Axminster uk drill bits for centrotec?

[Thistleman]

The Axminster fast change Forstner bits cost about £100 for the five bits to match the Festool/Zobo metric set, they do not have the benefit of the changeable centre point. I suspect that the Festool option represents better value

 

[Stone Message]

The Axminster fast change Forstner bits cost about £100 for the five bits to match the Festool/Zobo metric set, they do not have the benefit of the changeable centre point. I suspect that the Festool option represents better value

I hit a screw with my 20 mm Zobo - so typical, I have never hit a nail or screw with any Forstner bit before and now I do it with my beautiful Zobo. Grrr ! (Sorry Warren - I bought it from Toolfest).

But...

I popped the centre spike out and used a diamond file to reface the cutting edges and it is now pretty near to perfect. The only problem I have is that my hands are not so good these days and I suspect that almost everyone else on the FOG could make a better job.

In the past I have only bought the less expensive Forstners because I could not re-sharpen them.

Peter

 

[CrazyLarry]

Incidentally - the Axcaliber Stubby Augers look like the same product as the Armeg Wood Beavers (popular with electricians, they work great in an impact driver going through joists although if you hit a nail they're useless, Bosch spade bits can survive a nail and can still cut quite adequately)

Armeg also make the 'nail-proof' series, I wouldn't say they are impossible damage! But they are certainly capable of slicing through soft nails, lets hope they appear adapted too...

PS if I'm not mistaken Axminster now also have a UJK (their own brand) pocket hole jig drill bit with the Festool compatible 'quick change system.' http://www.axminster.co.uk/ujk-technology-extended-nose-quick-change-shank-pocket-hole-drill that's also pretty neat if you ask me!

The adapted bit is great, although previously the harder cobalt one wasn't available quick change only the soft one let's hope they've got that right this time.

And their pocket hole jig itself is well made and robust / accurate but the extraction adaptor is woeful and the jig is either fixed or portable not both, unless you like undoing and refitting 6 allen headed screws every time you want to switch use!

 

[richy3333]

I use the Armeg bits all the time. Nail proof or not they never last long drilling through hardwood joists. I've a bucket of dead ones that can atest to this. That said I'd like to try the centroid style ones so I can give my PDC a run on a rewire.

With Axminster do they have a way of monitoring customers wish lists? If we all put various bits on our wish lists will they then get the in as a priority?

 

[Stone Message]

I use the Armeg bits all the time. Nail proof or not they never last long drilling through hardwood joists. I've a bucket of dead ones that can atest to this. That said I'd like to try the centroid style ones so I can give my PDC a run on a rewire.

With Axminster do they have a way of monitoring customers wish lists? If we all put various bits on our wish lists will they then get the in as a priority?

I tried Armeg a while ago for drilling holes in MDF. They seemed quite good at the time. Are you aware that Armeg make a drill that can cope with the odd nail? I have not tried it but here it is at Axminster:

http://www.axminster.co.uk/armeg-nail-proof-bi-metal-wood-beaver-bit

Peter

 

[richy3333]

Hi Peter
Love you films. Thanks for all you do for us

Yes, I've tried those and still kill them. I'm just a heavy demanding user of the bits

 

[dutchie]

Well I (back) ordered the 3 counterdrives, brad point 5 drill set and a 10mm wood drill of the Axminster Fisch Quick Change system. Hopefully I'll receive them soon and I can post my findings here

 

[dutchie]

So I received my Axminster "Quick Change System" centrotec compatible drill bits today. They were backordered for awhile but last friday they were sent out from the UK and got them yesterday over here in The Netherlands.

First impression is that is they're proper quality bits. Made by Fisch Austria, so no cheap Chinese stuff. Drills feel nice and sharp. I only had some 3/4" plywood lying around to test but drilling felt nice and smooth. I also have 1 genuine Festool Centrotec drill bit (the 3mm) and judging them by look and feel they look to be roughly in the same ballpark quality wise. The Centrotec's look a ltittle splashier with the color ring etc. The Axminster ones fit really nicely in the Centrotec chuck, no real difference with the real Centrotec bits.

I also own a big set of Trend Snappy 1/4" HEX bits which are clearly of a lesser quality. They also take longer to drill through the same 3/4" plywood.

Last but not least I tried some different bitholders to see how they would fit and stay in. I was a bit disappointed to see that they only stayed firmly in place with my Trend bitholder. The Wera rapidaptor and Festool 1/4" ball detent couldn't hold them firmly in place. Not much of an issue since they are also Centrotec compatible, but still.

PS the .zip attachment holds a little movie showing the bits in the different bitholders.

 

[andyman]

Just looked at them prices seem good compared to the centrotec items such as pilot countersink, countersink, plug cutter.

Thing I find strange pilot countersink 3 sizes, metric bits imperial counter bore, but plug cutters are metric ???

 

[semenza]

Last but not least I tried some different bitholders to see how they would fit and stay in. I was a bit disappointed to see that they only stayed firmly in place with my Trend bitholder. The Wera rapidaptor and Festool 1/4" ball detent couldn't hold them firmly in place. Not much of an issue since they are also Centrotec compatible, but still.

PS the .zip attachment holds a little movie showing the bits in the different bitholders.

[member=27474]dutchie[/member]

So you are saying that the Axminster universal bits do not lock into a regular ball detent holder very well?

Seth

 

[Frank-Jan]

Of the three bitholders tested, only the snappy is ball detent, the festool and the wera do have locking collars, but work with a springclip.