forstner bits

[kelly logan]

Whats a good name on forstner bits? I like to have them last awhile, not to concern with price if they hold a edge

[joe milana]

Meibach
Formax

[Mike Konobeck]

Colt Maxi-Cut might be worth looking at. The nice thing about them is they make extensions that pressure fit on the shank. Woodcraft and Lee Valley sell them. Lee Valley is a touch cheaper but doesn't carry the larger set. Woodcraft has just a couple reviews. I have a Hickory set and they work but I need to replace them soon and will either buy the Miebach or Colts. The Freud bits are supposed to be nice too and come in carbide or HSS.

[Paul McGaha]

I've had good luck with Freud.

PHM

[Heather Thompson]

I have the Colt Maxi-Cut and a RotaStop 150mm extension, bought from Lee Valley and took advantage of one of their free shipping promotions. This is a youTube video that explains the benefits of the Maxi-Cut system.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1zOGmuMM1I

Heather

[Kent A Bathurst]

Colt. Famag.

[Jeffrey Makiel]

I have the typical Chinese version that is sold by many retailers. They dull fast and are difficult to sharpen...if at all.

However, they do the job for me as a hobbyist.

I would recommend getting a good 35mm (1 3/8") bit if you plan to do a lot of concealed hinge work. Probably carbide.

Otherwise, the Chinese stuff is OK....only OK...not exceptional

Jeff :)

[Mark Smith, too]

I've had good luck with Freud.

PHM

I have, too. Stay sharp, cut clean. Not cheap, but for me they are worth it.

[Bruce Wrenn]

I have a cheap set that does OK for seldom uses. I also have a couple of sets of Columbian bits that Woodcraft used to sell. I have used the 1" to bore over a THOUSAND holes in the wooden cars I make for Toys for Tots. The stock for cars is ordinary 2 X 4's. Sometimes I will bore over a hundred holes at a setting, one right aft3er the other.