Any set that costs an average of $2.25 a bit should be viewed as
occasional use that won't last in the long run. If you want something
to get by for a few holes, then the rockler set is about as good as
any. If you want bits that are going to last and remain high quality
years down the road, go for something like Freud bits. I found the
Freud carbid bits to be so good, that I decided to buy them one at a
time as I needed the different sizes. For most large holes ( 1 1/2" or
larger), I find a good us made hole cutter on the drill press to meet
my needs.
Bob wrote:
> years down the road, go for something like Freud bits. I found the
> Freud carbid bits to be so good, that I decided to buy them one at a
> time as I needed the different sizes. For most large holes ( 1 1/2" or
Me too. I started off with a $25 "Columbian" set from Lowe's. They're OK
for occasional use. For the ones I use a lot, I stick a Freud in the hole
and throw away the original one. So far I only have one Freud, but I'll be
getting more as the need arises. I was really amazed at the difference.
The Freuds cut at least three times faster, with fewer clogging problems,
and without getting nearly as hot.
--
Michael McIntyre ---- Silvan <[email protected]>
Linux fanatic, and certified Geek; registered Linux user #243621
http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Rue/5407/
http://rosegarden.sourceforge.net/tutorial/
Cox West wrote:
>
> Looking for a set of Forstner Bits. Any suggestions?
>
> Rockler has a GuildCraft 16-Piece set on sale for 36$. Comments on these
> would especially be appreciated. Thanks.
As other noted, don't be expecting a lifetime of use from such a set nor
perfectly clean holes. There's a reason they're inexpensive. Whether
they're also cheap is harder to tell.
I've seen some inexpensive sets under the CMT label that are reground by
CMT from Chinese blanks...I've been tempted on them but still can't
bring myself to by Chinese goods so I'm waiting til I need another size
I don't have to buy a higher-priced set. That, of course, is personal
prejudice...
[email protected] wrote:
>
...
> Either they are "ok", or my expectations were way off. I figured they
> would move through wood fairly easily and leave perfectly clean holes.
> That is not the case. Much better than twist or brad point, but not
> quite what I expected.
....
A really good Forstner (or "toothed" Forstner--I'm sure there's a name
but I don't know it) will leave a virtually perfectly smooth hole and
cut like a dream...
I've got some hickorys. Like 'em.
Nuff said?
Joe
Russ Stanton wrote:
> Any opinion on Hickory brand. TWC has them on show special in Atlanta set of
> 16 for S29.95
>
> Russ
> "AAvK" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:UZMJd.9250$rv.2324@fed1read03...
>
>>>Looking for a set of Forstner Bits. Any suggestions?
>>>Rockler has a GuildCraft 16-Piece set on sale for 36$. Comments on
>>>these would especially be appreciated. Thanks.
>>>Dave
>>>
>>>
>>
>>Lew's price sounds good. That carbide sharpness lasts 10 times longer than
>>high speed steel as I've read, but HSS sharpness lasts 10 times longer
>>than
>>basic carbon steel (also as I've read) so you don't want to get anything
>>less
>>than HSS. Those Rocklers are no doubt made in China, doesn't bother me...
>>mine are as well but they are under an old American company, Oldham,
>>Hickory brand HSS and garenteed forever. My set was $40 here:
>>http://www.toolsforless.com/cgi-bin/ToolBig.pl?SKU=FBS1016 this is a
>>good honest business, fast and no profit on shipping.
>>http://www.oldham-usa.com/
>>Having used them, they work perfectly fine. With HSS, they can be
>>sharpened
>>by hand. I'm not to sure, but I think carbide will eventually wear gone
>>with
>>sharpening and are not as easy to sharpen. And any corrections invited.
>>
>>--
>>Alex
>>cravdraa - at - yahoo - dot - comment
>>http://www.e-sword.net/ (free excellent windows bible)
>>
>>
>
>
>
Any opinion on Hickory brand. TWC has them on show special in Atlanta set of
16 for S29.95
Russ
"AAvK" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:UZMJd.9250$rv.2324@fed1read03...
