mm

mkr5000

09/07/2012 9:27 AM

Forstener bit or ?

I need to drill 3/4" holes in 1/2" oak and the hole I get with a forstener is what I like, although as I'm covering the hole with a grommet, beauty isn't everything.

Trouble with the forstener is they don't last long AT ALL and I haven't seen anything like a more durable carbide tipped one etc. (?)

Using a spade bit is a pain as they're hard to get true and have to clamp etc.

Maybe I should do a hole saw but what do you think? Need something I can use to do a good quantity, reliably.

Do they make a carbide forstener? Haven't seen anything.


This topic has 13 replies

mm

mkr5000

in reply to mkr5000 on 09/07/2012 9:27 AM

09/07/2012 10:22 AM

Thanks -- I'll head over to Woodcraft, they're near me.

As far as the spade not being true, it's really my piece of &^$% drill press.
Too much wobble.

LH

"Lew Hodgett"

in reply to mkr5000 on 09/07/2012 9:27 AM

09/07/2012 10:50 PM


mkr5000 wrote:


> Trouble with the forstener is they don't last long AT ALL and I
> haven't
> seen anything like a more durable carbide tipped one etc. (?)
>
---------------------------------
Don't buy garbage.

I had a set of Freud carbide forstners (1/4"-1" & 1-3/8" for Blum
hinges).

They worked just fine.

BTW, based on tests run at Cerritos college, forstner bits should be
fed as rapidly as possible to get best results.

Have fun

Lew


DM

Doug Miller

in reply to mkr5000 on 09/07/2012 9:27 AM

10/07/2012 10:51 PM

mkr5000 <[email protected]> wrote in news:14f197d8-d19c-4a08-b9a9-81254ce58ec5
@googlegroups.com:

> I need to drill 3/4" holes in 1/2" oak and the hole I get with a forstener is what I like, although
as I'm covering the hole with a grommet, beauty isn't everything.
>
> Trouble with the forstener is they don't last long AT ALL and I haven't seen anything like a
more durable carbide tipped one etc. (?)

You mean, that's the trouble with *cheap* Forstner bits. A good Forstner bit should last for
years. Either you're using really cheap junk bits, or you're running them way too fast and/or at
too high a feed rate.

Ll

Leon

in reply to mkr5000 on 09/07/2012 9:27 AM

09/07/2012 6:04 PM

On 7/9/2012 11:27 AM, mkr5000 wrote:
> I need to drill 3/4" holes in 1/2" oak and the hole I get with a forstener is what I like, although as I'm covering the hole with a grommet, beauty isn't everything.
>
> Trouble with the forstener is they don't last long AT ALL and I haven't seen anything like a more durable carbide tipped one etc. (?)

Probably because of the quality you bought. I have probably drilled
1000 plus holes with a sing 1.375 Forstner bit.


>
> Using a spade bit is a pain as they're hard to get true and have to clamp etc.
>
> Maybe I should do a hole saw but what do you think? Need something I can use to do a good quantity, reliably.
>
> Do they make a carbide forstener? Haven't seen anything.
>

How many holes do you need to drill. A decent HSS Forster should last
you a very long time.

Yes there are carbide Forstners but IMHO they are not as sharp and
don't cut quite as cleanly as a HSS bit.

MM

"Mike Marlow"

in reply to mkr5000 on 09/07/2012 9:27 AM

09/07/2012 12:51 PM

mkr5000 wrote:
> I need to drill 3/4" holes in 1/2" oak and the hole I get with a
> forstener is what I like, although as I'm covering the hole with a
> grommet, beauty isn't everything.
>
> Trouble with the forstener is they don't last long AT ALL and I
> haven't seen anything like a more durable carbide tipped one etc. (?)
>
> Using a spade bit is a pain as they're hard to get true and have to
> clamp etc.

Don't understand this statement. If you are inserting a gromet, and beauty
isn't everything, then a spade bit should easily give you the precision and
cleanliness of hole that you need. Why do you find a spade bit hard to get
true? That should not be the case.

>
> Maybe I should do a hole saw but what do you think? Need something I
> can use to do a good quantity, reliably.

You seem to be asking for something that is somewhat at odds with what you
have described as your need. Just what is it that you are hoping to
achieve?



--

-Mike-
[email protected]

rp

routerman

in reply to mkr5000 on 09/07/2012 9:27 AM

09/07/2012 7:54 PM

"Need something I can use to do a good quantity, reliably. "
******************************************
Middle 3 tools ( http://patwarner.com/drilling_tools.html ) designed
to cut all day long in wood. The 3-wing carbide tool will drill
thousands.
The HSS brad will drill hundreds and the counterbore (to essentially
any practical diameter) will blind hole counterbore
for hundreds of holes in wood, steel, aluminum and plastic.'
Forstner's have their place but the cheap ones are giving the good
ones bad names.
Notwithstanding, a good HSS Forstner, one that will drill hundreds of
holes, is not cheap.
Moreover, they're plagued with chip ejection problems, speed
sensitivities and many are no where near their stated diameters.
What's a motha to do?

LJ

Larry Jaques

in reply to mkr5000 on 09/07/2012 9:27 AM

09/07/2012 8:27 PM

On Mon, 9 Jul 2012 09:27:32 -0700 (PDT), mkr5000 <[email protected]>
wrote:

>I need to drill 3/4" holes in 1/2" oak and the hole I get with a forstener is what I like, although as I'm covering the hole with a grommet, beauty isn't everything.
>
>Trouble with the forstener is they don't last long AT ALL and I haven't seen anything like a more durable carbide tipped one etc. (?)
>
>Using a spade bit is a pain as they're hard to get true and have to clamp etc.

