Fisch Forstner Bit Sets

[Mike Goetzke]

Need some help. Looking for a decent Forstner bit set. I see Fisch has very good quality bits but I see they have a few models that look similar. In the "wave" profile I see Forstner bit wave-cutter, multi-function wave-cutter, and Black Shark Pro wave-cutter.

Anyone know the differences in these? (and which is recommended)

Thanks
Mike

(Sorry- little more googling I found a video and said the Black Shark is more designed for hardwoods.)

 

[rvieceli]

Not a direct answer to your question, but I am a BIG fan of Famag Bormax Forstner bits.

I tried 2 or 3 of the higher end bits before deciding on the FAMAGS. I felt the quality of the hole was better. I’ve been using them for 4 or 5 years and am still very pleased.

Bormax 2.0 seems to be the latest iteration which means you might be able to find some deals on the Bormax 3 models.

I have gotten most of mine from either of these folks
https://www.infinitytools.com/famag-bormax-2-0-forstner-bits
https://carbideprocessors.com/search.php?search_query=Bormax#/?_=1&page=1

Ron

 

[thender]

Need some help. Looking for a decent Forstner bit set. I see Fisch has very good quality bits but I see they have a few models that look similar. In the "wave" profile I see Forstner bit wave-cutter, multi-function wave-cutter, and Black Shark Pro wave-cutter.

Anyone know the differences in these? (and which is recommended)

Thanks
Mike

(Sorry- little more googling I found a video and said the Black Shark is more designed for hardwoods.)

Great question Mike and one that has been on my mind as well.

The "Black Shark" versions come up on sale from time to time;  I've often wondered how they compare to others.

If you could link the video you reference it would be appreciated.

 

[Mike Goetzke]

Need some help. Looking for a decent Forstner bit set. I see Fisch has very good quality bits but I see they have a few models that look similar. In the "wave" profile I see Forstner bit wave-cutter, multi-function wave-cutter, and Black Shark Pro wave-cutter.

Anyone know the differences in these? (and which is recommended)

Thanks
Mike

(Sorry- little more googling I found a video and said the Black Shark is more designed for hardwoods.)

Great question Mike and one that has been on my mind as well.

The "Black Shark" versions come up on sale from time to time;  I've often wondered how they compare to others.

If you could link the video you reference it would be appreciated.

Here it is: =204s

 

[guybo]

found this while looking @ the bits

 

[Mike Goetzke]

found this while looking @ the bits

Thanks for the info.

Timing of my question is I noticed Acme has a decent price on the 16-piece set of the Black Shark and also has a tax day coupon for another $30 off making it very tempting.

 

[guybo]

good to know, axminster used to sell fisch brad point bits in a set that were centrotec compatible wish they would do a set with the black shark bits

 

[Packard]

Does anyone sharpen their own forstner bits?  How do you go about it?

 

[4nthony]

Does anyone sharpen their own forstner bits?  How do you go about it?

I've been successful following Stumpy Nubs advice in this video:

 

[Crazyraceguy]

Does anyone sharpen their own forstner bits?  How do you go about it?

Actually sharpen, no but I do occasionally do a little "tune up" with a diamond hone. It really does seem to help them. I can generally get by with this twice, before the need to get it done properly.

The only Fisch bits I have are a small brad-point set. 2-10 mm, something like that?

 

[TinyShop]

[member=4518]Mike Goetzke[/member] - save yourself some $ and buy the Freud Diablo set. They're rebranded Swiss-made Fisch Wave bits with a smooth shank. Anyone who spends the Fisch prices (just for a hex shank) is a sucker.

 

[Birdhunter]

The best Forstner bits I have ever used in over 40 years of hobby woodworking are the two sets I bought from Festool. They are dramatically sharper than any others I have used.

The next best are the Freud carbide bits. They are very sharp and seem to last forever.

 

[Packard]

I recently bought a carbide tipped fostner bit from Amazon.  It was sharp when I got it and it has remained sharp. 

But my older forstner bits do need to be sharpened.  I will have to find one of those files that was used in the video.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

The carbide ones are great, especially for hard materials like plastic laminate. They are not "true" continuous-rim Forstner bits though, they have a couple of spurs that are opposed to the cutting edges. Because of that, they don't take as well to angled holes, but they last much longer.
I had a couple of different sized ones, that I used in the cabinet assembly area, back when I worked in that department. The one I used most was a Freud and I never had to have it sharpened. It always just worked. The others came from a booth at the annual woodworking show. Timberline? They were blue coated. They were ok too, but I didn't use them nearly as much.