Rotary burr set

[moparfreak]

Hey folks,

I'm in the market for a good all-purpose set of rotary burrs, to be used for general metal shaping, grinding, for use in a die grinder. Especially looking for ones that will help with nibbling away at troublesome fasteners where larger disc-based cutting tools can't fit or get access to.

I've noticed there's steel & carbide, single cut, double cut, etc. What's a good all-around set and brands?

Most of my die grinders have 1/4" collets set up in them but also have 1/8" if I need to.

 

[WhataTool]

Double cut will do most of when you need to, 1/4" is the best option.
General consensurs seems to be the AP 2181 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00061SFKK/?tag=atomicindus08-20

They last forever

 

[Stooge]

Double cut will do most of when you need to, 1/4" is the best option.
General consensurs seems to be the AP 2181 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00061SFKK/?tag=atomicindus08-20

They last forever

I've had this set for a few years, and they have done what I've needed for my car/ fabrication projects. I had one break at the shank awhile back, but other than that, I have been very happy with them, especially for the price.

 

[Steve_P]

Carbide double cut. The only burrs I've had that I've chipped teeth on have been single cut so I avoid them. Epsteins has single USA burrs, not sure if they have a set

 

[ihateminimumwage]

Go for the Astro set, been running them for years now and they've been great.

 

[d.mcfarland]

Epsteins has single USA burrs, not sure if they have a set

If you want to pick exactly what you want go this route.

If you want an easy set, get the Astro.

 

[Ign]

Atrax. US made. Get mine from MSC

 

[larry4406]

Go for the Astro set, been running them for years now and they've been great.

Link? I need these as well.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00061SFKK/?tag=atomicindus08-20


As a general rule, single is for aluminum and softer metals, double is for iron and alloys beyond. Double cut can get clogged by the heavy material removal from aluminum and the other softies, but it's manageable. A quick wipe across a piece of "real" metal cleans them out perfectly.

I have the astro sets, short and long. For specialty or high use, Epsteins or USA on amazon/ebay is your best bet. The USA stuff does seem "sharper" and less prone to damage, but I'm very rough on burrs. I'm usually smoothing/blending welds, or removing damaged fasteners. I like the astro set to start out with. Unless you have experience using them, you don't know what shapes/styles you will need, until you need them. Buy a set, then buy some specialty stuff or replacements for worn out burrs.


Oh, and make sure you use a die grinder that spins true, and has a tight collet. Nothing rapes the teeth off a bit like bouncing around the work piece due to a loose collet or wobbly drive.

 

[619DioFan]

I can highly recommend the astro set of burrs. been using them for around 4 years now and they still work great.

 

[Steve_P]

There are special burrs for aluminium- much coarser tooth spacing to prevent clogging; they're the only way to go. I use a rounded tip cylindrical burr 95% of the time so a set probably isn't necessary, only 3-4 shapes should do.

 

[txvwnut]

I have both double cut and single cut. I use the double on steel and the single on aluminum both my sets are Matco and have a lifetime warranty.

 

[dogdog]

I have two set of the craftsman carbide burrs, they discontinued it now or something but still can be found on ebay for good price...

https://www.ebay.com/p/Craftsman-So...hank-16046/1301962406?iid=273655776027&chn=ps

It works nicely on steel, stainless steel, and aluminum... and it's solid carbide, but that means it's also brittle .....

in general double cut for harder metal, single cut for softer...

just do a google search for "carbide burr"... A lot of places sells different grade of them....

 

[moparfreak]

Thanks for the tips on this, really helps. Astro set being ordered today w/ the double-cut, as that seems the most all-purpose type to get yourself going. That'll also be the ticket for taking care of stubborn fasteners on the car.

As needed, then I'll come in and maybe add a single cut set and maybe long shank when the situation arises.

 

[Badger 13]

Any good 1/8" sets that can be used with a Dremel tool ?

 

[rlitman]

Any good 1/8" sets that can be used with a Dremel tool ?

Dremel actually makes a handful of excellent carbide burrs that you can buy at Home Depot for up to about $10 each. Just don't confuse them with the high speed steel burrs. The steel burrs will list a max RPM on the packaging, and will usually come in packs with two or more. The carbide will not have a max RPM (I actually run 1/8" Dremel carbide burrs in my turbine grinders at 85000 RPM), and will be sold singly only.

This one is my favorite on steel:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Dremel-...eramics-Plastics-and-Hard-Wood-9903/202263217

I've actually used it to carve S30V on a knife blade (to tweak the thumb catch on my Leathermans).

 

[Badger 13]

Thanks, I appreciate the information.

 

[Outahere]

I just ordered the 8pc Astro set of carbide burrs at Amazon. The price was $54.50 from the seller JB Tools, shipped by Amazon. Another seller, located in China, had it for $53 but I was concerned about getting a counterfeit from this very new seller on Amazon. Zoro sells the set for $76.

Astro Burrs

 

[WWheeler]

Double cut will do most of when you need to, 1/4" is the best option.
General consensurs seems to be the AP 2181 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00061SFKK/?tag=atomicindus08-20

They last forever

I've gotten two of these sets that both came as a set with a pair of 90 deg and straight Astro die grinders (Highly suggest comparing the cost of the set of grinders with the burrs to the cost of just the burrs by themselves - I mean, having extra grinders already set up with what you most use them for sure beats changing them out over and over), the last of which I got at least 6 years ago. It is possible wear them out but by then you will know that you have gotten your money's worth from them.

 

[AmericanMechanic]

I've never used the Astro Pneumatic set, but in the Amazon link the picture clearly shows "made in China". As a general rule that's a bad idea with cutting tools. Should be many, many websites that sell USA made cutters and burrs. McMaster-Carr is ubdisputably the easiest to search. But others would be MSC, Zoro, and various tool companies (maybe Travers, Motion, Penn Tool, Harry Epstein, etc.)

 

[signcrafter]

Have the astro set that came with pair of grinders. Love them

 

[Benito]

I dont care if they're made on Mars, they cut out weld slag like a hausss

 

[ecotec]

I have a Astro set of double cut burrs. They work great. They are definitely emerging market though. I have two sections of burrs, rasps, stones… the first section is for users. The ones I use first. They are emerging market ones. The second section is non emerging market ones… USA, England…

I will probably never use up all the emerging market ones… if I get old enough, that I barely use my tools anymore… I will donate the emerging market ones… so when my boy inherits my tools, it will be mostly USA and other non emerging market ones.

I have enough that you would have to talk me into taking more emerging market ones… even for free… the Astro ones were NOS in a grey plastic box for a dollar… they are the best dollar ever spent.

 

[Outahere]

 

[WWheeler]

Interesting. I still really like Astro even though they didn't measure up to the more expensive USA sets. They are an even better value than as tested when you can get a set included with an Astro grinder purchase. Two die grinders, one angle and one straight, and their set of burrs for less than one of those USA sets is pretty hard to beat. As a DIYer who uses them pretty regularly they do get the job done and last a long time.

 

[RoninB4]

As mentioned above, technique and material being cut can make a big difference.

Carbide- cuts about any steel fastener but harder (more brittle) so bouncing in the cut will chip teeth easier. So will an interrupted cut and too slow RPM with too much pressure (pneumatic die grinder bogging down in the cut).

HSS- more shock resistant than carbide but can burn up with too high an RPM. Also less able to cut hardened steel.

I use both per the above limitations and what others have already posted.

 

[Augus7us]

I bought like a 10pc pack off amazon for 10$ and I've gotten a lot of use out of it. Not using it on hardened steel though.