Forstner Bit/Saw Tooth Bit

[eoinsgaff]

Whats the difference between these two bits. What I'm really asking is what exactly is a saw tooth bit as most people are familiar with the forstner bits.

Is there much of a difference in quality? Are saw tooth bits any good?

Eoin

 

[Keenedge]

Saw tooth bits like the Famag bohrmax cut faster cooler and cleaner than standard forstner bits, if you are doing hardwoods, corian or mdf, then you can get a tct sawtooth version as seen at workshop heaven's webshop.
For softwoods, a standard forstner bit would do but would need a drill stand, I know the Famag ones have a lead point so can be used freehand.

 

[eoinsgaff]

Really? The saw tooth bits are considerably cheaper at Rutlands. I think...

 

[AndyT]

In a forstner bit the outer ring is a complete circle (except for two gaps to allow for the radial cutter). It's sharp, and will sever fibres like a marking knife does, but no more.

With a sawtooth, the rim is cut into a series of saw teeth that will do far more to cut down.

So in general a sawtooth bit will be quicker cutting - but the sides of the hole may be a bit rougher, depending on the wood, speed, pressure etc.

 

[Benchwayze]

Really? The saw tooth bits are considerably cheaper at Rutlands. I think...

Hi Eoin,

Attributed to Ruskin:

It's unwise to pay too much, but it's worse to pay too little. When you pay too much, you lose a little money — that is all. When you pay too little, you sometimes lose everything, because the thing you bought was incapable of doing the thing it was bought to do. The common law of business balance prohibits paying a little and getting a lot — it can't be done. If you deal with the lowest bidder, it is well to add something for the risk you run, and if you do that you will have enough to pay for something better.

Chers.
John

 

[yetloh]

I have heard that the sawtooth type work OK in end grain whereas conventional Forstners do not. No idea whether or not this is true - mine are all good quality Clico Forstners which work very well but I haven't tried them in end grain. It would interesting to hear whether anyone can confirm the truth or otherwise about this difference.

Jim

 

[Keenedge]

I have used sawtooth forstners in end grain oak, clean and cool usually.
Rutlands versions of the Famag sawtooth are the hss versions, Workshop Heavens are the tct versions, Isaac Lord do the hss versions a lot cheaper than Rutlands.