Subject: Re: CMT Router Bits

From: JIM JACOBS <[email-masked]>
Date: Sat, 8 Feb 1997 08:24:23 -0500

CMT are the only bits I buy and they are great. Previous postings here as
well as ratings done by Woodworking magazines etc all rate CMT in the top
3 bits to purchase.  Buy them, you won't be disappointed.  Freud also has
received top ratings.

Jim

On Fri, 7 Feb 1997, Michael R. Wezensky wrote:

> I am thinking of purchasing some router bits from CMT.  Can anyone tell
> me of there experience with these bits and if they are any good?  Any
> comments would be appreciated.
> 
> Tahnks
> -- 
> See Ya
> 
> 
> Mikey Mike
> [email-masked]
> 
>

---

From: "Frank K." <[email-masked]>
Date: 9 Feb 1997 01:02:03 GMT

To which CMT are you referring?

CMT USA, Greensboro, North Carolina imports the Italian made bits. They do
not have an 800 number. Their number is 910-854-0201. You can FAX them for
a catalog at 1-800-268-9778. 

CMT TOOLS, Oldsmar, Florida was the original CMT, but quit importing and
started making their own bits. They are at 1-800-531-5559.

I have some of the early Italian and some of the American made and like
them all.
-- 
Best -- Frank

---

From: [email-masked]
Date: 9 Feb 1997 08:31:09 GMT

I find the bits that I have purchased from CMT Tools, Oldsmar, FL to be of
top quality.  Their attention to customer satisfaction has been
outstanding.  At about the same time my order arrives they call to see if
everything is Okay!  I have bought bits locally, including Sears, but
haven't  found them to be any where near what CMTs are.  I have not used
the other brands mentioned, but then I've only had a good quality 1/2"
plunge router for about a year.  My old 1/4" B&D is still here for some
jobs and it served/serves well, it's just  the cheep bits don't hold up.

Ron

---

From: [email-masked] (Steven McKinley)
Date: 14 Feb 1997 03:31:23 GMT

In message <[email-masked]> -
[email-masked] Feb 1997 08:31:09 GMT writes:
:>...Their attention to customer satisfaction has been
:>outstanding.  At about the same time my order arrives they call to see if
:>everything is Okay!...  :>Ron

I just received there Rabbet Master bit from Tool Trends ltd. (the Canadian
Distributor of CMT tools). Just used it last night and was very impressed with
it.

What I wasn't impressed with was the CMT brass router template guide kit I
also purchased at the same time. When I opened the box the guides were
tarnished and there were still fileings amongst the threads of the guides.
When I phoned Tool Trends they were very apologetic and said that they had
just discovered this themselves. They explained that CMT had just started
making there own template guides and had used the wrong coolent when machining
the brass, thus the tarnishing. Okay, mistakes happen, but what about all the
fileings on the guide threads. That is just poor workmanship! Tool Trends then
explained that they were sending there stock back to CMT for replacement &
would refund my money. 

I phoned CMT to see if they had any of the "corrected" guides available ( I
needed them for a project and was prepared to pay the greater amount in
exchange, duty and postage). Well customer service may be great in the States,
but it indifferent to Canadian Customers. They were not apologetic (sp?) in
the least. They also told me they did not a deal directly with Canadian
customers and from their tone would not have even if the better guides had
been available yet.

So, good router bits? Yes! I would consider buying more and also consider
trying their saw blades. Customer service? Only for those deemed worthy! Of
course if I'd still consider buying there product I guess they don't have a
reason to give me better customer service directly.

---

From: John Crum <jcrum>
Date: 14 Feb 1997 18:38:40 GMT

Oh god.  Am I in the middle of a similar horror story???

I, too, purchased the router template guide set.  The old set- these were a bit
rough, too.  I didn't like the length of the collar- it varied from a bit over
1/4" to nearly 3/4", depending on the size of the guide.  None of the bits I
had would work with a template thicker than 1/4" (that is, the shaft of the bit
is too short).  So, I sent e-mail to CMT (Florida).  They promised to get me a
new set when thier newly designed sets became available.  Well, that was before
Christmas.  And because I could not use the old (useless) template guides, some
of my Christmas gifts did not get finished!  So, beginning of January, I got
the CMT catalog- with the new guides proudly displayed.  So, another e-mail to
Mats Rydin at CMT.  They instructed me to send the set back, and it would be
replaced.  It's been awhile (need to look for my shipping receipt to be sure)
and I still have no guides.  I hope to hell that CMT is not gonna dis me!  They
have a good reputation with the quality of their router bits (I don't own any
of them, so can't say from experience).  I hope that they aren't gonna let this
lack of customer service ruin them!

jc
-- 
John Crum
UCSD School of Medicine
Department of Neurosciences
National Center for Microscopy and Imaging Research
voice: (619) 534-2583
email: [email-masked]
dumb hompage: http://www-ncmir.ucsd.edu/~jcrum