Forstner Bit Help please

[CHJ]

profax,The URL's in your posts are being caught by the spam trap as you are currently showing just 2 posts, after three or four posts when moderators/members have had a chance to check that you are not just spamming the forum with dubious web links it will leave you alone.

 

[wizer]

guys after trying some of Workshop Heaven's FAMAG forstner bits today, I can highly recommend them. They are the dogs whatsits :shock: :wink:

 

[Walter Hall]

I want to use a Forstner bit to make the recess for initial chucking, where it's possible. I saw a demo by a brilliant turner a few months back, and he advised me that he does just that, but that I should buy decent one - a Planet sawtooth, around 50mm. He apparently uses his for end grain. I did that - the cost was £14.34. Disappointingly, it's not performing any better than the cheap ones. Could anyone advise me please ?

For Forstner bits £14.34 for a 50mm is still at the budget end of the market. A good compromise between these and the expensive £75 (for 50mm) Clicos (and Famags, which I agree are excellent Wizer but £98 ) is the Colt Maxicut range of Forstner bits. A 50mm is about £38 from Axminster.

Walter

 

[wizer]

Yes those Colt's were at the bash today also but I did not get a chance to use them. I especially like their extension bar morse taper system, which I will eventually get for my lathe.

 

[profax]

I have been mooching around the web to learn what I can about what is available in the Forstner bit stakes.
One titbit might prove helpful - there are some "Bohrer" bits "FROM Germany" but they are exactly the same as those available from Hong Kong at a QUARTER of the German firm's prices!!!
You might want to ask WHERE these bits are actually MADE!
Don't get fooled by the higher price - it is no indication of higher quality only greater profit margins!!!

 

[duncanh]

I have a Colt bit for making pepper grinders with the Crushgrind system. Only place I could buy the correct size was from Constalble Woodcrafts which is where I get the grinders from.

I haven't had much time to use it, but from a few quick tests it appears to cut better than the boxed set I have (possibly from Axminster).

The extension bar works really well and locks the bit so tight that it's sometimes tricky to remove. It certainly stops it from rotating.


The Planet bit that Lightweeder originally bought and was disappointed with is slightly improved after I honed the inside cutting edge with a diamond hone. I think the timber she was attempting to drill was not ideal either.


One things that I've found helps with some of my blunter Sawtooth is to modify the cutting edge to be similar to the Colt ones. To do this I cut small indentations in the edge using a Dremel and cut-off wheel. In theory this stops the bit creating continuous shavings that can clog.