forstner bits

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nwcatman

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Joined
Sep 30, 2007
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298
Location
south texas
can they be sharpened? i prep 10-15 pepper mills at a time using the 1 5/8" and 1 1/16" and they wear out pretty fast in mesquite. the good ones in the $30-$45 range last a lot longer than the $10 ones, but still! any suggestions appreciated. and yes i drill slow, in the 500rpm range and clear out the chips frequently. thanks
 
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wrote to their customer service about getting the issue. thanks. i will be in SA at the heart transplant clinic on the 24th. you around that area?
 
I have sharpened them for years -- the rims are more of a challenge than the flat edge that clears the chips from the bottom. Small diamond files work well for the flats and a machinist scraper for the edges. Saw tooth drills cleanup with small triangular files.
 
KenV said:
I have sharpened them for years -- the rims are more of a challenge than the flat edge that clears the chips from the bottom. Small diamond files work well for the flats and a machinist scraper for the edges. Saw tooth drills cleanup with small triangular files.
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hell i'll just send em all to you then!
 
nwcatman said:
can they be sharpened? i prep 10-15 pepper mills at a time using the 1 5/8" and 1 1/16" and they wear out pretty fast in mesquite. the good ones in the $30-$45 range last a lot longer than the $10 ones, but still! any suggestions appreciated. and yes i drill slow, in the 500rpm range and clear out the chips frequently. thanks
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Yes they can be resharpen and there is a video on utube but unfortunately I do not have the link.

What I can suggest is there is a great new bit out called the Colt multi cut
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1zOGmuMM1I

I have a few of these and they are great and will last a lot longer than a standard HSS bit because the way it is made to cut.

Also I can mention that in my post about drilling billiardball clocks I mentioned I bought some carbide forstner bits because the steel ones would dull to quickly and I did not want to ruin the Colts on the hard acrylic. Thes too work well and will outlast ordinary steel bits. Of course in ordinary steel bits there is also good steel and not so good and usually reflects in the price of the bit.

The most important rule when using a forstner bit is to use slow speed. When you think you are going slow enough go even slower. Good luck.
 
As easy as they are to sharpen, be glad to take all of them you want to send my way. Just takes a bit of time to do each one.
 
Ken .. do you use jigs? Do you just know the angles to use?
(are they even standard?)
I know nothing about this except that some of mine could use a touch
up. I might even have the right files..
 
I start the hole at each end of the mill with a forstner bit but then switch to a Auger bit to complete the hole all the way through. easier to sharpen and saves wear and tear on the forstner.
 
Daniel said:
I start the hole at each end of the mill with a forstner bit but then switch to a Auger bit to complete the hole all the way through. easier to sharpen and saves wear and tear on the forstner.
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yea i do that too. i only use the forstners for the 2 short holes at the bottom.
 
I use small diamond files about the size of tongue depressors. Very easy. The main thing to remember is to sharpen the inside only. Just like brad points, never sharpen the outside at all. Doing that changes the dimensions of the bit and you will ruin it. Even a couple light strokes can cause binding and burning.
 
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