Centrotec drill bits

[sowilson]

I would like to see Festool offer the drill bits and drill bit sets they offer in Europe to the N. American market.  Some of us are actually going metric and it would be nice to have Metric brad point and metric drill bits, and sets available here.  BKS SYS3 D3-10 CE/W is a prime example.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

Yes, it would be nice to have more choices.
There are a few ways to get some of them. There is a small selection in most of the installer's sets, which is a rather expensive way to get them, especially if you don't need the rest of it.
There is also a set available as the cassettes that fit in the compartments of the attic lid type Systainers.
It would also be nice to get them individually, as replacements.

 

[guybo]

Hi, bits are offered by most dealers as singles,I have bought a set from amazon in the cassette and singles from the local pusher [big grin] mostly for blum installs. Also fisch offered a set of centrotech brad point 3-12mm

 

[JG]

Agreed.  The Forster bits and auger bits would be great if offered in NA.

 

[Cheese]

You can always "Centrotec" twist drill bits yourself using a lathe or a drill press.

I modified these titanium coated Milwaukee drill bits on a small metal lathe. It only took about an hour to modify all 16 of them. These are fractional size but I see Milwaukee has now released metric sizes also.
https://www.festoolownersgroup.com/...trotec-ing-standard-bits/msg518762/#msg518762

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[Michael Kellough]

[member=44099]Cheese[/member], did you also have to round the corners on these bits?

 

[Cheese]

[member=44099]Cheese[/member], did you also have to round the corners on these bits?

Yes, just slightly.

 

[derekcohen]

How much run out do you get with the Centrotec bits? In my experience, they wobble far more than expected and more than I want to feel confident about. (Run in a Nova drill press, which has measured very, very minimal run out).

I assume it is the holders?

Regards from Perth

Derek

 

[Cheese]

How much run out do you get with the Centrotec bits? In my experience, they wobble far more than expected and more than I want to feel confident about. (Run in a Nova drill press, which has measured very, very minimal run out).

I assume it is the holders?

Regards from Perth

Derek

Derek, in my world it's all about convenience. If I need to positionally and diametrically drill a precise hole...the drill press wins every time. The DIY "Centrotecing" of drill bits is really about the convenience of use in a hand held drill. Milwaukee cordless drills accept all of the various forms of 1/4" hex shank drill bits, the Festool drills...not so much. So it's about trying to arrive at a standard that works well for both venues. Festool is leaving money on the table with their hap-hazard Centrotec offerings but that's another discussion.

 

[derekcohen]

Cheese, just to be clear, the run out on the drill bits is evident in a cordless, but to exclude the tool as the source, I ran them in the Nova Voyager (which I have measured). It is not necessary to measure the run out of the Centrotec drill bits in the Nova … it is easily seen with the naked eye. I cannot imagine that the drill bit is not straight, so assume that the Centrotec holder is inaccurate. I plan to remove the bits and use them as that way.

Regards from Perth

Derek

 

[Cheese]

Cheese, just to be clear, the run out on the drill bits is evident in a cordless, but to exclude the tool as the source, I ran them in the Nova Voyager (which I have measured). It is not necessary to measure the run out of the Centrotec drill bits in the Nova … it is easily seen with the naked eye. I cannot imagine that the drill bit is not straight, so assume that the Centrotec holder is inaccurate. I plan to remove the bits and use them as that way.

I agree Derek...so many different mechanical interfaces = so many additional potential problems. The Centrotec drill is something used for relatively crudely placed hand held drills, not something for the precise location of diametrically accurate holes. It can be better than most drill bits but that's not necessarily a forgone conclusion.
I come from a background of machining metals so I tend to be super critical as far as tolerances go. It took me many years before I finally broke free of my need to hold machining tolerances in wood to ±.001".  [eek] That was a tough moment.  [smile]