Router bits are now done, how about Forstner bits?

I use Freud Precision Shear Forstner Bits and have no complaints. They’re available locally for me at my preferred big box store, and that’s the main reason I use them. I don’t use them extensively, but when I have, they seem to work quite well.

-- Mos - Twin Cities, MN -- Stanley #45 Evangelist - www.youtube.com/MosquitoMods

Best – FAMAG. (Expensive but ultra precise)
Really good – Bosch
Best cheap bits – Grizzly

-- http://www.etsy.com/shop/KandJWoodCrafts

I have a couple of the Freud Precision Shear bits and a set of the $50 Porter Cable bits.

I haven’t been able to detect much difference in them as far as the cutting quality goes.

I do have to add that the Freuds are about 3 years old and the PC’s are about a year old.

-- Improvise.... Adapt...... Overcome!

http://lumberjocks.com/reviews/2880

Based on the reviews I purchased the 14 piece set and I’m content with the
bits and performance, and at around $50.00 it is a great deal.

Top of the line among others are Colt forstner bits.

The Famag Bormax WERE the best forstner but the Colt Maxi-cut are actually much better, absolutely the best forstner I have used. I have full sets of both and the Colt’s cut faster and cleaner than the Bormax, prior to using them I wouldn’t have thought something could be that much better than the Bormax. Both are expensive! The Colt extension system is very smart and can’t spin in the extensions. The Maxi-cuts are somwhat of a pain to sharpen though.

I have a couple of famags that work great. Not bormax, just their quality line.
I really want to try a couple of maxicuts.

I have a grizzly set and it works well, but the 2” bit broke after little use. It twisted in half. I was drilling plywood.

-- He who dies with the most tools... dies with the emptiest wallet.

A quick search showed the FAMAG were really expensive. Didn’t expect the number I saw.

Waho609,
thanks for the link. Seems a good number of folks like the Porter Cable bits. They can be resharpened.

I worry about the Freud precision bit (can they easily be resharpened?). I know they can be, but is it easy enough for us amateurs?

I’ve learned the lessons of buying crap and I’d rather buy once and have for my lifetime than buy the same thing over and over.

another vote for the PC bits, best bang for your buck I’ve seen in a while. Drilled over 44 end grain 2” deep holes with the 7/8” for guitar jacks in the last 30 months and that bit is still going strong.

-- Paul, Tennessee, http://www.tsunamiguitars.com

Obviously, if you want to resharpen yourself, stick with HSS. I haven’t had to resharpen any bits yet, but I did a lot of reading and it doesn’t look overly complicated.

-- http://www.etsy.com/shop/KandJWoodCrafts

maybe we can just hone them more often, and avoid actually resharpening as much?

-- Mos - Twin Cities, MN -- Stanley #45 Evangelist - www.youtube.com/MosquitoMods