What's the deal with Oldham Viper bits?
JCM
Just bought a 3/4" Oldham Viper straight bit for my new 1 3/4" HP PC
690-series router (with the quick release lever -- I love it BTW).
Anyway, I bought the bit at HD -- happened to be there. But, I haven;t
seen the brand at my other usual haunts, namely Woodworker's Warehouse
(where I bought the router), my local hardware store, and dare I
confess, Sears (which does actually sell real Freud bits).
Anyway, my question is, is Oldham Viper a Borg exclusive (a la
Ridgid)? If so, who makes them?
-jcm
Tim Henrion
"JCM" <jcmi...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
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>
> Anyway, my question is, is Oldham Viper a Borg exclusive (a la
> Ridgid)? If so, who makes them?
>
Viper bits, too. They sell the bits relavant to Incra jigs, anyway. I
know that I've seen Oldham saw blades in generic hardware stores
so I don't think the brand is unique to HD. AFAIK, they're a
run-of-the-mill discount brand of cutting tools.
Tim Henrion
Boston
Gary Harmon
Hi jcm,
I bent my flush cut bit a while back and ran to HD and bought a
viper to replace it because I was in a hurry thinking I would a CMT
later. I use this bit more than anything. The only thing I could see
on the viper that would leave me to believe that it could be better is
the thickness of the carbide could be better. However I'm still using
the viper after about 12hrs of use on red oak and it's still going
strong. I removed it from the router yesterday and it just needed
cleaning, just like the CMT I bent.
They have a web site http://www.oldham-usa.com if you want to see the
product line. For the price I think I will buy again, even if it's
just for those bits I only use once in a while.
Gary Harmon
gha...@bigbear.d2g.com
Crapulence
them out of necessity at Home Depot, that is all they sell. I also have
many Freud bits that cut much nicer. My favorite bits are CMT. They cut
noticeably cleaner than any others I have.
DJW
I have several Vipers and they perform very well. Fine Woodworking Magazine
did a comparision of bits:
http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/pages/w00045.asp
The Viper scored well in their testing. The CMT and Freud came in behind the
Viper. Obviously, this is just one test of a single type of bit, but it may
reveal something of the underlying manufacturing quality and design of their
lines. For what it worth, the Whiteside bits work very well in my
experience.
D
"JCM" <jcmi...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
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Eric W Brown
performed well in this evaluation -
http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/pages/w00045.asp
-Eric
"JCM" <jcmi...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
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Todd Stock
the FWW router bit tests a while back, easily beating CMT, Amana,
Jesada, PC, DeWalt, etc. Whiteside was rated tops, Ridge Carbide #2 -
both with prices a few bucks more than the Vipers.
They also have some highly rated table saw blades, but I've never seen
those models at HD.
I've done a lot of deep mortising in white oak lately, and the 3/8" and
1/2" Viper bits are holding up nicely - about as smooth as the CMT bits
I've used, but not as nice as spiral solid carbide for the really deep
stuff.
Todd
RC
two flush cutting bits with pilot bearings (one with the bearing on top,
the other with it on the bottom). I chucked one in my router and
I proceeded to cut a piece of plywood with a template attached.
Within 30 seconds of starting the cut, the bearing assembly
disintegrated. The bit was trashed. It made a horrible noise
and I never did find all the pieces. I haven't got up the nerve yet
to try the other bit. If I could find the receipt, I would have
taken them back!
I used to buy Freud bits from my local Home Depot, but they've
switched to Oldham, and my first experience has not given me
a good impression! I read the magazine tests too, which puts
CMT and Freud at the top, all others running well behind (big
step between second and third in their opinion). Oldham scored
fairly well, as the others go. Maybe I just got a bad one. I've
even run Sears and Vermont American bits (both low quality)
and never had a failure like this.
See for yourself: http://home.cfl.rr.com/scan/Temp/oldhambits.jpg
Robert
spec...@cfl.rr.com
jeff cybulski
Payless Cashway's going out of business sale.
Jeff
"RC" wrote in message
J&K Copeland
"RC" <nos...@me.com> wrote in message
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I bought several Oldham bits during the Payless closing. Including straight
bit with pilot bearings. I hit 'em with a shot of WD40, chucked 'em up with
no problems.
James....
DIYGUY
pointer to that picture they would gladly give you a free replacement and
maybe even another bit for your aggravation. Of course I wouldn't blame you
if you would not want one of their bits again. I have had good luck with
Whiteside made right here in NC. Seems to me they did pretty well in one of
the bake-offs but I cannot remember which one ...
Gene
100%. You have a "random failure of a normally reliable part" and I'm sure
the manufacturer would make it good.
The bearing is most likely a purchased part in their bill of materials. They
would get in a lot of say 10,000 and select a sample. They would accept or
reject the lot based on how the sample did in inspection/testing. Talk to
them. If they get a bunch of calls, they will pay closer attention to the
next lot of bearings they get from that manufacturer. They might even 100%
inspect any they had in stock from that manufacturer. If they make the
bearings themselves, they would take a look at the inspection procedures on
their line.
Gene
RC <nos...@me.com> wrote in message
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JCM
dadoes with the 3/4" Oldham bit and I've got no complaints.
Interestingly, I have used Oldham blades on my circular saw and they
seem to do fine. The Plywood/OSB blade (don't have the # of teeth in
front of me) does a nice job on the 1/4" BCX U/L that I put under a
parquet floor, as well as other applications. I'm not sure if these
are comparable in quality to the Oldham table saw blades mentioned
before, and of course, I don't do much cabinet-grade work with my
circular saw (until I get a panel saw jig, heh heh).
As far as the disintegrating bearing... I agree with Gene. If Q/A were
performed on every bit, as opposed to a sample, then bits would be
much more expensive than they already are. Some defects are
inevitable. To me, how well a company stands behind a defective
product is the true measure of quality -- but that's just my $.02. I
guess it's a tradeoff. RC, if you pursue a replacement, let us know
how they handle it.
-jcm
"Gene" <s...@erols.com> wrote in message news:<a1f142$goo$1...@bob.news.rcn.net>...
Steve E. Leediker
Life is to short to use JUNK Bits--- Check out my Whiteside #1 rated
Router Bits on Ebay. From your Brower type Ebay.com - click search -
type in whiteside
Thanks
W.T.Katt
same bit...However, it happened after a long day of using it on 3/4 ply
(basically the bearing overheated and melted down...the bit was OK though).
As for the other Viper bits I have, I have had no probs with them.
"Steve E. Leediker" <bria...@msn.com> wrote in message
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