Plug Cutters and countersinks help?

[Joe92]

Hi there
I'm new to the forums but I'm starting with a question if that's ok.
So, my mate had a plug cutter and countersink router bit, which i've been using for fixing skirting and window boards and such where the finish is varnish.
I was just wondering what size would be more appropriate for general use, as in No 8 - 12.
I also have a link to one of Ebay, but i'm unsure whether it's suitable for routers. Mine being a 2100w Erbauer.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Trend-Snap-pc ... 5d2e1efc6e

Any help with this would be muchly appreciated.
Thanks in advance
Joe.

[big-all]

i use them in a battery drill but may be type specific
http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Titaniu ... Set/p72650

[Joe92]

Thanks very much for your help.
Would you recommend these for the preperation of the other workpiece?

http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Power+T ... 400/p98353

Want to be thorough this time, always end up buying junk off the internet.

[fin]

look at the trend snappy stuff. its all ive ever used for counter sink and plug cutters

[big-all]

yes i would expect them to be ok
the other choice i to get an 4 or 8 piece countersink and plug cutter
http://www.screwfix.com/p/plug-cutter-s ... tid=993117

[speed]

none of them are usable in a router! for a router bit you need
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Trend-24-10X1 ... 768wt_1189

i would go for no10 screw, or this set http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DISSTON-SCREW ... 418wt_1189

all the drill type cutters require a drill press to get a nice clean plug

[Rossthedon]

If your confident enough then any corded/cordless drill will do it. Can even use a hand brace!

[fin]

ive never had any bother with my snappy stuff and the tapered plug cutter. i just use mine in my cordless as i dont have a pillar drill.

[speed]

i use a cordless too sometimes but i find the plug ends up cleaner cut in a pillar drill,

if i had the choice to buy again id buy the router cutter

[Job and Knock]

I have a slight variation on that. If I need to cut plugs on site I drill with a Snappy TCT drill/countersink, then start my plugs off with a tube plug cutter (like these) and finish off with a taper plug cutter (like these). Taper plugs fit much more tightly than parallel ones and starting the cutting process with a tube cutter means that a drill press is unnecessary and minimises the risk of catches (and breakages) with a 4-prong plug cutter. The TCT drill countersinks work really well in hardwoods as well as being good for use with MDF. My set were expensive, but have lasted 4-1/2 years with only drill bit breakages to date. I find routers to be just too much extra kit to carry for such a simple task as plugging when a standard cordless will do just as well (and be of no equal quality).

One tip about plugs - before breaking them out use a felt tip to mark the grain orientation (a straight line with the grain) so that you align them correctly when you come to insert them. Can save having to dig them out and redo from, time to time

[Joe92]

Thanks very much everyone for your replies, really helped and probably saved me a quid or two.

[fin]

the snappy tct sets are considerably more expensive arent they? is there much of an advantage using them? just on say soft wood door linings as an example they seem to tear out a bit a bit of the grain. do the tct ones do the same?

i actually need a new set now as ive lost my 2 bigger sizes. the 1/8 and 9/64th sizes. the others i still have but am down to 1 or 2 spare drill bits.. and there silverline bits i have left eeek so i expect them to not last too long haha.

can you link the sets you have j&k??

[MRTJOINERY&Build]

Hi,

Would highly recomend these http://www.tooled-up.com/ManProduct.asp?PID=32611

used these for a while now in all hardwoods and softwoods and still very sharp and exteremly clean cutting

price can be a tab steep on the trend snappy front but quality product

[Job and Knock]

the snappy tct sets are considerably more expensive arent they? is there much of an advantage using them? just on say soft wood door linings as an example they seem to tear out a bit a bit of the grain. do the tct ones do the same?

Sadly, yes. I tend to retain them for hardwood and MDF where they perform much better. The big plus is that they LAST and LAST without going off. My Snappy TCT set is now at least 3-1/2 years old and still going strong, although I've snapped quite a few drills in that time (I buy slow spiral HSS M2 twist drills from the local engineer's merchants in tens - much cheaper). The basic TCT set I got from Fixit (Power Tools UK) in Colwyn Bay, the set is here (on eBay, although Fixit will sell to you over the phone). Neil over there is a really helpful guy and can often source stuff not on the 'Bay, too. I've also bought other stuff from him, and Axminster Power Tool over in Warrington. What other stuff were you looking for?

BTW I'm now trialling a new Snappy drill/countersink with a built-in non-mar depth stop. I've onl;y got the #10 size, and that came from ITS London. These are a bit of a lump, and expensive, but I can confirm that they do the job and most importantly they don't mar laminates and MF-MDF, so probably worth the geld for me. Not sure about buying a set, though