What speed for large forstner bit?

[jeffrey bailey]

I am going to drill a 3 inch hole for a clock movement using a Forstner bit. What speed should I be using on my drill press?

[Roy Harding]

Do a Google search on "drill speed chart" - there are far too many to list URLs here.

[pat warner]

If you don't have a continuous variable speed then start at the slowest on scrap.
If you're burnin' and chipping then you're done.
If not you may want to increase, but I doubt it.
250rpm may be permissible, but I'd start at 50 with my press.

[jeffrey bailey]

Thanks, found the charts. I should have thought of those before.

[Bill Huber]

Make sure your bit is sharp.

I have been doing some 2 1/2 holes and found that my bit was not sharp. A few min. sharping made all the difference in the world.

If you are getting saw dust out of the bit when drilling it is dull.