Forstner Bits

[fptahoe]

Not that I use them a lot, but I have found a fair amount of difference in quality and performance with forstner bits I have bought and used in the past.  I am going to make a few pepper mills so I need some sizable forstner bits (1 5/8"; 1 1/16") and an extension.  I am looking for bits that are sharp and clear a lot of material.  I am a hobbyist woodworker for years, but I am new to wood turning.  I thought this forum may be a good source for suggestions on forstner bits.  I am ok to spend a little more for better quality.  Thanks in advance for any suggestions you may offer.

[shoottmx]

Lee Valley tools are good quality at reasonable prices

https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/shop/too...tooth-bits

Gary

[hcbph]

Check out carbide forstner bits, they will  IMO do better than steel in most every situation I've used them in.  They can be pricey in some of the larger sizes but quality costs money.

[ilikewoodinsc]

fptahoe,

End grain is tough to drill, you want the best bits you can afford.

By most accounts/reviews the Fisch Wave Cutter forstner bits are great. I don't own any but they are absolutely on my "to buy" list when I need a great bit. The reviews that I have read claim the bits stay sharp for a long time. The only complaint I have seen is "they look hard/impossible to sharpen".

Woodcraft caries them, but your favorite search engine will lead you to other sources.

Oh, and find a chart with drill speeds by size of hole to drill. Any bit will last longer if you use the proper speed for the hole size.

Good luck.

TonyC

[Woodshop]

I bought a 16 pc carbide hex shank set from Grizzly.  I really like them, stay sharp. great for drill press and on the lathe. Not for hand held drills.

[imapseudonym]

I should probably just go buy all of their remaining inventory instead of posting it here, but the Colt Maxicut are the best end grain forstners I have ever used. They aren't made any more but Tay tools bought out the remaining stock and still has a a few odd sizes left. A steal at these prices if you don't need a particular size they don't have. Even their econoline is very good.

https://taytools.com/collections/colt

[Bill Tindall]

I should probably just go buy all of their remaining inventory instead of posting it here, but the Colt Maxicut are the best end grain forstners I have ever used. They aren't made any more but Tay tools bought out the remaining stock and still has a a few odd sizes left. A steal at these prices if you don't need a particular size they don't have. Even their econoline is very good.

https://taytools.com/collections/colt

I saw these bits demonstrated at International Woodworking Fair in Atlanta some years ago.  In the demo the bit effortless drilled through the end grain of logs.  While carbide stays "sharp" longer it is not necessarily sharp to begin with.  I would want to see comparative performance before I bought carbide for end grain, which demands sharp.

[Bill Holt]

Colt Maxicut RotoStop is what I bought when I did several pepper mills.  Ease of bit change is amazing!

I did not realize they had closed up shop.

[iclark]

Colt Maxicut RotoStop is what I bought when I did several pepper mills.  Ease of bit change is amazing!

I did not realize they had closed up shop.

Very sorry to hear about Colt closing up shop. I had stocked up on them when Woodcraft phased them out. The kit with the Forstner bit and extension in a wooden box was an especially nice set that ran true on the lathe.

[fptahoe]

Thanks to all that responded.  I chased down all of the suggestions, and the only supplier that has inventory ready to ship now is Woodcraft.  Honestly, I rarely buy from them as they their deliveries take so much longer to get here than almost anyone other supplier I use.  Again, very much appreciate the suggestions.