So Upset... Snapped a Zobo

[MattFerreras]

I'm so upset. I just got the bits. I'm talking brand new. Never been used.

I made the mistake of chucking the bit into the drill press and not clamping the work piece. I turned on the drill press, engaged the piece, it shifted and snap the bit broke below the centrotec portion of the bit.

Uggggg!

 

[Cheese]

Ya, in the new world of Centrotec, the small hex drive is certainly its weakest link. In the old days of Forstner bits having at least 3/8" diameter shafts, if the old bit would have taken purchase of the material, it would have flung the wood into your face and probably have taken out a tooth or two. It almost seems like a ruined $100 Forstner bit today is cheaper than a $500 root canal.  [smile]

 

[Samo]

This kind of thing happens to us all.  So, don't beat yourself up over it.

I was complaining to a good friend of mine, he is also a small volume Custom Home Builder like myself, that a broke a Kreg $35 pocket hole bit on the first use.  He said that's nothing! I broke a 35K Bobcat attachment in the first week and it was off Craiglist, no warranty.

Ouchy.  [eek]

 

[Nat X]

Ya, in the new world of Centrotec, the small hex drive is certainly its weakest link. In the old days of Forstner bits having at least 3/8" diameter shafts, if the old bit would have taken purchase of the material, it would have flung the wood into your face and probably have taken out a tooth or two. It almost seems like a ruined $100 Forstner bit today is cheaper than a $500 root canal.  [smile]

Root canals run about $3,000 nowadays.

 

[Holmz]

If the chuck is big enough then some flats can be ground into the remainder...
(And then Wear a mouth guard)

 

[greg mann]

Sometimes a failure like this is a blessing. Think of that weak point as a shear pin that MAY have saved you from a serious injury. I know that is not its intended purpose, to be a failure point, but you were using the tool in a machine it was not designed for. Not criticizing you because I use my Zobos in my drill press too.

Of course, if we don't get hurt we think first about the damage to the tool and tend to assume we would not have gotten hurt and would have been just fine.

 

[Gregor]

A new Zobo drill if some small $ - not having your face leak bodily fluids from newly created orifices is priceless...

 

[MattFerreras]

Thanks guys. I ordered a new one so it was a $35 or $40 lesson. In retrospect it's not too bad. And like you said I was wasn't injured.

 

[DiscoStu]

Have you considered sending the bit back as having a fault? It shouldn't break. Certainly not on first use. My be a fault in the manufacture.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[greg mann]

Have you considered sending the bit back as having a fault? It shouldn't break. Certainly not on first use. My be a fault in the manufacture.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Re -read the OP. It broke in a drill press. He isn't blaming the tool.

 

[Cheese]

I ordered a new one so it was a $35 or $40 lesson. In retrospect it's not too bad. And like you said I was wasn't injured.

Ya, you came out pretty good considering the direction things could have taken...first off, no injuries, secondly a "used" Zobo you can now dedicate for use on the drill press and finally a new Zobo for the hand drill.  [big grin]

That $35/$40 price also seems pretty darn reasonable. For a 20mm System 3 Zobo bit with a 9mm shank, I think I paid over $80.

 

[J0hn]

Under my Costco Visa card - I am pretty sure they would cover that under their 120-day accidental damage or theft coverage

If an item is purchased with your Citi card and/or your Costco credit card reward certificate and is damaged or stolen within 120 days (90 days for New York residents) of purchase or delivery of the item, whichever is first, we may repair it or reimburse you up to the amount paid with your Citi card and/or your Costco credit card reward certificate. You’re covered for up to $1,000 per item, up to $50,000 per year, per Citi card account.

Does your credit card have anything like that?

 

[MattFerreras]

I paid paypal. I'll have to check into that. Thanks.

 

[antss]

Pretty sure paypal has no such coverage. It may be the least consumer friendly form of payment.

Convenient yes.

 

[Shane Holland]

Give Festool USA a call and talk to the service department. They may have a spare bit in that size that you can purchase.

Also, Zobo bits are designed for use in a handheld drill. If you use it in a drill press, you may not get optimal results unless the RPM match that of a cordless drill.

Shane

 

[DiscoStu]

Have you considered sending the bit back as having a fault? It shouldn't break. Certainly not on first use. My be a fault in the manufacture.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Re -read the OP. It broke in a drill press. He isn't blaming the tool.

I don't need to re-read the original post. I was aware that he wasn't blaming the tool however I was suggesting that he should speak to Festool as I don't believe it should have broken. What harm is there in calling them?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[RKA]

The shank thickness is too small.  It's intended for handheld drills, however if that bit catches in the wood, you don't have the handle and your wrist to absorb the force.  With the drill press, the force goes right through that shank until it finds the weakest link.  The bits intended for DP use have 3/8" or thicker shanks.  As the OP learned, it's best to clamp your work piece down to prevent a snag, esp with a larger forstner style bit.