I need to buy a 1" forstner bit. It seems much cheaper to buy a set. One of
my woodworking friends says he uses them infrequently. I see a carbon steel
set on Rockler for $20 and a Freud carbide set on Amazon for $85.
So here is my question. For those of you who use these bits, do you use them
often enough to justify the huge increase in price to get carbide?
Dick Snyder
"Dick Snyder" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>I need to buy a 1" forstner bit. It seems much cheaper to buy a set. One of
>my woodworking friends says he uses them infrequently. I see a carbon steel
>set on Rockler for $20 and a Freud carbide set on Amazon for $85.
>
> So here is my question. For those of you who use these bits, do you use
> them often enough to justify the huge increase in price to get carbide?
Got mine for $15 from Woodcraft. The set of 7 bits came in a nice little
box. Of the 7, I've only ever used four and two have been replaced with
better quality bits. Would I do it again? Yes, I still have a nice box to
keep them in and I have a couple of other sizes on hand if the need arises.
I use the 3/8 and 3/4 often so when they wore I replaced them.
Ed
[email protected]
http://pages.cthome.net/edhome
Dick Snyder wrote:
> I need to buy a 1" forstner bit. It seems much cheaper to buy a set. One
> of my woodworking friends says he uses them infrequently. I see a carbon
> steel set on Rockler for $20 and a Freud carbide set on Amazon for $85.
>
> So here is my question. For those of you who use these bits, do you use
> them often enough to justify the huge increase in price to get carbide?
The $20 sets will get the job done if you don't use them very often. They
dull very quickly and they don't cut all that well when they're new.
I have one of those $25 sets from Lowe's, and I accidentally destroyed the
3/4" bit when I had the brilliant idea to use sandpaper as a shim for the
top I grafted onto my workbench. Bore, bore, bore... Wow, this is taking
forever. What the hell is that in the hole anyway? Black? Rough. Aw,
crap.
So I bought a Freud I think. I don't think it's even carbide, but the
difference between this lone silver bit (which cost about $12 by itself)
and all the others in the set is really astonishing. So I'd say quality
really does matter a great deal with these things, and you get what you pay
for.
--
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/
On Thu, 14 Oct 2004 10:11:59 -0500, Australopithecus scobis
<[email protected]> wrote:
>On Thu, 14 Oct 2004 14:27:23 +0000, mac davis wrote:
>
>> I bought the cheap set at HF for $7.99...
>
>How far are the rims below the inside cutters? Sharpening books say to
>keep that distance about 0.05", but my cheapos are almost 1/8". I'd add a
>caveat to earlier advice: OK, get an inexpensive set, but don't go to the
>bottom of the line $8 sets. Only good thing about the chiwanese stuff is
>you can practise sharpening Forstners and not fret about wrecking the
>bits in the process.
I doubt that these are worth sharpening.... but I knew that from the
price when I ordered them..
They brought me from zero to 5 forstner bits... and let me learn on
something that I don't have to worry about hurting...
They also allowed me to take a step up in the appearance of the chocks
I make for a few extra bucks and to meet other campers... like the ads
say.. "priceless"
"Dick Snyder" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>I need to buy a 1" forstner bit. It seems much cheaper to buy a set. One of
>my woodworking friends says he uses them infrequently. I see a carbon steel
>set on Rockler for $20 and a Freud carbide set on Amazon for $85.
>
> So here is my question. For those of you who use these bits, do you use
> them often enough to justify the huge increase in price to get carbide?
I think some of it depends on what you will use them for. I have a cheap
HSS set, and I use them on soft woods only. The thing about these is they
are not easy to sharpen, so: cheaper, duller, faster. I would say if you
have a use for a particular size that you will use a lot, get a good one in
that size, and then just keep the cheaper set for the "once in a while I
need one of the other sizes" needs.
Dick:
You are right. Like most "bits" you will do better buying a set. If you
don't plan to use them often don't break your bank. I bought an 6 piece
Delta set a couple of years ago that covers 3/8 through 1" in 1/8"
increments. I believe it was in the $18-20 range. Since then I have seen
larger sets that aren't a whole lot higher.
"Dick Snyder" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>I need to buy a 1" forstner bit. It seems much cheaper to buy a set. One of
>my woodworking friends says he uses them infrequently. I see a carbon steel
>set on Rockler for $20 and a Freud carbide set on Amazon for $85.
>
> So here is my question. For those of you who use these bits, do you use
> them often enough to justify the huge increase in price to get carbide?
