Sorry to clog up the site with another "which is the best XX to buy" request
but I did a google search along with a look at Fine Woodworking Online and
couldn't find and reviews of forstner bits.



I am looking for a set of high quality forstner bits that will stay sharp
and cut clean holes a long time from now. Any recommendations, good or bad?

"Frank Drackman" wrote


I am looking for a set of high quality forstner bits that will stay sharp
and cut clean holes a long time from now. Any recommendations, good or
bad?


I have a carbide set by Freud.

They work for me.

YMMV

Lew

On Sun, 2 Sep 2007 12:03:21 -0700, "Frank Drackman"
wrote:

Sorry to clog up the site with another "which is the best XX to buy" request
but I did a google search along with a look at Fine Woodworking Online and
couldn't find and reviews of forstner bits.



I am looking for a set of high quality forstner bits that will stay sharp
and cut clean holes a long time from now. Any recommendations, good or bad?

I read someone's post the other day about some woods having lots of
silica in it while other woods have little. You might be able to drill
a hundred holes in white pine but maybe 10 holes in some high silica
woods. I have saw blades that have stayed sharp for at least 5 years,
If I remove the protective coating and saw some wood they may not stay
sharp. In any event in the public shop the bits always semed to be
dull. The same bits stay sharper in my house shop. Less use and abuse.

On Sun, 2 Sep 2007 12:03:21 -0700, "Frank Drackman"
wrote:

I am looking for a set of high quality forstner bits that will stay sharp
and cut clean holes a long time from now. Any recommendations, good or bad?


Mine are below average Chinese things.

I'd be interested in recommendations of GOOD ones.

---------------------------------------------
** http://www.bburke.com/woodworking.html **
---------------------------------------------

"Frank Drackman" wrote in message
. ..
Sorry to clog up the site with another "which is the best XX to buy" request but I did a google
search along with a look at Fine Woodworking Online and couldn't find and reviews of forstner bits.



I am looking for a set of high quality forstner bits that will stay sharp and cut clean holes a long
time from now. Any recommendations, good or bad?


I have two sets, both cheap and nasty. I would recommend ones that are Titanium plated.
Of interest is the design of the cutting edge too. One of my cheap sets is useless and will not bite
into the wood, the other is a different design and cuts very easily.
I'll go look em up tomorrow and post the name.

"B A R R Y" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 2 Sep 2007 12:03:21 -0700, "Frank Drackman"
wrote:

I am looking for a set of high quality forstner bits that will stay sharp
and cut clean holes a long time from now. Any recommendations, good or
bad?


Mine are below average Chinese things.


I am also replacing a cheap set, something like 7 bits plus a box for
$29.99. I would rather pay more and get a much better set.

"Dave Gordon" d@p wrote in message
...
"Frank Drackman" wrote in message
. ..
Sorry to clog up the site with another "which is the best XX to buy"
request
snip
I am looking for a set of high quality forstner bits that will stay sharp
and cut clean holes a long time from now. Any recommendations, good or
bad?


I have two sets, both cheap and nasty. I would recommend ones that are
Titanium plated.
Of interest is the design of the cutting edge too. One of my cheap sets is
useless and will not bite into the wood, the other is a different design
and cuts very easily.
I'll go look em up tomorrow and post the name.

Hey David, I have a set from HF that are just as worthless (I bought them in
a weak moment - stupid me). Anyway, you can get a little mileage out of
that junk heap with a small file. I ran into a desperate need for a couple
of sizes and I used a small, triangular file to shapen the center cutters
and the circumfrential teeth. It got the job done and didn't even burn the
cherry!

"Frank Drackman" wrote

I'm replacing a cheap set, something like 7 bits plus a box for
$29.99. I would rather pay more and get a much better set.

Then buy the Freud.

About $90 when I bought mine. Add 10%-15%

Lew

"Lew Hodgett" wrote in message
...

"Frank Drackman" wrote


I am looking for a set of high quality forstner bits that will stay sharp
and cut clean holes a long time from now. Any recommendations, good or
bad?


