Centrotec bits w/countersink & depth stops?

[John Stevens]

Okay, so festool sells some centrotec bits that include countersinks and depth stops.  Sitting on the desk as I type this, I have two of them, nos. 492 523 and 492 524, new in the boxes.

The smaller drill bit is 3.5mm in diameter and the larger one is 4.5mm in diameter.  My questions are:

1.  Are these designed to go with any particular sizes or types of screws?

2.  How would you use these if you were going to pre-drill holes to screw a 3/4" piece of wood to a 2 x 4, or vice versa?  Normally, when I pre-drill a screw hole, I'll drill a narrow hole (narrow enough so the threads of the screw will grab firmly) through the top piece and then far enough into the bottom piece so that the screw will bottom out just beyond the depth of the hole.  Then I switch to a larger bit and drill out the hole in the top piece so the screw can slide through without the threads engaging at all.  Same process with these bits?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Regards,

John

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

John,

The 3.5mm should work well for #8 and #10 screws, the 4.5mm for #12 and maybe #14 screws. The pilot bit's length can be adjusted, so you could probably pull it out a little longer to drill the pilot through your 3/4" and into the other piece in one shot. Hope that helps. Maybe some of the members can offer their perspective.

Shane

 

[mouppe]

Shane,

Just out of interest, are the pilot bits replaceable?

 

[Deansocial]

Shane,

Just out of interest, are the pilot bits replaceable?

they can and they are short. i use normal jobber bits cut to length

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

Just out of interest, are the pilot bits replaceable?

Replacement, 5-pack for 3.5mm - 494445
Replacement, 5-pack for 4.5mm - 494446

 

[fritter63]

Along those lines, is there a need to have both the countersink and depth stop only versions? Or can you do both functions with just the countersink
bit (ie, depth stop with the countersink completely retracted)?

Does the depth stop only version have greater depth ability?

(this is one of those places where a few paragraphs on the product page would have helped!)

 

[mouppe]

ok, since you guys are on a roll-   - can you use the 4.5mm bits in the 3.5mm countersink and vice versa?

 

[peter halle]

To answer the question about can you drill thru 3/4 and into the surface below, the answer is yes.  In fact, somewhere here are some images of drilling and countersinking a 2 x 4 will the pilot going all the way thru.

Peter

 

[Deansocial]

no the bits are not interchangeable

 

[richard.selwyn]

I have several of them and use them all the time. I wish they did one with a smaller pilot bit, but have bought a colt to solve that.
Richard

 

[woodguy7]

Broke my pilot bit today  [sad]

 

[Deansocial]

i change the pilot regular, i use mine as a depth stop with out the countersink protruding for drilling compact laminate

 

[AlexThePalex]

I wish they did one with a smaller pilot bit, but have bought a colt to solve that.

I also wish there was a 2,5 mm one. I use 3 mm screws a lot.

 

[John Stevens]

Wow, I felt really stupid asking those questions, so I'm glad it turned out that other people had more questions about these bits.  Thanks everyone for the info given so far!

Regards,

John

 

[optimistisch]

I also wish there was a 2,5 mm one. I use 3 mm screws a lot.

Have a look how I works for me at reply #7.

 

[AlexThePalex]

I also wish there was a 2,5 mm one. I use 3 mm screws a lot.

Have a look how I works for me at reply #7.

That might work with the normal bits, but how would it work with a countersink w/ depth stop? Because you end up with a gap between the 2,5 mm bit and the countersink cutter.