I bought a bargain set of forstner and brad point bits
about a year ago (from the now defunct WW Warehouse).
They seemed to be a great buy at something like $25 per
set. They are awful. The main problem is that they
seem to be inaccurate (hole sizes are off) because the
shanks are not perfectly straight and wobble very slightly.
Anyway, be frugal and buy a more expensive set the first time.
(I'm still trying to follow this rule for years now, but it's
hard to pass up a bargain in the tool store!)
Lou
lou notes:
>
>I bought a bargain set of forstner and brad point bits
>about a year ago (from the now defunct WW Warehouse).
>They seemed to be a great buy at something like $25 per
>set. They are awful. The main problem is that they
>seem to be inaccurate (hole sizes are off) because the
>shanks are not perfectly straight and wobble very slightly.
>
>Anyway, be frugal and buy a more expensive set the first time.
>
>(I'm still trying to follow this rule for years now, but it's
>hard to pass up a bargain in the tool store!)
Start simply. Repeat to yourself, until you're a week past sick of hearing of
it, that a purchase is NOT a bargain just because it is cheap.
'S why I mentioned the Freud Forstner bits. They are not cheap, but they are a
bargain.
Charlie Self
"Bore, n.: A person who talks when you wish him to listen." Ambrose Bierce, The
Devil's Dictionary
Thanks again to all who responded. I think I will check with my local
lumberyard as they carry both Freud and CMT. I have had great luck
with a Freud set of brad points bought there years ago.
FWIW
While checking out Lee Valley site I came across some bits patterned
after the old Stanley powerbore bits. I'm missing a couple of sizes in
my set and am elated I have a source to replace them
Lenny
RE: Subject.
Somebody asked:
> Can anyone recommend a brand/source for a set of > Forstner bits that
> represents a good value.
I have a set of Freud, carbide bits.
Best $90 I spent on cutting tools.
--
Lew
S/A: Challenge, The Bullet Proof Boat, (Under Construction in the Southland)
Visit: <http://home.earthlink.net/~lewhodgett> for Pictures
[email protected] (Charlie Self) wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> Lenny asks:
>
> >Can anyone recommend a brand/source for a set of Forstner bits that
> >represents a good value.
>
> Freud. Beautifully clean cuts, reasonable (not low) price.
I second that. Also reasonably easy to hand sharpen with small diamond paddles.
Roy Smith <[email protected]> wrote in message > > Can anyone recommend a brand/source for a set of Forstner bits that
> > represents a good value.
> > TIA
> > Lenny
>
> I bought my set from Lee Valley. I can't claim to be an expert on the
> subject, but they seem to work fine.
>
> http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.asp?page=42244&category=1,180,42240&cc
> urrency=1&SID=
I also have a set of Lee Valley forstner bits, and like them very much...
CMT gets my vote, Stubai a very close second.
--
Greg
"Lenny" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Can anyone recommend a brand/source for a set of Forstner bits that
> represents a good value.
> TIA
> Lenny
Lenny wrote:
> Can anyone recommend a brand/source for a set of Forstner bits that
> represents a good value.
> TIA
> Lenny
Depends on what is a good value for you. I bought a cheap set (about $10)
from Woodcraft. They come in a wood box and sizes range from 1/4" to 1".
I've had them maybe 18 months and the 3/8" and 3/4" are now in need of
replacement. I'll buy a higher quality bit for those two sizses as they are
the ones I used the most. The others have had very little use so the cheap
ones will last me for a long time. I'd say for my needs, it is a good
value. I don't mind having a $2 bit sitting around "just in case" but
I'll not buy the lesser used sizes for $20 each. I will for the oft used
3/8" though. And I still have the wood storeage box
Ed
[email protected]
http://pages.cthome.net/edhome
About 15 years ago I bought a set of about 20 from Trendlines. No-Name
brand. I paid about $40.
I figured that I would get what I paid for. Oddly these were manufactured
in Germany and I have probably drilled 600-700 holes with the 1-3/8" bit
alone. It still cuts quite well.
My advise is to buy from someone like Woodcraft if you buy an off brand bit.
Woodcraft will stand behind their products for 1 year.
"Lenny" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Can anyone recommend a brand/source for a set of Forstner bits that
> represents a good value.
> TIA
> Lenny
Lenny,
Connecticut Valley Manufacturing makes the best forstner bits I have
used. They are not inexpensive. You will pay the price of a whole
set of Chinese bits for one or two of these. They make clean cuts
with no burning.