True. Try one of the new Bosch Daredevil spade bits though.
Absolutely marvelous bit, scary-fast aggressive cut, clean hole!


>Maybe I should do a hole saw but what do you think? Need something I can use to do a good quantity, reliably.
>
>Do they make a carbide forstener? Haven't seen anything.

Sure do. First google hit: http://tinyurl.com/7642xom

--
It is common sense to take a method and try it. If it fails,
admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something.
-- Franklin D. Roosevelt

Mm

-MIKE-

in reply to mkr5000 on 09/07/2012 9:27 AM

09/07/2012 1:30 PM

On 7/9/12 11:51 AM, Mike Marlow wrote:
> mkr5000 wrote:
>> I need to drill 3/4" holes in 1/2" oak and the hole I get with a
>> forstener is what I like, although as I'm covering the hole with a
>> grommet, beauty isn't everything.
>>
>> Trouble with the forstener is they don't last long AT ALL and I
>> haven't seen anything like a more durable carbide tipped one etc. (?)
>>
>> Using a spade bit is a pain as they're hard to get true and have to
>> clamp etc.
>
> Don't understand this statement. If you are inserting a gromet, and beauty
> isn't everything, then a spade bit should easily give you the precision and
> cleanliness of hole that you need. Why do you find a spade bit hard to get
> true? That should not be the case.

I've drilled some pretty amazing holes with a *new* spade bit.


--

-MIKE-

"Playing is not something I do at night, it's my function in life"
--Elvin Jones (1927-2004)
--
http://mikedrums.com
[email protected]
---remove "DOT" ^^^^ to reply


Mm

-MIKE-

in reply to mkr5000 on 09/07/2012 9:27 AM

09/07/2012 1:31 PM

On 7/9/12 12:22 PM, mkr5000 wrote:
> Thanks -- I'll head over to Woodcraft, they're near me.
>
> As far as the spade not being true, it's really my piece of &^$% drill press.
> Too much wobble.
>

Probably caused by run-out and it won't improve with a better bit.
There should be a set screw on the press, somewhere around the shaft, to
tighten up the run-out.


--

-MIKE-

"Playing is not something I do at night, it's my function in life"
--Elvin Jones (1927-2004)
--
http://mikedrums.com
[email protected]
---remove "DOT" ^^^^ to reply


Ab

"Artemus"

in reply to mkr5000 on 09/07/2012 9:27 AM

09/07/2012 12:33 PM


"tiredofspam" <nospam.nospam.com> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Yes, that or you need to remove the chuck and clean the morse taper, then reinsert
> the chuck.
>
> BTW a fostener can be resharpened multiple times. Just sharpen the flat, then the
> bevel, then take the burr off the flat.
>
> I use a small diamond file, 3 or 4 swipes is all it needs of fine and super fine to
> get it sharp again...
>
Or get one of these files.
http://www.leevalley.com/us/wood/page.aspx?c=&p=32954&cat=1,43072,43089
Art

LB

Larry Blanchard

in reply to mkr5000 on 09/07/2012 9:27 AM

10/07/2012 4:45 AM

On Mon, 09 Jul 2012 09:27:32 -0700, mkr5000 wrote:

> Trouble with the forstener is they don't last long AT ALL and I haven't
> seen anything like a more durable carbide tipped one etc. (?)

Yes, there are carbide ones out there. but I haven't seen excessive wear
on any good quality HSS Forstners.

Or try a HSS brad point unless it's a blind hole and the tip might poke
through.

Spade bits are for carpenters :-).

--
Intelligence is an experiment that failed - G. B. Shaw

Sk

Swingman

in reply to mkr5000 on 09/07/2012 9:27 AM

09/07/2012 11:47 AM

On 7/9/2012 11:27 AM, mkr5000 wrote:
> I need to drill 3/4" holes in 1/2" oak and the hole I get with a forstener is what I like, although as I'm covering the hole with a grommet, beauty isn't everything.
>
> Trouble with the forstener is they don't last long AT ALL and I haven't seen anything like a more durable carbide tipped one etc. (?)
>
> Using a spade bit is a pain as they're hard to get true and have to clamp etc.
>
> Maybe I should do a hole saw but what do you think? Need something I can use to do a good quantity, reliably.
>
> Do they make a carbide forstener? Haven't seen anything.

Absolutely. You can get them at most at any cabinet supply, including
WoodCraft. Freud makes them for sure.

That said, I've got HSS Forstner's that I've been using for years on oak
and they're still sharp.

The key to keeping them (HSS) sharp is running the bit at the proper rpm:

http://www.infinitytools.com/PDF/Forstner_Bit_SpeedChart.pdf

--
www.eWoodShop.com
Last update: 4/15/2010
KarlCaillouet@ (the obvious)
http://gplus.to/eWoodShop

tn

tiredofspam

in reply to mkr5000 on 09/07/2012 9:27 AM

09/07/2012 3:19 PM

Yes, that or you need to remove the chuck and clean the morse taper,
then reinsert the chuck.

BTW a fostener can be resharpened multiple times. Just sharpen the flat,
then the bevel, then take the burr off the flat.

I use a small diamond file, 3 or 4 swipes is all it needs of fine and
super fine to get it sharp again...

On 7/9/2012 2:31 PM, -MIKE- wrote:
> On 7/9/12 12:22 PM, mkr5000 wrote:
>> Thanks -- I'll head over to Woodcraft, they're near me.
>>
>> As far as the spade not being true, it's really my piece of &^$% drill
>> press.
>> Too much wobble.
>>
>
> Probably caused by run-out and it won't improve with a better bit.
> There should be a set screw on the press, somewhere around the shaft, to
> tighten up the run-out.
>
>


You’ve reached the end of replies