WOOD HOT NEW TOOL 2008: Laser Router Plate WORKBENCH '06: TripleWing™ Router Bits
WORKBENCH '06: Brass Piloted Router Bits ROBERT BROWN REVIEW: Router Bits
WOOD® REVIEW: Merle Clamp WOOD® REVIEW: Dovetail Jigs
FINE WOODWORKING® REVIEW: Router Bits FW® REVIEW: Router Collet Extension
SHORTCUTS REVIEW: 7 Piece Forstner Bit Set WOODSMITH: "Getting a flat-bottom dado"
KATANA® "KNOTS" REVIEW: Raised Panel Bevel
The OnPoint is a Wood Hot New Tool

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In Wood Magazine, December/January, 2007/2008 issue, the ON-POINT Universal Laser Guided Router Plate with LED lIghts was voted one of 15 HOT NEW TOOLS FOR 2008.

"LASER – RED "X" MARKS THE SPOT WITH THIS ROUTER SUBBASE. MLCS's On Point Laser Guided Router Base shines a laser crosshair to show the exact center of the bit. That's handy when freehand routing or setting up field cuts, such as fluting. Plus, it's oblong shape and outboard handle make it more stable for edge-routing. For cuts not requiring the laser, switch on the bright white LED worklights; combined with the clear subbase, they provide great bit visibility. On Point comes predrilled to fit many popular midsize and 3-hp routers, but can be drilled to fit any."
Laser Guided Router Base

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The following is a review of the ON-POINT Universal Laser Guided Router Plate that appeared in American Woodworker Magazine, September 2007 issue.

"Lasers seem to be everywhere in the shop these days. Thanks to the folks at MLCS, routers are no exception. The new OnPoint Laser Router Plate... contains laser cross hairs that helps you perfectly position your router for plunge cuts.
I have to admit I was skeptical when I first saw this product. But now that I've used it to cut some dadoes and mortises, I'm a believer. The cross hairs do a great job of simplifying a joint's layout. You just have to remember that with the OnPoint plate your layout must be based on the center of the plunge cut, not the joint's edge.
To mount the OnPoint plate to your router, you install a V-bit in the machine. Then, to align the lasers with the tip of the bit, you mark out and drill the screw hole locations for your router's base.
This... needs to be done correctly to make good use of the cross hairs. Take your time and make certain it's right. From then on your router will be perfectly sighted in."

TripleWing™ Bits - Three Flutes vs. Two

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The following is a review of MLCS TripleWing™ Router Bits that appeared in Workbench Magazine, August 2006 issue.

"While two-flute bits can leave cutter marks and 'waves' on edge profiles, these three-flute bits produce consistently smooth cuts."

"In the last few years, you've probably noticed how razors have gone from three blades, to four, and now to five. Well, now it seems that router bits are following suit. These new TripleWing™ bits from MLCS have three cutting edges and a claim of "smoother cuts and longer life. When I compared these bits head-to-head with two-flute bits, the improvement was noticeable. For example, a two-flute roundover bit produced an uneven profile, while the three-flute bit left a smooth surface. And since the bits have three cutters, rather than two, sharing the wear, their claim of longer cutting life seems valid."

"Verdict: Priced the same as two-flute bits, they're worth a try."

Brass Piloted Bits - Sneaky Smooth!

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The following is a review of MLCS Brass Piloted Router Bits that appeared in Workbench Magazine, August 2006 issue.

"Bits with metal pilots were around long berfore bearing-guided bits, but you don't see many anymore. That's because the spinning pilots would burn the wood. MLCS revamped the idea with a brass pilot that runs cooler. This small pilot lets you rout into tight spaces and inside corners."

"The small pilot on this roundover bit sneaks right into the corner of a frame to create a smoother transition."

"Verdict: A specialty bit, but priced around $20, they're worth a look."

Katana Router Bit - First Experience

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This review of the Katana Raised Panel Bit with 18º Bevel was posted on the Fine Woodworking "Knots" discussion board by Matthew Schenker on October 3, 2005. He also included the photos at right.

"I thought you might like to see this review I posted about a Katana® router bit I just bought. Great quality!

A little while back...some people asked about Katana. I said I was buying one and would report back.

Here's the story...I've had good success with MLCS in the past, so when I had a file-cabinet project to do, I thought I'd give the Katana Raised-Panel bits a try. The cabinet is made of oak.The one I bought is Item #18686, an 18-degree bevel with a 3" cut diameter, 5/8" cut height, and 1-1/4"; cut depth. I used it to create the edges on the oak drawer fronts. The drawer fronts are 16" wide x 12" high. I'm pretty comfortable around my router table, but I'll tell you I was nervous with this bit! Three-inch diameter is pretty large!

