteside-Template-Router-Bearing-Guide/dp/B000HZX4WE/ref=sr_1_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1321142251&sr=1-1

Check these reviews:

http://www.whitesiderouterbits.com/T...RouterBits.pdf

[guitarbuilder]

I do like the couple of whiteside bits I have.