Plug cutter to match Festool countersink bit.

[eweber]

Has anyone found a plug cutter that match the Festool Countersink drill w/ depth stop, 3.5mm (#492523) ?

Emmanuel

 

[Jim McFarland]

Plug cutter diameter is ~13mm or a bit over 1/2" (pilot bit is 3.5mm).  You might try one of the tapered 1/2" plug cutters.  I have one by Veritas I can try later today if no one else has already done this.

 

[eweber]

Thanks Jim, this is actually the exact cutter I was looking at.

Emmanuel

 

[Jim McFarland]

Emmanuel, I was too curious to wait so I just tried it -- works fine with this procedure.

I cut an ~15mm length tapered plug and cut off the "narrow" end to a resulting length of 5mm.  Seems to fit very snugly with no gaps (using a redwood plug into SPF scrap).

 

[eweber]

Excellent. Thanks a lot.

Emmanuel

 

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Is it OK if I ask why? Is it to make something to store the countersink bit in?

 

[brandon.nickel]

Fusilier,

The purpose of a plug cutter is to create a piece of wood that exactly fills in a hole in wood.  This can be for a cylindrical dowel or in this case, the recess above a countersunk screw.  Once you've glued the plug in, the screw beneath is completely hidden (but also very difficult to remove).  Because different manufacturers of countersinks use different diameters and bevels, some plug cutters work better than others for filling in the hole and getting a perfect glue-ready joint.  Hence the question on this specific application.

Hopefully this answers your question without sounding arrogant or "better-than-thou".  That wasn't my intention.  Just sharing my $0.02.

-Brandon

 

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Ahhh, all is clear. So after the countersunk screw is installed you make a small plug (with said plug cutter) from the same timber and glue it in the counter sunk hole, trim and sand and no more screw visible.

Thanks for that.

 

[Eli]

Now we just need to figure out where to buy them in Australia....... ;D

 

[Lancashire Fusilier]

The plug cutters?

 

[Eli]

The plug cutters?

I was half joking. But I guess if anywhere here would have a Veritas plug cutter, it would be Carba-Tec.

 

[Jim McFarland]

To be clear, I am using the Veritas 1/2" tapered cutter such as on this Lee Valley page.  For all I know, Veritas may make straight plug cutters as well and I suspect a 1/2" straight plug would be too loose in the Festool countersink bore.

 

[Eli]

Thanks Jim

 

[ROb McGilp]

They are available at Carbatec as a set of three. 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 from memory. They are the ducks guts. Cost around A$35 the set I think. (The plugs make great little legs for boxes too!)

Regards,

Rob

 

[eweber]

Thanks again Jim,
I received my cutter today and the plug fit fine.

Emmanuel