I the smaller sizes I find that the 3 flute FC-3 type are quite reasonably priced for sizes upto 6mm. Usually get mine for MSC when they have them on offer which is virtually all the time, have a look at bottopm of page 9 on the latest comic the uncoated will be fine.

In the larger sizes then the ones from ARC are good value, can't really tell much difference between them and my Dormer ones.

Generally avoid sets unless they are a well known brand as quality of the no name ones can be a bit iffy.

A lot of cutting tools from China are very good and I have bought some very good end mills from there in the past, but you have to be careful because there is some dreadful stuff as well. Don't buy a lot of cutters in one go from a supplier you have never dealt with before, but try perhaps one or two cutters from a few different suppliers and then pick the best supplier for future orders. Since most of the suppliers provide "free" postage this can be done quite cheaply.

Doug

Edited By Douglas Johnston on 31/12/2016 09:50:15

Have to agree with Neil, if we don't support our homegrown suppliers, they will disappear, along with the convenience of next day delivery, known quality and returnable goods. The likes of Arc and RDG etc represent excellent value for money for the home engineer.

Try a price comparison with an industrial machine tool merchant to get an idea.

The costs of running a business in this country are eye watering, and i doubt any of them are getting rich from importing and selling on to us. Most of the stuff bought direct from China by private individuals is swerving VAT and import duty, which a business cannot evade.

In response to the OP, i bought some carbide end mills from Vicky Thwaites at Chesterfield Machine Tools, they were very reasonably priced, i haven't tried them in brass, but they cut steel beautifully, giving a very fine finish. Photo is a piece of black flat so not the best material to get a finish on.

Lynne,

As you are working with brass, you should consider un-coated end mills with two flutes, ideally with a high helix flute angle. Reasons – in simple without getting technical – Non-ferrous material such as brass fails to perform well with coated end mills. Two flute reduces the chance of the end mill clogging, and with a high helix angle, swarf is expelled more easily.

Having said the above, you could use the cheap and chearful TiN coated or any other, with variable results, which may or may not meet your requirements.

Where you buy from is up to you. As Piero said, eBay from China may be good enough for you, as it is for him.

I would however correct Piero in his understanding about who ARC buy from. The cheap and cheerful TiN coated endmills which we sell are sourced from a specific maker in China, and the premium end mills which we sell are purchased from a specific premium end mill maker, with full material traceability, who make for well-known world brands.

It took ARC over eight years 'to be allowed' and 'to be in a position' to buy from the premium maker, who services a very limited number of overseas buyers, as its order books from within the Chinese premium end industrial user buyers is very strong. Delivery times to us from them are between six to eight months… Keeping this in mind, we constantly monitor and look into our crystal ball for enlightenment about how much stock we should bring in. We often get this wrong as we go out of stock on some sizes sooner then others. The positives are that demands for the premium range has grown.

Whilst ebay may be fine for the hobby user, if ARC wants to grow its business, we have to maintain a certain level of consistency, if we are to be taken seriously by the growing number of industrial users who buy from us. We are happy to service both sectors, and we are grateful for the support from all concerned. We are especially grateful to the hobby users who have helped us in the development process of the premium endmill range.

Piero is also mistaken about pricing. Our profit margins on these products are much lower then he thinks. In many cases, our buying costs are higher than those being offered on ebay. Reasons are covered by a combination of comments made on this thread by others, as well as on this thread, which talks about the black market economy, on which I would not like to elaborate. All I can confirm that our 'premium' makers product will not come onto ebay, especially because most Chinese ebay sellers cannot buy from them, and if they could, they would not buy from this maker, because they would not be able to sell them and make a profit on them at the current ebay selling prices. The only way a Chinese ebay seller could buy and sell a premium endmill sourced from our maker, is if he/she stole them, and/or he/she sold them at a loss to launder criminal money.

Conclusion: One should buy from where ever one feels happy.

Ketan at ARC.

Lets not turn this topic into "lets save face"

I to run a small company, And I know a few things about business, NO business ever started with an idea of doing right by the customer, they are there to make money, full stop, lets not be fooled.

My point is/was. wether you buy directly from china/far east, or support the so called UK seller who then buys from the far east, your money is ending up in the far east.

if the UK seller was to buy from the UK, I would whole hartly support them.

If your money is ending up in the far east, why not buy direct from them your self?????????

Just my 2 eurocents worth: For years I have used British made end mills from various sources and was entirely happy. Last Christmas ( a year ago) I was given some of ARCs premium quality Chinese end mills and the improvement in finish was very noticeable. I will not go back to using the British made ones however well sharpened except for a few imperial size slot drills.

Russell.

All this time I thought Neil's sofa had all the cash.

Pays your money takes your choice but theres a lot of garbage from asia fit for nothing except emptying your wallet. Likewise theres not just one 'Premium' manufacturer theres dozens that make for proper established quality conscious brands of yester year, having said that not as good as old homeland made by a long way.

Piero does have a point, likewise I have always supported number one wherever possible, failing that from our allies, wheres your jobs gone need I say more?

I've bought quite a few items from China in the past year, all of it at around 25% of the cost here. So far it's all been good although you do have to wait a couple of weeks for delivery. I object, for example, paying £2 plus postage for a single Torx (insert) screw when I can get a dozen for £3.50 inc postage and a free driver.

I usually get P&N(made just up the road), or Sutton, from over the ditch, but last time I got two slot drills (long and standard), they were P&N, but the 4 mm reamer came from South Africa, seems to be a similar quality tool.

Ian S C

.

Well said, Steve.

It's useful to know who to avoid.

MichaelG.

Posted by Piero Franchi on 31/12/2016 14:30:27:

… NO business ever started with an idea of doing right by the customer …

Maybe not, but quite a lot achieve success by following that route…

Neil