Festool drill bits

[pugilato]

I am considering the purchase of the Festool Centrotec drill bits with depth stops (492522 and 492523) but can't find any information on them.  These are fairly expensive (duh) at $49 and $64, and although I think I know about their features, I want to be sure before I put out.  For example, can you adjust the depth of the stop? Or, can you use different sized bits (within reason) for them?

I feel kinda dumb asking these questions, but unemployment makes you question even the smallest expense.

 

[BobKovacs]

I've been looking at buying some Festool bits (or the set) for quite a while, and while many tout them as being the best thing since sliced bread, I just can't justify the expense.  If I was unemployed, I think I'd buy a far less expensive set of bits and stop collars before I'd spend the kind of $$ you're looking at. 

 

[Jesse Cloud]

I have the centrotec drill bit set and they are very good bits.  The question is, what quality of bits do you need?  They go through hardwood like butter, but at the end of the day, the hole is pretty much the same as with any bradpoint bit.  I can't see why third party stop collars wouldn't work.

 

[AlexThePalex]

You can adjust the depth of the counter sink and the depth of the drill bit independently with a hex screw. I have the 3,5 mm and the 4,5 mm version, and I like them. They cut very clean holes. There is also a 5 mm version, but that's it. You can't put different drill sizes in them, there's a seperate bit for each of 3 different diameters. I wish there was a 2,5 mm version also.

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

A couple of threads on the topic, if you're interested.

http://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-tool-reviews/short-review-of-countersinks
http://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-tools-accessories/centrotec-countersink-depth/

 

[mastercabman]

Are there any 3rd party bits with stop collar that stops spining when it touch the surface?

 

[NoBreyner]

No matter how much I'd like to get everything festool my pay doesn't allow me to, so I adapted a $20 Kobalt 1/4" hex shank drill bit set to work in the Centronic adapter.  I may do this with other types of bits to make my own set that will work with my CXS.  

Thanks goes to Paul Marcel and his blog to show me that something like this could be done.

I used the Festool bit holder to mark the location of the new indention.  I used a grinder to cut a small indention into the bit slowly spinning and dipping in water to cool the bit down.  after the grinder I put into the drillpress upside down and used a round file to finish cutting the indention to it's semi round shape.  The bit on the left at the top of the shank was left like a cone to act as a stop.  If I removed the cone when I insert it into the Centrotec chuck it can easily fall through the chuck.  The sharp edges on the shank were relieved using a file, otherwise it would not fit in the chuck.  Just thinking about it at the time only the bottom of the shank needs to retain most of it's hex shape to engage the drill, the rest just floats in the chuck.

On the drill bits that were larger than 1/4" I had to grind the bottom step of the bit down to 1/4" so the bit will seat fully into the Centrotec chuck.  I know it's not pretty, but it's effective.  

Now the bits sit low enough to fully seat into my CXS and hold securely in the Cetrotec chuck.  

 

[Frank-Jan]

Are there any 3rd party bits with stop collar that stops spining when it touch the surface?

Yes, there are, for instance the first two models here. I also saw a version online that is more like the festoolversion but with a grey plastic collar but couldn't find them now.