Thread: Forstner Bits Set.

thanks for this - just got me some too. they have 10 piece and 7 piece sets.

I have a set like that ,that I bought at the recent Perth TWW show.

I do like the Famag ones from Germany that I have also bought in the past.

Cheers

I ordered the larger set, which I used last weekend. The bits come in a useful box, but that is about the only kind thing I can say. The finish was poor compared to the Carbatec cheapies, edges appeared ragged, and they were dull. I needed to sharpen the 3/4" bit before it would cut. Not recommended.

Regards from Perth

Derek

How effectively do they clear themselves of chips? I have a few which just drive me nuts as they always pack up and smoke before I go one bit depth.
Hardwood birch, softwood pine/cedar = all the same.

RV, that is the point. I chucked the 3/4" bit into my drill press and lowered it into softish Jarrah. It was like getting fine shavings/dust. The bit was heating up, and starting to blacken - this in a few seconds, even when retracting it to cool and expel chips. The cutting surfaces were ragged and dull. I used a couple of diamond paddles on them, and suddenly I was getting thick shavings being expelled from the hole.

They are a cheap set - about $65 (I cannot recall exactly) and so probably not worth making a number of phone calls or emails and then sending across the country after to return. I will contact the agent for comment.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Originally Posted by derekcohen

RV, that is the point. I chucked the 3/4" bit into my drill press and lowered it into softish Jarrah. It was like getting fine shavings/dust. The bit was heating up, and starting to blacken - this in a few seconds, even when retracting it to cool and expel chips. The cutting surfaces were ragged and dull. I used a couple of diamond paddles on them, and suddenly I was getting thick shavings being expelled from the hole.

They are a cheap set - about $65 (I cannot recall exactly) and so probably not worth making a number of phone calls or emails and then sending across the country after to return. I will contact the agent for comment.

Are any of these inexpensive sets worthwhile? I have the Carbatec set (10 years? old) in a nice wooden box, and they are not up to much. The Maxi-Cut Forstners from Brett group buys are good, Lee Valley good for odd sizes (I have not pushed the odd sizes I purchased on a recent trip, but work well so far in hardwood). An Austrian (Stubai I think) 3/4" drilled around 12 dogholes in my 2" hardwood benchtop without any protest, after the Carbatec one gave up the ghost after 2 holes - and is still going strong years later. You get what you pay for I guess

Matching the correct speed to dia. of the forstner bit is also an important factor if you want to eliminate overheating. http://www.wizardproducts.com.au/p88...-piece-set.htm

Good point about speed, Stewie. In my case, I slow the speed down, so it is unlikely to be due to this factor. I think any burning is simply a result of the bit not cutting, which then forces it to spin in the same spot.

A would love to get Maxi-cut, or similar. I am prepared to pay more than Carbatec prices. However I need Imperial bits, and all the decent ones are Metric.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Originally Posted by derekcohen

A would love to get Maxi-cut, or similar. I am prepared to pay more than Carbatec prices. However I need Imperial bits, and all the decent ones are Metric.

Derek, Check with Brett, but his last list included imperial sizes. I don't know when the next relevant group buy is though. Lee Valley sell imperial sizes
Cheers
Peter

Thanks Peter.

I looked at the Maxi-cut on the Lee Valley site. I note that they have "extenders" available. Are these necessary for each drill bit, or are they just optional to increase the depth?

http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/pag...at=1,180,42240

Regards from Perth

Derek

Originally Posted by derekcohen

Thanks Peter.

I looked at the Maxi-cut on the Lee Valley site. I note that they have "extenders" available. Are these necessary for each drill bit, or are they just optional to increase the depth?

http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/pag...at=1,180,42240

Regards from Perth

Derek

Derek, extenders not required, I don't have any extenders for my Maxi-cuts
Cheers
Peter

Thanks Peter. That makes a purchase less complicated.

Regards from Perth

Derek

I have bought a few sets of Forstner bits and found that the Lee Valley and Maxi-Cut bits are High Speed Steel, and don't loose their temper if heated. I have also seen a number of other bits from India and China with and without a 'gold' plating job and they are plain carbon steel which does soften when heated to smoking hot;. The gold coloured plating does not have to be Titanium Nitride, it can be done with electroplated cadmium and other processes which do not give anything other than a false sense of security.

As for the Maxi-cut extensions, make sure they are clean and lubricated inside as they will lock on very tight, not a quick finger flick to remove the bit from the extension.

The gold coloured plating does not have to be Titanium Nitride, it can be done with electroplated cadmium and other processes which do not give anything other than a false sense of security.

The Wizard website states

• Titanium Nitride Coating allows bits to stay cooler while drilling at higher speeds with prolonged effective work life.

They promise much. I did handle them at the recent Perth Woodshow and was impressed enough by their presentation there to consider them at the time.

To be fair, I will take some close-ups of the set I have - only used one so far - for others to determine whether they are value-for-money or just cheap-and-as-poor-as-all-the-others. It is probably a lesson that there are no free lunches.

Regards from Perth

Derek