Hello Sirs , I bought the katsu 1/4 router and now need some router bits for it. I'm not really sure what brands are decent when it comes to router bits, but I want to get a set of 10-15 cutters that I could use ocassionally, the plan is to get some kind of Ok'ish quality set at first and than Buy some better quality individual cutters once I see which ones I need the most. I have had a set of those cheap £10 bits in past where you get 12 of them in a wooden box and I thought myself they were ok for the price, but really want to get something a bit more quality this time since I will probably be using this small router much more than the huge 1/2 router I had in past.
I tend to use a mix of Titman and Wealden bits. Never brought a set, just buy a few and then buy more as you need the profiles.
Got given this set a few years ago, found them good,but usually buy Titman,Rutlands,Jesada & a few other brands.
its a good set for starters and also not pricey. So fits the budget of OP £20-£30 Ps I also use Titman and Wealden.
One thing router cutters, they breed, start off with a few, & before you know you have dozens. Some years ago, a tool shop was closing down, & I bought about 150 cutters 1/2" & 1/4" at a give way price, just too good to miss.
I've just read your other thread about the router you purchased - http://www.aimtools.co.uk/101748-katsu-trimmer-6mm-1-4-collet-chucks-700w.html In the description it says it comes with 6mm & 8mm collets so you may want to check that first before forking out for OK'ish 1/4" cutters.
You can get imperial and metric collet/shank sizes, & they are not compatible,there are also collect a reducer 8mm to 1/4", but I don't know if they are still made, BUT you can't beat using proper size collect, a much safer opinion.
The OP may have to go for 8mm as there are not many 6mm cutters sold in the UK. To the OP: They tend to be 1/4" 8mm and 1/2" And NEVER try to use a 6mm cutter in a 1/4" collet (or vice-versa) - it could fly out and cause serious injury.
I would never advise anyone to to use the wrong size of collet and have never done it but where I have had a cutter fall out or loosen it would just drop out harmlessly, a buggeringly big cutter in a router table would be a different beast
Had a large cutter in a spindle moulder fail,the cutter seperated from the shaft, many years ago, it took off skywards & punched a nice hole through the workshop abestos roof.
Never knew that will have to check min, I can see on the ebay listing is listed 3/8" and 1/4" collets. There is a separate listing for the collects individually.
Had some 3/8"Collet Cones come with my Makita router, never used them. https://www.partshopdirect.co.uk/makita-38-collet-cone-3620-rp0900-rt0700c-router-p763619-3/
The ELU 95 and 96 series routers had a 1/4" as standard with an 8 mm option. I have found that with some cutters such as long pocket cutters an 8mm was a better option with longer overall lengths. Trend have made 3/8" for a long time. I still have copies of their profile guides from around 1990 and those show which of the three imperial shank sizes each cutter was available in.
As have Titman, Whiteside do some 8mm bits. The 8 mm shank has 58% more cross-sectional area than a 1/4 inch shank. And it's a very popular size in the states. http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?p=69400&cat=,69399&ap=1