Looking for cheap/decent forstner bit set

[Josh Gilpatrick]

Hey guys

I have a project coming up that will require several flat bottom 1" holes. I have been keeping my eyes open for awhile now for a set of forstner bits for my new drill press. Until now i have never really had a need for them though. I dont wanna spend a fortune, as these bits will be rarely used so the cheaper the better. So many cheap sets out there, just wondered if anyone had good luck with a certain set. Thanks in advance.

[Gerry Werth]

HF, titanium coated, work great. $29.99
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=40062

[Bob Haskett]

Your in luck!

http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/2000774/20866/Forstner-16-Piece-Bit-Set.aspx

[Nathan Callender]

I'll second the HF set. I needed one bit for some door hinges and I could either buy an expensive bit, or that entire set, so I bought the set, and I have been surprised at how well they've held up (about a year of occasional use). If I wear them out, I'll replace them with better quality but with the amount of use they get, I'm not sure that's going to happen any time soon.

[Victor Robinson]

I was pleased with the one from Grizzly (available direct or via AMZ). Looks suspiciously like the one on sale at Woodcraft - same box.

[Adam Strong]

The Porter Cable set at the BORG is a good balance of price and quality. $45 for the set plus tax.

[Karl Card]

woodcraft actually has a sale on a set right now too. 39.99 and I actually bought the set the last timie they were on sale. Seems like it made the set half price or somewhere near that. Just a thought.

[Jason Hanko]

I got and like the 22 pc set from Peachtree. Its nice to have the extra sizes in between that you dont get with a 16 pc set. That Woodcraft set is a good deal though.

[Doug W Swanson]

http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=17283&filter=forstner

I bought this set from Rockler last year when it was on sale for $29.99. Great quality and has every size you should ever need.

Doug

[Dave Lehnert]

I have the same set above from Woodcraft.(but from Lowe's) works well.

Also have this set from Rockler. Very good set also.

http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=10615&filter=forstner

http://images.rockler.com/rockler/images/69061-01-200.jpg

[Dan Mitchell]

Your in luck!

http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/2000774/20866/Forstner-16-Piece-Bit-Set.aspx


I have that set, also got it on sale. Seems fine for the $$$

[Jeff Sudmeier]

Your in luck!

http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/2000774/20866/Forstner-16-Piece-Bit-Set.aspx


I have this set, have been very pleased with it.

[Dave Gaul]

The Porter Cable set at the BORG is a good balance of price and quality. $45 for the set plus tax.


I have this set, I think I got it on sale a while ago, wanna say it was $30 or so on sale...

No complaints, good set, clean holes, and comes in a nice box too!

[Brian Runau]

Would do you think of this 31 pc set?

Thanks

http://www.grizzly.com/products/Master-Forstner-Bit-31-pc-Set/H7694

[Louie Ballis]

I have the HF set and it good. At a great price.

[Jerome Hanby]

I've got the smaller set of thise and have no complaints.


Your in luck!

http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/2000774/20866/Forstner-16-Piece-Bit-Set.aspx

[Joe Kieve]

I saw a small set, 8 pcs. I think, in Lowes this morning for $19.97. Goes up to 1 3/8". Not bad unless you need larger sizes.
BTW...it was Porter Cable.

joe

[Greg Dekeyser]

I saw a small set, 8 pcs. I think, in Lowes this morning for $19.97. Goes up to 1 3/8". Not bad unless you need larger sizes.
BTW...it was Porter Cable.

joe


thats the one I have...it makes clean holes...soo I cant complain :)

[Lance Norris]

The Porter Cable set at the BORG is a good balance of price and quality. $45 for the set plus tax.

Agreed. The bigger set has bits up to 2". Plus I like the hex shaped shanks. That was the main reason I bought these. So far they've performed well and held up.

[Jerome Stanek]

I have a set from HF and drilled 150 3/4 holes with it and thye bit is still like new.

[Paul Steiner]

+1 for the HF set and for the PC set at Lowes.

[Bill White]

Price/value relationship is the key. HF-cheap.....And, as the sayin' goes, that's all I've got to say about that.
Bill

[jay case]

harbor frieght

[jared herbert]

I bought the woodcraft set that was mentioned above. They didnt seem to be sharp when I got them. I used one of them to drill less than 10 holes in walnut. It was very dull after that use. They would probably be ok if I get the time to sharpen them. I checked several of the ones that had never been used. They were not sharp. Jared

[Jon Endres]

I'll be the guy that says "don't bother with a set". I bought a TiN coated set a long time ago from Canadian Tire in Quebec - it's a decent set but not very clean holes. I've since gone to a local hardware store who is a Freud dealer and bought their individual bits as needed. I have a couple of 1" bits, a 3/4" bit and a 1-3/8" bit and that's all I've needed in the past 5 years. HD carries Freud forstner bits (not a big selection) but a 3/4" Freud bit is less than $10 at the Home Depot in town.

Although I suppose the upside of a set is that if you break, dull or wear out a bit, you can always replace just that one size with a new bit.... if you know you're not going to be using them a lot, go with cheap. My set is 16 pc and was $24 CDN.

[Richard M. Wolfe]

A set with the smallest number bits will probably do most people and then if you need a specific size buy the individual bit. Take a look at all the sizes in the twenty or thirty bit sets and think how many times you would have a need for most of them.

[Nathan Callender]

I'll be the guy that says "don't bother with a set". I bought a TiN coated set a long time ago from Canadian Tire in Quebec - it's a decent set but not very clean holes. I've since gone to a local hardware store who is a Freud dealer and bought their individual bits as needed. I have a couple of 1" bits, a 3/4" bit and a 1-3/8" bit and that's all I've needed in the past 5 years. HD carries Freud forstner bits (not a big selection) but a 3/4" Freud bit is less than $10 at the Home Depot in town.

Although I suppose the upside of a set is that if you break, dull or wear out a bit, you can always replace just that one size with a new bit.... if you know you're not going to be using them a lot, go with cheap. My set is 16 pc and was $24 CDN.

That's what I like about inexpensive but workable sets of bits - for a hobbyist and isn't spending a lot of time, it will take a while to wear them out, so once that happens, you know which bits to buy higher quality for replacement as they are your most used bits. But it's really nice having a lot of sizes for that one-off hole size you need every once in a while.

[Chris Kehl]

Porter Cable set has done well for me also...