I'm looking for an economical milling bit starter set. I'll only be doing light milling as a hobbyist. Looking for end mills ( 1/8 to 1/2", maybe up to 3/4"h and maybe a dovetail bit to make some custom BXA holders). Most of my machining will be in 6061 AL and 1018 steel. Some machine in brass and if I have the courage and need to machine some SS ( SS is not a requirement ). Any recommendations on a reasonably priced starter set.
Every 'set' I have ever seen, has been composed of the cheapest, shoddiest quality parts that could be bought, at even higher prices.
Get a couple catalogs from Machine Tool suppliers, and buy what you need, when you need it.
From a hobby perspective, forget about having one of every size. A fly cutter works well for cleaning up flat surfaces, and you can afford the time to take an offset pass to make the slot as wide as it needs to be.
I would suggest that you either skip the cutters larger than 1/2 inch, or shop cheap on ebay or wherever you can get them cheap from. 1/2 inch and under, the milling cutters are a bunch more affordable.
I have heard sort of good reviews of the cheap Chinese cutters from places like richontools (do a search of that term). Cheap enough that they will not kill you to break a few, and far cheaper than the same or lesser quality bits in the 'sets'. I fully intend to buy an order from them to try, once my mill is set up.
I would also suggest that you could do a lot worse than to track down a Cutter grinder shop, and see what they can do for you in the way of reground cutters. I have bought such in the past, and got good value, as the size of the cutter, was not of much importance while cutting up to a scribed line on the workpiece.
You ARE going to break and or fry several milling cutters learning what to, and not, to do. Might just as well not be causing you financial hardship while so doing. And if you are going to buy cheap Chinese end mills, you might as well pay as little as possible for them.
Cheers
Trev