Forstner bits

[LCHIEN]

For those of you who never experienced the joy of drilling with Forstner bits here's a four piece set for under $10.

http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?p...5&site=ROCKLER

let me know if you need a Rockler no-minimum free shipping code.

[leehljp]

I have a 1/4 to 2 1/8 (or 2 1/4, forgot) set and a 2 1/4 - 3 1/8 set also. I used a 2 1/2 today making a small DC collector for pen turning/lathe use.

It sure is nice having the right sizes!

[LCHIEN]

I have a 16-piece set that goes 1/4 to 2-1/8" like Hanks.
Sure is a pleasure to use.
I posted the deal for those who have a drill press but have never used a Forstner set before and wanted to try one with minimal investment.

[sweensdv]

Snoopy after just using a forstner bit.

[cabinetman]

For a tryout, the price is right...$2.50/bit. Likely not carbide tipped and will dull fairly quickly. But, for those that never used one it would be an experience.

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[LCHIEN]

the vast majority of Forstner bit sets are not carbide tipped. You can get them but they are quite a bit more. MLCS for example offers 48 individual bits, only two in Carbide tipped and more than twice the price.
Router bits because of the high RPMs and use to plow long edges or dadoes wear much faster, I imagine, than Forstner drill bits. Which accounts for the wide use of carbide tipped router bits vs low incidence of carbide tipped forstners.

[cabinetman]

Carbide Forstner bits in sets are common and are individually available, and yes are appreciably more expensive. But the bits in this thread are a "bargain alert", and for what they cost are a good bargain.

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[johnk]

Thanks for posting!

[durango dude]

I picked up Porter Cable's 8 piece set ( PC1008) at Lowe's last year when it was on sale for $12 (normally $20).

The set is a good start --- and leap years better than my usual drill bits.

The PC bits don't clear as well as I'd always like - but that's my only complaint.

[Cochese]

That's about on par with the Ryobi 8-pc set for $20. I wonder what the durability of these are, as the Ryobi set has done rather well.

[sweensdv]

Durability?? Cheap drill bits are just that, cheap. I own both cheap and not so cheap forstner bits. There is very little joy involved when using a cheap forstner bit but a high quality bit on the other hand is a pleasure to use. The first hole drilled with a cheap bit may be sufficient but it's down hill after that.