The hardest part about sharpening a Forster bit is holding it steady while sharpening. Fisch sells a sharpening jig for a whopping $280.00 dollars and to be honest I was contemplating it. However it doesn't get great reviews and just to darn expensive. Also it looked like you could get very aggressive and ruin expensive bits. The solution, build my own. It's adjustable, so I can change the angle that best suits me. It has three holes that hold the 3 shank sizes my bits are. I watched a few videos on how to sharpen Forster bits. I had a bit so dull it was virtually unusable. Took about five minutes and it's sharper than when it was new. It cut into solid oak like butter. I already had the sharpening tools I needed, a diamond file and diamond home, also a diamond dremel tool. It works great.
Forstner Bit Holder
- Thread starter KenB259
- Start date
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leehljp
Member Liaison
I admire you and your work. I went through 2 sets of HF type forstner bits before I finally broke down and bought a set of Freud about 6 or 7 years ago at about $200 or so back then (Upwards of $270 now) and I haven't looked back. There is such a profound difference between an inexpensive set and a very good quality set like Freud.
Still I would like to sharpen the HF set to see what they would do. I like your setup, and I will check out some videos on the subject. Thanks for the ideas!
Still I would like to sharpen the HF set to see what they would do. I like your setup, and I will check out some videos on the subject. Thanks for the ideas!
I bought the Freud set after a cheap set from Woodcraft. Light and day difference. I think the wave cutter style are easier to sharpen than the sawtooth style like my Woodcraft set is. Those have never been sharp, even when new. I'm going to see what I can do with those too.
mark james
IAP Collection, Curator
I love how you tackle issues by 'doing it myself' with jigs. Kudos!
jttheclockman
Member
I do not know why you need a jig to do this but like with many things there are many ways to get things done and to each their own. Here is a video that Wood Magazine put out and it actually was in the magazine also. I follow this and use the kit. For years. It works because you are basically honing the bits and not really taking metal off unless you nick them then that is a different subject.
https://www.bing.com/videos/rivervi...27DFA6E7C7B6A998ADA427DFA6E7C7B6A&FORM=VAMGZC
https://www.bing.com/videos/rivervi...27DFA6E7C7B6A998ADA427DFA6E7C7B6A&FORM=VAMGZC
Why always with the negativity? It gets old.
jttheclockman
Member
Again Ken?? I said there are many ways to do things. It is not negative. Man I can not win for trying. I will stop posting to your posts. You win. I tried my best.
Good solution. I would appreciate that. Thank you.
howsitwork
Member
I appreciate both the jig and the link showing alternative routes . There's more than one way to achieve the end goal
Cheers !
Cheers !