I set the speed on my router as low as it will go. I set the fence back so the stock would just kiss the bearing. The first pass was 1/8", then I raised the bit height 3/32" for each subsequent pass, and I pushed the stock through slowly. I did a total of five passes (the first one plus four following ones) to get the final profile. Because of the profile, certain parts of the bit do not make contact until the third pass.The bit never burned the wood. There was absolutely no chipping or tearing of the oak. It felt very smooth. I ran two test pieces, and I got no tearout, even when I ran the end grain! I did another couple of test pieces, because I couldn't believe this. But it was true. I could run the drawer fronts through the bit, with no edge-grain tearout, which meant I could final-size the drawer fronts and rout all four edges in one operation!

The bit really performed very nicely, and I was impressed by the quality of the cut. I would not hesitate to buy another bit from Katana. Here's a link to the page for this bit: #18686."
MLCS "Price Busting" Dovetail Jigs

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Wood Magazine discovered the MLCS Pins And Tails Through Dovetail Templates in the Tool Buyers Update of the June/July 2002 issue. Reviewer Dave Campbell gave high marks to the Pins And Tails performance and seemed especially enthusiastic about the low price:
  • "Pins and Tails jigs deliver through dovetails for the price of a half-blind jig".
  • "Pins and Tails jigs ($80 each) cost only about half as much as the least-expensive model originally reviewed".
Wood Magazine Performance Ratings:
Ease of Assembly: Excellent
Ease of Set-Up: Excellent
Ease of Use: Good
Ease of Tuning Fit of Joint: Good

At Wood's suggestion, we have improved the clarity of our instruction manual. Revised instructions for the Pins And Tails Through Dovetail Templates are available on the MLCS Instructions page.
Wood Magazine Loves Merle!

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Wood Magazine magazine featured the MLCS Merle Clamp in the Products That Perform section of the Winter '97 issue. The Merle received a perfect 5 star score for Price and Performance. Tester Chuck Hedlund wrote:

"Merle Clamp puts the squeeze on workpieces.
When I recently built a laminated work surface, I needed to put some extra clamping pressure on the mitered banding around the top. I tried a nylon band clamp, but the nylon strap stretched too much to be effective.
The solution was the Merle Adjustable Clamp, which uses a 3/8" wide spring steel band instead of a nylon strap. Similar to the tempered steel used for pallet tiedowns, this band won't stretch and helps you put tremendous clamping pressure around the perimeter of a frame. And unlike a nylon strap, glue won't adhere to the steel band - dried on drips pop right off.
The clamp comes with cast-aluminum right-angle corner brackets that concentrate the band's pressure. With a bracket on each corner, you snug up the band, and tighten down a clamping bar to hold it in place. Then you twist the plastic handgrip to apply the neccessary clamping pressure.
The clamp has convenient circular case with a crank handle so you can rewind the band for storage. It comes with a 22' band. An optional 40' band sells for $7."

The Straight Story About MLCS Quality

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Fine Woodworking magazine featured a "Router Bit Matchup" in their July/August 1999 issue. 17 brands of router bits were evaluated in a grueling, head to head (or straight bit to straight bit) 248 linear ft. cutting comparison. The $13 MLCS straight bit out-cut, out-performed, and out-distanced most of our well known competitiors more expensive router bits. Some of the biggest and most familiar brands of router bits wore out before the test was finished. In fact a $23 competitors bit broke twice and performed poorly on the third try, finishing dead last in the test.
  • The MLCS bit was the least expensive of the top six bits
  • MLCS outperformed Jesada, Grizzly, Eagle America, CMT, and others
  • The MLCS bit finished 3rd BEST CUT out of 17 for the first 25 feet
  • MLCS bits are machined well, and cut with little vibration
  • Hype and a colored body does not necessarily equate to quality
  • Unlike our competitors, MLCS bits are SHIPPED FOR FREE!
Robert Brown Likes MLCS Router Bits

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A quote from the Internetwoodworking.com web site

"I have been using MLCS Router Bits for years. And it seems that any piece of furniture I've built has had an MLCS bit grace its surface somewhere. In profiles of mouldings, the dados, rabbets, and the occasional dovetail, I see myself again chucking up one of those carbide beauties in my PC 690 to begin the process of turning a simple board into something special. I've used about everyone's router bits, from Freud, Amana, Whiteside, Vermont American, DML, and those Orange guys, and I can say from experience that, even though some of these manufacturers make great bits, no one makes a better bit than MLCS! Be sure to check out their other tool products too while visiting their web site!"

