Tyler Keniston
03-30-2016, 1:48 PM
I've got a question for anyone who has used Famag Bormax forstner bits.
I have a set of the regular Famag bits up to one inch, and have been happy with them. I needed a 1 1/2" and decided to spend the extra to try out the 'premium' Bormax line. I also bought a 1 3/4" frued to see how different they really were (Frued is of course much cheaper).
I'm really scratching my head because everyone raves about the Bormax, but the thing has been nothing but a show. First of all, it came appearing kinda dull, or more accurately perhaps, with very large burs and an almost bent looting leading point. Comparing this to the frued, the Frued looks much better. But I thought, hey, its just looks. Don't judge by the cover. Perhaps the burs will wear off and the steel/design of the Bormax must just be that much better.
Then in cutting... as far as smoothness and speed and heat build up -I haven't used either enough to say for sure- but they really seem comparable. No really advantage to the Borax even, so far as I can tell. Perhaps in time...?
But here's the kicker. The Bormax is utterly failing at backing out of the hole without insanely screaming and sort of binding. I'm using them in the drill press at 540rpm. I know there can be some technique to withdrawing bits if the shavings have piled up a bit (quick, gentle, short up strokes on the press lever), but no matter what I do the Bormax is just a screaming! Even with barely any chips on top (like having cut 1/8" deep maybe) it screams when I try to back out. Oh, and the wood is hard maple.
Perhaps I am erring in technique some, but even if that's the case, this bit is by far the worst of any forstner I've used.
So short story long... has anyone else had these sorts of experiences with Bormax?
I have a set of the regular Famag bits up to one inch, and have been happy with them. I needed a 1 1/2" and decided to spend the extra to try out the 'premium' Bormax line. I also bought a 1 3/4" frued to see how different they really were (Frued is of course much cheaper).
I'm really scratching my head because everyone raves about the Bormax, but the thing has been nothing but a show. First of all, it came appearing kinda dull, or more accurately perhaps, with very large burs and an almost bent looting leading point. Comparing this to the frued, the Frued looks much better. But I thought, hey, its just looks. Don't judge by the cover. Perhaps the burs will wear off and the steel/design of the Bormax must just be that much better.
Then in cutting... as far as smoothness and speed and heat build up -I haven't used either enough to say for sure- but they really seem comparable. No really advantage to the Borax even, so far as I can tell. Perhaps in time...?
But here's the kicker. The Bormax is utterly failing at backing out of the hole without insanely screaming and sort of binding. I'm using them in the drill press at 540rpm. I know there can be some technique to withdrawing bits if the shavings have piled up a bit (quick, gentle, short up strokes on the press lever), but no matter what I do the Bormax is just a screaming! Even with barely any chips on top (like having cut 1/8" deep maybe) it screams when I try to back out. Oh, and the wood is hard maple.
Perhaps I am erring in technique some, but even if that's the case, this bit is by far the worst of any forstner I've used.
So short story long... has anyone else had these sorts of experiences with Bormax?