WhitesideRouter Bits 3004 Template Bit with Ball Bearing

Originally purchased several of the Whiteside template bits in various profiles to give me more options for my projects. The 3001, 3002, and 3004 were intended primarily for my trim router and the 3020 was my initial bit for my table. I have used the 3020 extensively in my Milwaukee 5625-20 mounted in my table setup and the others in my Dewalt 611 trim router primarily with the optional plunge base. In every instance, the bits cut accurately and quickly well worth the money I spent on them. I also tested the 1/4 inch shank bits in the table using the 1/4 inch Milwaukee collet instead of an insert and they cut just as well as the 1/2 shank in my estimation so you may be able to get by with just the 1/4 inch shank bits in the name of versatility. That said, I really like that 3020 bit, it is a big wood chewing smooth cutting monster that takes everything you throw at it and says "that all you got?" No problems with the collars on any of the bits so far. I would buy all of these again if I need to but the way they are holding up, that won't be for quite a while.

I made sure to check the set screw on this one for tightness as last one the set screw came off and the bit dropped out of the router while in use causing a gouge to the piece. This one was tight and works like it should.

CUTS MY OAK WOOD LIKE IT IS BUTTER. I ALWAYS TRY TO BUY WHITESIDE BECAUSE THEY STAY SHARP AND CAN BE SHARPENED AGAIN.

Out of 2 of 3 I bought from white side the Allen screws fell out while I was routing so maybe when you get them, tighten down a lot

I just wanted to point out that Whiteside deliberately under-sizes the bit slightly compared to the bearing - so that the bit will not cut into the templateI found this out when I was trying to duplicate a Festool MFT top - which uses precise 20mm holes. In the past I used a Freud pattern bit without any problems but I was building a new workbench so I wanted a fresh bit and decided to try a Whiteside.After a couple of test cuts, my 20mm dogs would not fit into the holes I just cut! Since they fit fine in the original holes, I pulled out my calipers and took some measurements. The bearing was .499" but the actual bit measured .494, so it wasn't truly cutting "flush" with the template/pattern.Thinking perhaps I got a bad bit - I called WhiteSide tech support and found out that they deliberately undersize the bit by approx .005 so that the template won't get cut. I wish I would have known this ahead of time - but they were nice enough to find me a bit with a bearing the same exact size and they are going to send it to me to replace the one that I bought.By the way - I also tried a similar bit from Amana and it was the same way, the bit was slightly smaller than the bearingExcellent customer service and WhiteSide router bits are top rated!

So I'm not sure 3 stars is fair or not, but I can't go 5 stars. The reason being that I've fought with this bit all day now, and it's ruined a nice piece of wood. I can't claim it to fully be the bit, but I've had some problems with it. Firstly, I've used this bit only once before for a rough, straight line trim/cut off. Worked great. It IS sharp. The problem was that I noticed the set screw was missing. I went down to my local small box store to buy a M3 x 2mm set screw, but they only had M3 x 3mm. No big deal, I would just file off the part sticking out. Problem was that I couldn't get the threads to bite.So, since I needed to actually use this thing today, I used a rotary tool to create a bit of a flat spot on the shaft so the screw could grab. I put a bit of blue (removable) thread lock on and it appears the threads may be a little stripped. Maybe I got someone's return? Who knows.Anyway, I've butchered this thing up a bit, so there's no returning it. And I wouldn't know what I'd expect Whiteside to do about it, so I haven't called them. Just be aware that if you need to replace the set screw, you're in for a world of frustration. And when my "fix" slipped, my nice piece of wood got nipped incorrectly and destroyed my piece. Very frustrated at the moment, which is why I probably went with 3 stars instead of 4.Whiteside is great. Almost all my bits are whiteside, but this hurt more than once.

Really nice router bit. Runs true and I even cut through part of a screw so it’s tough. My only complaint is during my first cut the retainer screw on the collar flew out. That was frustrating so 4 stars. I may pull out the screw in all of my bits with collars and add lock tite

I've been using Whiteside bits now for a few years after purchasing one on amazon purely because it was the only one available in the size I needed at the time. I was so impressed with its quality (sharpness, smooth bearing, smooth cut it produced) that it's the only brand I choose to use now for my lutherie work.