Forstner Bits

I have a set of Freud which has given me good service. The set was a gift so I do not know the pricing. What I like is that the set of drill sizes increase by 1/8 inch, no bits that I will never use. My set goes from 1/4″ to 1″.

Christmas is coming so how about you drop some hints…..Not to me of course..

First you ask for quality, then you complain about the price of quality. There is just no pleasing some people. I have a solution. For only about $7500 you can get a medium sized metalworking lathe, and a good milling machine. Add maybe $750 for the accessories you will need, plus $2000 for a power feeder if you get lazy. Now add maybe $100 in raw materials (assuming you pick it up, saving on shipping and a minimum order. Then you can, after spending a few long weekends in the shop (per bit) make your own high quality high speed steel forstner bit for only $20 per bit. This is a real savings, since you don’t have to charge yourself for labor. And wait! There’s more! You can make bits for others, and in about 175 years, you will break even.

Kidding aside, I still have and use my cheapie imported set from many years ago. I just don’t use them enough to justify the high cost. Freud on Amazon (and I assume they are made in China, not Spain) run $52. The Fisch is $250. It’s like any tool, you use it a lot, spend more. I spend more on brad point bits than any other kind, they get used a lot.

When I first started woodworking I bought sets of bits, etc. Now I don’t buy a set of anything unless it’s some kind of sale that makes it worth it. I’ll just get the size (s) I think I’m going to use most and chalk it up. I’ll pick up forstner bits at garage sales if I happen to come upon them but who waits for a garage sale to make a project?

I found a set of Porter Cable (I think…) bits on the clearance shelf at home depot several years ago. Clearance shelves are hard to come by sometimes it seems, but keep your eyes peeled. It looked like someone had taken one bit out and used it and returned it, so I figured if that one bit out of 10 or whatever was dull, I’d sharpen or replace it. They cut clean, have a hex shank, and come in a nice case. No complaints, and I think they work better and have stayed sharper than the orange case “workforce” ones I replaced. The only dedicated forstner bit I’ve purchased is an oddball size for a clock movement. I can snap a pic of it sometime if you want, just shoot me an email.

Joe, I waited for a garage sale and bought 2 pieces of 80 grit even though I needed fine. I rubbed it on the tree outside until the paper dulled enough to use it. The tree is very smooth now, I hate rough bark, and I got an extra piece of fine paper put aside! I was thinking of buying a large diameter forester bit and drilling thousands of holes until it reduces in size. I’m not sure if that will work though. Any ideas?

I am trying to reduce the diameter of the bit with a heavy sandpaper from a garage sale.I have to be careful that I don’t ruin the paper for future use so I only hold it on the bit for a minute or two at most. The bit and sandpaper smoke a lot and they get very hot but I don’t think that matters too much. It should only take a few days but I can have the exact size I want when I’m done!

I am waiting for a garage sale to purchase some more paper. My hand does become hot when I hold the paper against the bit. Do you suggest I buy a block of wood at the next garage sale to hold the paper? What kind of wood? This will increase the cost of the manufacturing process and I will have to pass it on to my customers…

I don’t think it’s necessary to go to a garage sale for what we call in the trade “abrasion wood.” Home Depot sells it in their lumber department. You can find it labeled poplar, oak and maple, and it will come in many lengths and widths. However, as this “abrasion wood” is generally warped, they are really meant to be cut into small lengths for such work. The grain is so uneven and friable it works without sandpaper, so Charlie, this will be a savings for your customers. Abrasion wood works especially well on Chinese Faux Steel products, which is softer than Abrasion Wood.

This is an advantage for sales, since you can still bill the customer for all new products, instead of trying to justify reworking used items, however well they are made.