Whiteside Router Bits 3000 Template Bit with Ball Bearing

Needed to inset a router plate in the router table top I am making. And yet again I need a new tool, be cheaper to just buy a router table but hey the tool will come in handy sooner or later. Nice clean cut with smooth bottom, fit of the router plate matches fit in the template. I made it a tight fit expecting the cut would be a fraction wide. Nope its not, oh well it will wear in with some time. Not worth sanding out.

I paid more for this single bit than I did for a whole set of cheapo imported bits. However, I use this bit a lot, and its a joy. The cheap bits are only used occasionally, so I dont have elevated expectations for them. They do work, however. This bit is beautiful to look at, and very satisfying to use. No chattering, and cuts wood like its butter.

This bit was perfect. If you need to do perfect mortises off of a template this is what you need. I had another bit just like this one made buy one of the big companies that always made a mortise in need of fine tuning, this one was perfect from the start. Thanks to Stumpy Nubs for turning me on to this company. I will be sending them more business.

Ive had two instances where the hex screw on the bearing lock collar falls off during normal use. Luckily, Ive been able to retrieve the screw, but its unclear whether the problem is with the screw or the lock collar (e.g., a hairline fracture). Very disappointed!

I purchased the same bit at three different cut depth: Whiteside model #3000, #3001 and #3004. Be aware they are not for heavy work like (typically found at) Carpentry but they have place for furniture and cabinet making. I love to have all of them as it is easy to work with quite similar bits with interchanged bearings. I just work with the smaller of them, the #3000 model and as expected it performed spotless even for very heavy ipe wood. I expect the other two bits are at the same quality level. Strongly recommended.

This bit did exactly what I bought it for (bought it for cleaning out the pins on dovetails). Whiteside bits are very high quality and this was no exception. Not the cheapest, but I think definitely worth it long term.

I bought this bit to route using guitar templates, both on the neck and body. Since it only removes 1/4 inch at a time, you wont get any tear-out and it leaves a very smooth edge on your work piece. After you use this to route the top 1/4 inch, you can remove your template and use your top routed layer as your template, which removes the risk of wearing your template by running a bearing on it repeatedly. I use this on my hand-held 1/4 shank Makita palm router and it works flawlessly. Go slowly and it will get the job done. For the price, its an amazing little bit.

Nice router bit and cuts well but the set screw comes loose and falls out and by the time you realize its missing its hard to find in the waste on the floor, if it hasnt been flung off to the far reaches of the workshop.

Im sure the bit works well, but I cant speak on that just yet, since I havent been able to use it. I want to make cuts using a template, but since the allen key necessary to adjust the bearing doesnt come with it, I now need to go and get one. It cant cost that much to include the Allen key with the bit.

Its nice to have a small pattern bit available, lets you take smaller bites at a time.