<http://www.convalco.com/>
When I first started using forstner bits, I bought several very cheap
ones made in China. They burned the wood, and I spent too much time
sanding out the burned wood.
I have some of the Freud carbide forstner bits and they are good.
Clean cuts with no burning.
Andy
Lenny <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> Can anyone recommend a brand/source for a set of Forstner bits that
> represents a good value.
> TIA
> Lenny
> Can anyone recommend a brand/source for a set of Forstner bits that
> represents a good value.
Hi I bought these, made by Oldham Co. in China. Oldham has been around a
long while as a U. S. Company since 1857, currently within the Pentair
conglomerate:
www.oldham-usa.com
Bits:
http://www.oldham-usa.com/Products/BitsMain/HickoryKits/HickoryKit.htm
16 peice set of HSS* bits, here the set was the least expensive of anywhere:
http://www.toolsforless.com/
Bits, the page I ordered from:
http://www.toolsforless.com/cgi-bin/ToolBig.pl?SKU=FBS1016
The shipping cost was exact ($8.xx) and not even nearly a rip-off.
My reasoning is, as less costly and made in China, the production is quality
contolled and they are fully guaranteed. Therefore "sure" for the plastic
case they come in... especially at that price!
... hope this helps,
Alex
I bought a bargain set on Ebay a couple years ago and could *see* the
runout when the bits were mounted in the drill press and spinning. Oh
well. I just use them for noncritical applications and buy/use better
quality single bits for stuff like mortising.
Layne
On Sat, 21 Aug 2004 10:21:55 -0400, loutent <[email protected]> wrote:
>I bought a bargain set of forstner and brad point bits
>about a year ago (from the now defunct WW Warehouse).
>They seemed to be a great buy at something like $25 per
>set. They are awful. The main problem is that they
>seem to be inaccurate (hole sizes are off) because the
>shanks are not perfectly straight and wobble very slightly.
>
>Anyway, be frugal and buy a more expensive set the first time.
>
>(I'm still trying to follow this rule for years now, but it's
>hard to pass up a bargain in the tool store!)
>
>Lou
> www.stubai.com is their site though I could not navigate due to the
> language. They definitely make forstners, I have some in the shop now and
> they are great.
Thanks for the link, not able to find that exact site by searching. But this site
is how to read it in english, use german-to-english with the url entered into:
http://babelfish.altavista.com/ However you will notice, when you click on
the link you gave, in your browser's address field, it becomes the following:
http://www.stubai.com/standard/standardframe.htm once the page is landed,
the other won't work in the AV tranlator.
Thanks again,
Alex
In article <[email protected]>,
Lenny <[email protected]> wrote:
> Can anyone recommend a brand/source for a set of Forstner bits that
> represents a good value.
> TIA
> Lenny
I bought my set from Lee Valley. I can't claim to be an expert on the
subject, but they seem to work fine.
http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.asp?page=42244&category=1,180,42240&cc
urrency=1&SID=
"AArDvarK" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:pxTVc.13625$yh.7933@fed1read05...
> Stubai makes forstner bits? I cannot find a website by them but I did
> buy a set of Garrett Wade chisels made by Stubai, on eBay.
www.stubai.com is their site though I could not navigate due to the
language. They definitely make forstners, I have some in the shop now and
they are great.
--
Greg
On 22 Aug 2004 07:26:51 -0700, [email protected] (Scott Wilson)
calmly ranted:
>Roy Smith <[email protected]> wrote in message > > Can anyone recommend a brand/source for a set of Forstner bits that
>> > represents a good value.
>> > TIA
>> > Lenny
>>
>> I bought my set from Lee Valley. I can't claim to be an expert on the
>> subject, but they seem to work fine.
>>
>> http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.asp?page=42244&category=1,180,42240&cc
>> urrency=1&SID=
>
>I also have a set of Lee Valley forstner bits, and like them very much...
I'd like my set better if they didn't clog so much. I really
need to get the Dremel out to port 'n polish them so that
doesn't happen.
--
Impeach 'em ALL!
----------------------------------------------------
http://diversify.com Website Application Programming
I bought a set from Harbor Freight. I think they were on sale at around
$22.00 and range in size from 1/4 up to 2 1/4 I think. They have performed
well for me so far...
"Lenny" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Can anyone recommend a brand/source for a set of Forstner bits that
> represents a good value.
> TIA
> Lenny