>
> Dick Snyder
>
Ive had my Northern Tool set for the past few years now - (like 30 bux for a
20 peice set)
I got it when I needed a 1" one as well - and HD sold a 1" one for around
$25.
I keep them cleaned up and they still work well. I use them more frequently
now and think Ill be upgrading soon.
"Dick Snyder" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I need to buy a 1" forstner bit. It seems much cheaper to buy a set. One
of
> my woodworking friends says he uses them infrequently. I see a carbon
steel
> set on Rockler for $20 and a Freud carbide set on Amazon for $85.
>
> So here is my question. For those of you who use these bits, do you use
them
> often enough to justify the huge increase in price to get carbide?
>
> Dick Snyder
>
>
Dick Snyder woke up and had the following to say....:
> I need to buy a 1" forstner bit. It seems much cheaper to buy a set. One
> of my woodworking friends says he uses them infrequently. I see a carbon
> steel set on Rockler for $20 and a Freud carbide set on Amazon for $85.
>
> So here is my question. For those of you who use these bits, do you use
> them often enough to justify the huge increase in price to get carbide?
>
> Dick Snyder
I have a set of 7 carbide bits ranging form 1/2" to 1 1/2" I use the
1/2" (for screw pockets) and the 1 3/8" (for door hinges) the most, though
I have used the others also. Are they worth it ? Yes ! I found these on
sale for about 1/2 price years ago, can't remember where though.
JAW
[email protected] wrote in
news:[email protected]:
<snip>
> the only one that has been clearly worth it to me to get is the size
> for cup hinges....
>
Amen to that! And the hole cuts more cleanly as well. (Mine is the blue
carbide one from Rockler - works very well.)
The cheapie has been discarded, so as not to confuse the unwary.
Patriarch,
who buys the individual Freud Diablo bits 'as needed'
On Thu, 14 Oct 2004 05:18:22 GMT, "Bob" <[email protected]>
wrote:
>
>"Dick Snyder" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>>
>> So here is my question. For those of you who use these bits, do you use
>them
>> often enough to justify the huge increase in price to get carbide?
>>
>
>I've never used a cheap set, but I've used both high speed steel and carbide
>Freud Forstner bits. The carbide Freuds are incredible. I've decided to
>stick with them and buy one at a time as I need them. The carbide bits will
>probably last me to my grave.
>
>Bob
>
I bought the cheap set at HF for $7.99...
Took the wood box apart and put it back together... the education in
box building was worth a lot more than the bits, but the bits will
work until I replace them...
The ones that will probably get replaced first are the 1" and the
3/8"..... I use a lot of 3/8" t-bolts with the brad holes and this
combo lets them indent nice and flat..
Sold 2 pairs of rv chocks last weekend, so I guess I can justify a few
better bits now.. *g*
On Thu, 14 Oct 2004 14:27:23 +0000, mac davis wrote:
> I bought the cheap set at HF for $7.99...
How far are the rims below the inside cutters? Sharpening books say to
keep that distance about 0.05", but my cheapos are almost 1/8". I'd add a
caveat to earlier advice: OK, get an inexpensive set, but don't go to the
bottom of the line $8 sets. Only good thing about the chiwanese stuff is
you can practise sharpening Forstners and not fret about wrecking the
bits in the process.
--
"Keep your ass behind you"
On Wed, 13 Oct 2004 18:31:10 -0400, "Dick Snyder"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>I need to buy a 1" forstner bit. It seems much cheaper to buy a set. One of
>my woodworking friends says he uses them infrequently. I see a carbon steel
>set on Rockler for $20 and a Freud carbide set on Amazon for $85.
>
>So here is my question. For those of you who use these bits, do you use them
>often enough to justify the huge increase in price to get carbide?
>
>Dick Snyder
>
the only one that has been clearly worth it to me to get is the size
for cup hinges....
"Dick Snyder" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> So here is my question. For those of you who use these bits, do you use
> them often enough to justify the huge increase in price to get carbide?
>
No - but I'd echo Bridger's caveat. If I end up doing a lot of euro hinges,
then I'll probably invest in a good, carbide 35mm bit. The rest of mine are
HSS. Harbor Freight set to start with and I'm replacing them 1 by 1 with
Freud HSS
"Dick Snyder" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> So here is my question. For those of you who use these bits, do you use
them
> often enough to justify the huge increase in price to get carbide?
>
I've never used a cheap set, but I've used both high speed steel and carbide
Freud Forstner bits. The carbide Freuds are incredible. I've decided to
stick with them and buy one at a time as I need them. The carbide bits will
probably last me to my grave.
Bob