Robert J Brown
Founder, internetwoodworking.com
The MLCS "Collet Stretcher" review

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Fine Woodworking featured the MLCS Router Collet Extension in the Tools & Materials section of issue #159 from December 2002. Here's some quotes from the article:

“Collet Stretcher. The router collet extension from MLCS adds about 2-1/4” to the length of a router collet, a handy feature in the router table for above-the-table bit changes."

"When a router is mounted in a table, the collet of the router often ends up positioned well below the surface of the table, even after the motor has been raised to its maximum height. That means some bits are not able to reach far enough above the table to provide the full depth of cut.

Recently, MLCS began selling a router-collet extension that quickly remedies the problem. Also, as I quickly discovered, the extension makes bit changing a lot easier because the extension, which adds 2-1/4" in length, allows the collet to be raised well above the table. With the collet exposed it becomes relatively easy to work a pair of wrenches and change a bit."

“If you use a router table a lot and regularly struggle to install bits, the router extender might be worth a closer look."
A Sparkling from Wood®

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Wood Magazine reviewed our Router Collet Extension in their March 2003 issue. This is what tester Ben Von Ruden said:

"Sometimes, especially with my table-mounted plunge router, the combination of the router's unlimited plunge depth, the tables insert's thickness, and a short shanked router bit cause me to tempt fate by pulling the bit farther out of the collet than I like, creating a safety hazard. It is for such situations that MLCS sells the Router Collet Extension...This accessory has a 1/2" shank on one end and a 1/2 collet on the other, and it installs just like a router bit. Once it's mounted, you insert your bit into the collet, tighten it as you normally would (you'll need a 1-1/6" open or adjustable end wrench) and begin routing. I measured .006" of rounout (wobble), but detected no increase in vibration or chatter when routing red oak (the router itself contributed less than .001" of runout). As a bonus, with the Router Collet Extension installed, I found it was easy to change bits from above my router table.
A few words of caution: Extending your router's collet puts extra stress on the tool and its bearings, so take multiple passes on stock, especially with large-diameter bits. (MLCS recommends using bits no larger than 3-1/2"). And you may find that the extra 2-1/4" of height is too much of a good thing, if your router's vertical travel won't let you lower the bit enough to cut properly. When that happens, the Router Collet Extension comes out as easily as bit.
Forstner 7 Pc. Set: Rating

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This review appeared in the "Shortcuts" column of the Halifax Sunday Daily News on November 3, 2002. Graham McCulloch writes:

"MLCS specializes in router bits, drill bits and Forstner drill bits. It’s the latter that we had the opportunity to test. The set we tested is the Seven Piece Carbide Tipped Set that ranges from 3/8" to 1 3/8" in 1/8" increments. The set sells for US $64.95 and in my opinion is worth every dime. These drill bits were razor sharp and drilled perfectly flat bottomed holes.

Some Forstner drill bits have problems at the top edge of the drill hole, not these. The MLCS carbide tipped bits showed no signs of tear-out whatsoever. As I said, they are razor sharp and earn our Four Star rating.

One of the problems with Forstner bits is their length. All Forstner bits are relatively short and in some cases this can pose a problem. That problem is easily solved with the Forstner bit extension from MLCS that increases the length by a full four inches. A handy addition. Visit their web site to see some of their other products."
Woodsmith® "Flat Bottom Dado"

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The following excerpt is from a Woodsmith Magazine #151 article titled "Getting a Flat-Bottom Dado" . The cuts were made using MLCS Dado Clean Out bits.

“Best (Flat-Bottom Dado). To get the tightest, best-looking dado joint, use a dado clean-out bit in a hand-held router. The top-bearing bit is guided by the sides of the dado.

So how do you (cut dados)? I've found the best solution to be a combination of a hand-held router and a table saw...The secret behind this technique is an inexpensive router bit. The bits are called dado clean-out bits. And as the name implies, they have only one purpose and one purpose only – to cut perfectly clean and flat dadoes. To do that, the bottom of each bit has two cutting flutes that are ground dead flat. But what makes them different is that the carbide-tipped flutes are short (only 3/16")... Making the cutter length so short reduces the vibration, giving you a cleaner cut.”