>
>> Looking for a set of Forstner Bits. Any suggestions?
>> Rockler has a GuildCraft 16-Piece set on sale for 36$. Comments on
>> these would especially be appreciated. Thanks.
>> Dave
>>
>>
> Lew's price sounds good. That carbide sharpness lasts 10 times longer than
> high speed steel as I've read, but HSS sharpness lasts 10 times longer
> than
> basic carbon steel (also as I've read) so you don't want to get anything
> less
> than HSS. Those Rocklers are no doubt made in China, doesn't bother me...
> mine are as well but they are under an old American company, Oldham,
> Hickory brand HSS and garenteed forever. My set was $40 here:
> http://www.toolsforless.com/cgi-bin/ToolBig.pl?SKU=FBS1016 this is a
> good honest business, fast and no profit on shipping.
> http://www.oldham-usa.com/
> Having used them, they work perfectly fine. With HSS, they can be
> sharpened
> by hand. I'm not to sure, but I think carbide will eventually wear gone
> with
> sharpening and are not as easy to sharpen. And any corrections invited.
>
> --
> Alex
> cravdraa - at - yahoo - dot - comment
> http://www.e-sword.net/ (free excellent windows bible)
>
>
> Looking for a set of Forstner Bits. Any suggestions?
> Rockler has a GuildCraft 16-Piece set on sale for 36$. Comments on these would especially be appreciated. Thanks.
> Dave
>
>
Lew's price sounds good. That carbide sharpness lasts 10 times longer than
high speed steel as I've read, but HSS sharpness lasts 10 times longer than
basic carbon steel (also as I've read) so you don't want to get anything less
than HSS. Those Rocklers are no doubt made in China, doesn't bother me...
mine are as well but they are under an old American company, Oldham,
Hickory brand HSS and garenteed forever. My set was $40 here:
http://www.toolsforless.com/cgi-bin/ToolBig.pl?SKU=FBS1016 this is a
good honest business, fast and no profit on shipping.
http://www.oldham-usa.com/
Having used them, they work perfectly fine. With HSS, they can be sharpened
by hand. I'm not to sure, but I think carbide will eventually wear gone with
sharpening and are not as easy to sharpen. And any corrections invited.
--
Alex
cravdraa - at - yahoo - dot - comment
http://www.e-sword.net/ (free excellent windows bible)
"AAvK" writes:
> May I ask where? That does sound good.
It was a couple of years ago, but I think it was McFeeley <s/p>, the outfit
on the east coast that does fasteners.
BTW, the set did not include a 7/8" bit, I got it as an add on for about
$20, if I remember.
HTH
Lew
>
> --
> Alex
> cravdraa - at - yahoo - dot - comment
> http://www.e-sword.net/ (free excellent windows bible)
>
>
> A really good Forstner (or "toothed" Forstner--I'm sure there's a name
> but I don't know it) will leave a virtually perfectly smooth hole and
> cut like a dream...
"Sawtooth"...purpose being is to stay cooler... LV, I am sure, is redoing
Chinese blanks like they do with their brad point bits which were originally
basic twist bits. But, LV makes a totaly proper forstner like the ConValCo's.
In fact, the Lee Valley HSS Forstners are my recommendation and I should
have bought those in the first place.
--
Alex
cravdraa - at - yahoo - dot - comment
http://www.e-sword.net/ (free excellent windows bible)
On Wed, 26 Jan 2005 19:44:22 -0500, "Russ Stanton"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>Any opinion on Hickory brand. TWC has them on show special in Atlanta set of
>16 for S29.95
>
>Russ
I have a set.
if you use them a lot, you'll want better.
they work fine, though, and that's a good price.
