Replies

1. 
   Routerman | Feb 19, 2009 06:55am | #1

   Maybe practice on the router table? No bearings required there. If you find the winning combination of cutter & depth settings, you can/may extrapolate to bearing/cutter combos. Appreciate there are a lot of bearings, but they are arbor and cutter sensitive. A bearing in one setting may not fit another.

    

   Routs

1. 
   roundedover | Feb 19, 2009 05:12pm | #3

   I wasn't aware that the bearings weren't standardized among the router bits, so thank you. They are just listed with ID and OD. Besides matching the ID, what else do I need to check for when I put a different bearing in the bit?

1. 
   doorboy | Feb 19, 2009 05:36pm | #4

   The ID needs to match, but the 'thickness' of the bearing could be an issue. In other words, on a thinner bearing, you may need to add a washer or two to make up the difference, but in some cases that might not work.
   Hopefully, where you shop you can take your bit in with you and get the proper set-up from a knowledgeable salesperson BEFORE you make a purchase. (wishful thinking)

2. 
   JiminFla | Feb 19, 2009 05:58pm | #6

   Woodcraft offers a set of router bit bearings for just this purpose.  The set contains bearings with inside diameters of 3/16", 1/4", 1/2" and 3/4".  Style #145725.

   Jim

2. 
   charlesm | Feb 19, 2009 04:38pm | #2

   There are some Freud router bits that can be used with some Freud bearings other than the ones provided. Please contact Freud through the freudtools.com website or email me about the combination(s) you wish to use before attempting.

   Charles M

   Freud America, Inc.

3. 
   Dave45 | Feb 19, 2009 05:58pm | #5

   As long as the bearings fit, you can use different diameters to get different profiles.

   I have a couple of round-over bits that I can use to get a simple roundover, beaded, or double beaded profile depending on which bearing I use, and the height of the bit.