Hole cutters for hardwood

[rob39]

Hi all
I have some lovely silver birch logs which I'm cutting into slabs so to make some tea light holders. I have some forstner bits but these are finding it difficult to cut through the hard wood. (easily cuts through pine)
Any ideas on what other bits to use to make an easy job. 48mm needed

 

[Eric The Viking]

Probably stupid questions, but are your Forstner cutters sharp and of decent quality?

If I had a lot to do, I'd invest in:

• Two decent quality* cutters. That's in case one of them finds metal or something - work needn't stop.
• One of those pocket-sized EZ-Lap hones that will fit the chisel edges, and possibly a rounded one for the rim.
• Some Freud spray-on PTFE lubricant (basically tool varnish with PTFE in it). Reduction in friction, cutter kept cooler so keeps an edge better, actually works (unlike the TiN coatings).

Also, depending on how deep the hole is for the tealight, I'd arrange a good vacuum hose pickup of the shavings, as it helps stop the cutter overheating.

If there's blueing on the steel around the edges of the cutter, they've probably got blunt and overheated. Blunt edge tools cause all sorts of issues...

E.

(*the Fisch brad-point drills I have are wonderful and I've heard good things about their Forstner bits)

 

[PAC1]

I would agree that the Forstner bit would be the correct tool. An alternative is if you have a router you could make a jig and rout out the indent.

 

[david123]

I uses a 40mm FISCH Fostner wave cutter for tea lights, expensive but good for hardwood