forstner bits

[treesner]

I currently only have a normal set of bits and some spade bits but as i build out my own shop and stop relying on others i’m finding myself in need of:

bard point
forestner
counter sink
counter sink pre drill

Trying to figure out which way i want to go about buying my forester bits (for the brad points i think i'm going to go with lee valley)

cheap replace:
maybe get the large set of cheap ones from woodcraft 24set $140 and mark which ones i use a lot of then replace those with high quality bormax or freud as they wear

bang for buck:
get the 16 set of freud for $225

small set, + individuals:
get the nice set of bormax 5 set for $125 then as i need different sizes purchase those individually to build out the set that I need

 

[treesner]

here's my forester bit price comparison

FORSTEN DRILL BITS

Bormax
— 5 set 5/8—1_3/8 $125 (on sale)
— 16 set 1/4—2_1/8 $600
— individual: $22-80
*for the few that have reviewed they say they’re the best*

Colt Maxicut
— 5 set 5/8—1_3/8 $139
— 10 set 1/2—2 $319
— individual: $24-50

Freud (not diablo)
— 7 set 1/4—7/8 $60
— 16 set 1/4—2_1/8 $225
— individual: $13—$21
*alot of reviews of these seem to be best bang for buck*

Lee Valley HSS sawtooth
— 7 set  $60
—16 set $320

Lee Valley Maxi Cut
— 5 set 1/2—1 $125
— individual $26—$45

Woodcraft unmarked sawtooth (maybe steelax brand)
—16 set 1/4—2_1/8 $90
—24 set 1/4—3_1/8 $140

Roman Carbide
— 15 set 5/16—2_1/16 $140
*haven’t heard much about these*

 

[Holmz]

I got some Festool zobos from Europe along with some other stuff... (8-mm router bits amongst it all)
The quality is good, and the price seemed good if you need a shipment of other stuff anyhow.

 

[Birdhunter]

I have a set of Freud Forstner bits that are very good. However, my Festool Forstner bits are exceptional! The Festool Forstner bits seem to be much sharper and cut cleaner than the Freud bits. Because the Festool bits are expensive, I reserve them for applications where an extremely clean cut is required.