Thread: After stockist of good carbide tipped long shank forstner bits

Unfortunately there is a lot of product bought into this country that scrapes the bottom of the barrel, and even occasionally makes it through to the other side.

IMHO if you need a really good, high quality Forstner bit, take a look at the Famag Bormas series here: Forstner Bits | FINE TOOLS

They have some long bits: FAMAG Bormax prima long Series 1614

I'm sorry though, as I don't know of any places in Australia that stock these - Dieter ships to Australia though.

Thanks MM, Tool Titan stock them at the eye watering price of $200 for the 50mm ver, I had looked at them but discounted them as they're HSS.

If I absolutely can't find any long shank TCT ones it may end up my only option, so I'd be hoping they do last as long as it's claimed.

If you want a laugh, have a look at the sharpening instructions from TT:

How to resharpen the Famag Bormax 2.0 forstner bit? Online Resharpenin

Originally Posted by aarggh

If you want a laugh, have a look at the sharpening instructions from TT:

How to resharpen the Famag Bormax 2.0 forstner bit? Online Resharpenin

Y'know, after seeing that page I went to my optometrist.

He reckons there's nothing wrong with my glasses.

I call BS...

(Whomever put that page together needs to be quietly taken out back...)

Originally Posted by aarggh

I see Timbecon has some 10mm shank ones, but the shaft is still really short

The kits look to have short shafts but the individual ones might be longer. Here is a photo of a couple that I bought from them. They have what I would call a long shaft but their catalogue makes no mention of TCT.
20230610_100517.jpg

Timbecon do have some TCT ones but they're still only 90mm overall length, and after using the Carbitool ones I'm very wary of using any extension bars as they are just useless.

I could use some of them that are wider than the drill chuck head as it can clear the hole, but for 35-38mm which I use heaps that's a but trickier.

I'm quite amazed it's so hard to simply find longer forstners. They used to be so commonly available.

These any good?

https://tooltime.nz/index.php?route=...product_id=156

Originally Posted by Flintlock

These any good?

Forstner Carbide Drill Bits

Unfortunately no, apart from only going up to 35mm, they're still very short with a hex shank.

The attached pic is what happens with the hex shank forstners in a drill press when the cutter "grabs" at any point.

And that's a Carbitool one, why they didn't just keep the 1/2" shank instead of machining it down to a 1/4" hex is beyond me.

The one that I bought didn't spiral the hex it snapped off clean the first time that I used it.
I think that a 35mm drill is a bit much for hex drive.

Go and visit a business like https://www.jalortools.com.au they quite often make or put new tips on existing cutters

Originally Posted by DJ’s Timber

Go and visit a business like https://www.jalortools.com.au they quite often make or put new tips on existing cutters

Thanks DJ, I'll check them out next week!

Originally Posted by Bohdan

The one that I bought didn't spiral the hex it snapped off clean the first time that I used it.
I think that a 35mm drill is a bit much for hex drive.

For 35mm doing cabinet hinges I can handle as they're fine for that being so shallow, but for plunging into timber, which is the whole point of Forstners, and especially TCT ones, just useless!

The one with the bent shaft is a 54mm Carbitool next to my 54mm diameter one with a 180mm long shank forstner from my door lock jig set, and top is a TCT clock insert forstner with a 150mm shank.

I really struggle to see how any company can justify the design of a really wide cutter with a such a small mild steel shank, especially when it's meant to be plunged deep into timber.

Originally Posted by aarggh

I really struggle to see how any company can justify the design of a really wide cutter with a such a small mild steel shank, especially when it's meant to be plunged deep into timber.

I’d argue they aren’t fit for purpose. Regardless of any stated warranty period, I’d take them back for a refund.

Unfortunately I bought them 1 or 2 years ago, replacing my sets of HSS ones with "good quality" TCT ones from Carbitool having always considered their router cutters to be superb, so I don't think it would be right to try and return them now.

Must admit I'm very disappointed that cutters from a manufacturer that was known for really high quality products, are so poorly designed and perform so badly

I know what you mean about the carbitool tct, brilliant bit of kit, cuts really well but that 1/4” hex shaft lets it down.

I bought the 25mm one to try out, but it just wandered too much due to the small hex shaft.