rotary cutter bit??

[frank durant]

I just purchased a 'rotary cutter' for cutting out ports etc.There are laminate floor bits , ceramic tile , wood and steel bits...none say fiberglass.While I have an 'opinion' on which to buy..I'm hoping some one in the group has tried a few and knows which one works the best. At $27 for the good ones...I'm hoping to get it right the 1st time. Advice anyone??? Thanks

[ebb]

Frank you have a problem. I wonder which cutout tool you got? I haven't used my Rotozip for awhile, don't think I trusted the tiny bits or the small foot. New generation mini-routers have quick change chucks, soft ergo handles and variable speed.

I wouldn't go less than 1/4" on anything you want to plow sideways with.,

RotoZip has a solid carbide Duracut Bit for cement board ($11). It's burr-like but based on their spiral cutting drill bit technology. Haven't used it, but it doesn't look very aggressive. Bosch, Amana, Southeast make endmill/burr style bits for fiberglass. Never used them myself.

Whiteside makes a 1/4" single flute solid carbide router style (blade-like) bit specifically for fiberglass in two lengths. (Woodcraft $21)* Haven't used this one either. But this maybe looks like a good tool to try out.
The cutter is only 3/4" deep, so for any careful stuff I guess you'd have to have a template to follow so that you could lower the bit into the work as you go around the pattern a number of times. I would probably ask to make sure this Whiteside bit is designed for sideways work - and at what speed.
Wouldn't it be great if you could free-hand with this bit! Be nice if the 'variable speed' could be dial set on the tool.

Let us know what you find. It'd be a good tool to have in the kit. Like for spongey decks, deck fills, access plates, AND ports!:p
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*Checking out the Whiteside channel, they show ONLY a burr-style bit for fibeglass in their online catalog, NOT what Woodcraft shows in their pic of a fiberglass bit. Woodworkers wood do they know?? Might think about Whiteside's 'hogging bit'. Dang, wish I knew!
(Know summpin? me, I'd jig saw the hole rough and finish it off to a scribe with 60/80 grit sanding drums in the drill. They really eat fiberglass!)

[frank durant]

Ebb I got a 'Dewalt' 5.2 amp cutter. Figure it's small size and power would be great for certain jobs.Recently cut a 1/4berth opening port into the Flicka on the side of the cockpit under the port seat near the bridgedeck with a jigsaw....awkward odd angles while holding on and quite simply...I ain't that flexable anymore...plus the 'pot' gets in the way. Then I seen these on sale and the lights went on.Hoping someone here has tried them and could save me $$ and experimenting time. If I do figure it out...I'll let ya know.

[ebb]

Very good! Amana has a normal looking 'fiberglass and carbonfiber' flush trim bit (double bearings on the bottom) meant for composite sheet.
BCSaw has a mean looking up or down (which way do you want the glass to fly?) long spiral composite cutter. Composite sounds good, because it means the bit is made for mixed stuff with surprises! This bit looks almost normal except it's got teeth. Aggressive. And probably expensive. Maybe throwaway cement board bits are the way to go.