I have a carbide set by Freud.

They work for me.

YMMV

Lew

I have many carbide cutting tools made by Freud and I found them very good.
However, I had very good result with forstner bits made with genuine Hight
Speed Steel (HSS).
I have bit made with Carbon steel and HSS comes really on top.
Have a look at:
http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.a...at=1,180,42240.

Look on AMAZON.COM and search for WOODLINE USA .. .. they have a bunch
of items on sale thru Tuesday .. .. including a set of carbide-tipped
Forstner bits. I got a set yesterday, and they do as good a job as an
expensive Austrian-made set I've had for a few years now, and at a
fraction of the cost. I believe the WOODLINE set was about $16-$17
which I couldn't believe !! !! !!

Frank Drackman wrote:
Sorry to clog up the site with another "which is the best XX to buy" request
but I did a google search along with a look at Fine Woodworking Online and
couldn't find and reviews of forstner bits.



I am looking for a set of high quality forstner bits that will stay sharp
and cut clean holes a long time from now. Any recommendations, good or bad?

Jim Behning wrote in
:

*snip*

I read someone's post the other day about some woods having lots of
silica in it while other woods have little. You might be able to drill
a hundred holes in white pine but maybe 10 holes in some high silica
woods. I have saw blades that have stayed sharp for at least 5 years,
If I remove the protective coating and saw some wood they may not stay
sharp. In any event in the public shop the bits always semed to be
dull. The same bits stay sharper in my house shop. Less use and abuse.


You mean you let your saws just sit there and don't use them? What do
you use to make wood shorter, then? ;-)

Interesting post about the silica, and it does make sense...

Puckdropper
--
Wise is the man who attempts to answer his question before asking it.

To email me directly, send a message to puckdropper (at) fastmail.fm

On Sep 2, 3:03 pm, "Frank Drackman" wrote:
Sorry to clog up the site with another "which is the best XX to buy" request
but I did a google search along with a look at Fine Woodworking Online and
couldn't find and reviews of forstner bits.

I am looking for a set of high quality forstner bits that will stay sharp
and cut clean holes a long time from now. Any recommendations, good or bad?

CMT and Freud both make excellent carbide sets. The best tool steel
set I've ever seen was made by a company called Connecticut Valley,
probably under another name today. They were original pattern (no
center spur), expensive as hell, and wonderful.

"Puckdropper" wrote:

Interesting post about the silica, and it does make sense...


Think TEAK.

Lew

I am looking for a set of high quality forstner bits that will stay sharp
and cut clean holes a long time from now. Any recommendations, good or bad?

I have a few Lee Valley HSS bits, and don't have any complaints
whatsoever. Very nice quality.
Andy

On Sep 3, 11:32 am, Charlie Self wrote:
On Sep 2, 3:03 pm, "Frank Drackman" wrote:

Sorry to clog up the site with another "which is the best XX to buy" request
but I did a google search along with a look at Fine Woodworking Online and
couldn't find and reviews of forstner bits.

I am looking for a set of high quality forstner bits that will stay sharp
and cut clean holes a long time from now. Any recommendations, good or bad?

CMT and Freud both make excellent carbide sets. The best tool steel
set I've ever seen was made by a company called Connecticut Valley,
probably under another name today. They were original pattern (no
center spur), expensive as hell, and wonderful.

For those who want HSS bits of the ultimate quality (and price):
http://convalco.com/cgi-bin/WebStore...s/srchcd=60001

Seven bit set is about $174.

I got these off eBay

http://cgi.ebay.com/16-Piece-Forstne...QQcmdZViewItem

The price was right and they do everything I need, but then again, I am
not a commercial shop either.


Frank Drackman wrote:

Sorry to clog up the site with another "which is the best XX to buy" request
but I did a google search along with a look at Fine Woodworking Online and
couldn't find and reviews of forstner bits.



I am looking for a set of high quality forstner bits that will stay sharp
and cut clean holes a long time from now. Any recommendations, good or bad?