That Hickory set is the one TWC often sells at WW shows for $29.
http://www.thewoodworkerschoice.com/detail.asp?product_id=1252
I have them. I have no prior experience w/ Forstner (these are
technically not Forstner, but rather some other -- see Lee Valley for
defnition
http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=1&p=45533&cat=1,180,42240).
Either they are "ok", or my expectations were way off. I figured they
would move through wood fairly easily and leave perfectly clean holes.
That is not the case. Much better than twist or brad point, but not
quite what I expected.
On Wed, 26 Jan 2005 05:02:35 -0800, "AAvK" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> Looking for a set of Forstner Bits. Any suggestions?
>> Rockler has a GuildCraft 16-Piece set on sale for 36$. Comments on these would especially be appreciated. Thanks.
>> Dave
>>
>>
>Lew's price sounds good. That carbide sharpness lasts 10 times longer than
>high speed steel as I've read, but HSS sharpness lasts 10 times longer than
>basic carbon steel (also as I've read) so you don't want to get anything less
>than HSS. Those Rocklers are no doubt made in China, doesn't bother me...
>mine are as well but they are under an old American company, Oldham,
>Hickory brand HSS and garenteed forever. My set was $40 here:
>http://www.toolsforless.com/cgi-bin/ToolBig.pl?SKU=FBS1016 this is a
>good honest business, fast and no profit on shipping.
>http://www.oldham-usa.com/
>Having used them, they work perfectly fine. With HSS, they can be sharpened
>by hand. I'm not to sure, but I think carbide will eventually wear gone with
>sharpening and are not as easy to sharpen. And any corrections invited.
"Duane Bozarth" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> As other noted, don't be expecting a lifetime of use from such a set nor
> perfectly clean holes. There's a reason they're inexpensive. Whether
> they're also cheap is harder to tell.
>
I bought a $14 set from Woodcraft. The worked very well for a short time.
The advantage is they came in a nice box that I still use, they had all the
sizes "just in case' I need them and got me through the first project. I've
since replace the 3/8 and 3/4 with good quality, but a couple of the sizes
have not been used yet. I don' thave a lot of money sitting and not being
used but I have cheap insurance if a size is needed. And a nice case to
keep them in.
Internationaltool.com.
They've done well by me in the past.
Dave
"AAvK" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:p5MJd.9248$rv.4435@fed1read03...
>
>> I have the Freud carbide set.
>> Best $89 I ever spent.
>> YMMV
>> Lew
>>
>>
> May I ask where? That does sound good.
>
> --
> Alex
> cravdraa - at - yahoo - dot - comment
> http://www.e-sword.net/ (free excellent windows bible)
>
My recommendations are: # 1 HSS fostner bit for precision work in hard wood.
# 2 Carbon steel fostner bits for occasional work in soft to medium wood
where tolerance is negligible.
In comparison a 13/8" carbon steel titanium colored fostner bit sells for
about $8.40 CAD while the High-speed steel sells for $12.20 CAD.
After using both I much prefer the HSS and do not mind paying an extra 30%
for a superior quality bit. Not only HSS is better but I do not have to
sharpen these as much as carbon steel. Now for furniture making I only use
HSS bits. FWIW
"Edwin Pawlowski" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:uHRJd.27380$Vn2.22398@trndny06...
>
> "Duane Bozarth" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > As other noted, don't be expecting a lifetime of use from such a set nor
> > perfectly clean holes. There's a reason they're inexpensive. Whether
> > they're also cheap is harder to tell.
> >
>
> I bought a $14 set from Woodcraft. The worked very well for a short time.
> The advantage is they came in a nice box that I still use, they had all
the
> sizes "just in case' I need them and got me through the first project.
I've
> since replace the 3/8 and 3/4 with good quality, but a couple of the sizes
> have not been used yet. I don' thave a lot of money sitting and not being
> used but I have cheap insurance if a size is needed. And a nice case to
> keep them in.
>
>