What are you drilling? This is why there are no HSS cutters in my shop, just carbide.
Do you have the depth stop set?
Do you have the depth stop set?
HSS Forstner Bit
Hello. I bought a 3/4" HSS Forstner Bit from Lee Valley and found that it cut poorly. I tried different speeds and different pressures but there was no change in the results. I reached out to Lee Valley and they sent me another one right-away which was very nice of them. Sadly I am having the same results with the new bit.
Any thoughts? Am I doing something wrong? I find that the bit will make a nice clean hole but about 3/16" in and then it stops cutting. No matter what pressure or speed I use the bit is really really struggling to cut any deeper then 3/16 - 1/4" and starts to get hot.
I noticed that both bits arrived with very small chips in the outer rim but the bit does start by cutting a nice tidy hole so these chips don't seem to be the source of the problem.
Any thoughts? Am I doing something wrong? I find that the bit will make a nice clean hole but about 3/16" in and then it stops cutting. No matter what pressure or speed I use the bit is really really struggling to cut any deeper then 3/16 - 1/4" and starts to get hot.
I noticed that both bits arrived with very small chips in the outer rim but the bit does start by cutting a nice tidy hole so these chips don't seem to be the source of the problem.
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I am drilling basswood to make toys.
Basswood should be easy to drill I think. If that bit os a recent purchase, I'd call them and explain you're not satisfied. They treat their customers, well, like customers and will take care of you. For what it's worth, I find the HSS steel bits (good ones) cut more cleanly than the carbide. But the ones I use are all Italian or German (Freud, CMT Italy, and Fisch). It's the Asian imports that seem to be junk (not saying anything about the LV bits, I don't have any of them).
+1
I have several sets of Forstner's that I bought on the cheap for a particular job (i.e. needed a metric). Dull right out of the box.
You can get some gems in the mid-priced range (I have some "Columbian" TiN coated that have served me well, but I've learned to replace the individual "bad" bits I use a lot with the best I can find. Works out economically if you only replace one or two from a 7-piece set, but beyond that usually a buy-once attitude is where the long term savings are.
I have several sets of Forstner's that I bought on the cheap for a particular job (i.e. needed a metric). Dull right out of the box.
You can get some gems in the mid-priced range (I have some "Columbian" TiN coated that have served me well, but I've learned to replace the individual "bad" bits I use a lot with the best I can find. Works out economically if you only replace one or two from a 7-piece set, but beyond that usually a buy-once attitude is where the long term savings are.
I don't mean to insult you. It sounds like your depth stop is set too shallow.
Hahaha. I forgot to respond to the depth stop comment further up. 100% I have made mistakes that silly before but the depth stop is definitely not the issue! At least not this time.
Try a Freud "wave" bit and you should be happy.
Im sure you are removing the bit and clearing the chips and then continuing to drill further. It seems like its getting plugged with chips.
OK update: I bought a Freud 'wave' bit this afternoon and it cuts like an absolute dream- perfect clean hole, cuts like butter. I am not sure what the story with these Lee Valley bits is but now that I have something that works properly to compare to I realize they are really pretty awful.
Thank-you for all your thoughts!
Thank-you for all your thoughts!
Strange, I have a bunch of LV HSS bits and never had a problem.
Sorry I should say I realize the two bits I have are really pretty awful. Maybe they are from the same bad batch or?? I have used the Lee Valley bits before in a coop space where I sometimes work and they were great.
Just ran my 5/8" forstner bit into a pocket hole screw. I might try to fix it but I think it is hosed. : (. I do some stupid stuff at times.
I was online looking at a possible replacement bit and I see these bits with serrated edges and I'm wondering how the hell would you touch them up if they got dull.
I was online looking at a possible replacement bit and I see these bits with serrated edges and I'm wondering how the hell would you touch them up if they got dull.
I have a set of the LeeValley ones and they work great. Sorry to hear your experience. Seems a little strange based on my experience. HSS are sharper and create cleaner holes than my carbide ones. They are better for silica heavy woods like teak but unless you are drilling "hundreds" of holes on a production basis on difficult woods, carbide ones are not my first choice ever.
lemons pop up almost everywhere, received a new milwaukee 12 v driver, and trigger is fubared, so.. sending it back, hope to have its replacement by weeks end. some things just dont work out of the box like intended
rj in az
rj in az
You didn't mention what type of drill your using. Forstner bits I would use in a drill press or lathe. Not a portable drill. If your bits getting hot. Are you drilling into softwood or a hardwood? Bits get hotter in hardwoods quicker verses drilling into softwoods. Your speed is probably way too fast. Check out a Speed chart for forstner bits. Speed is totally different verses a twist drill bit. You also maybe forcing the downward cutting pressure too hard or too fast. Let it cut at it's own pace. If using a Saw-Tooth Forstner bit, they get dull quick. And need sharpening more often. Verses a Fisch Wave Forstner bit..
Swap them for forstner bits, they are more accurate but watch the speed and heat otherwise an auger bit but watch them also they are lethal and try to pull you through the hole with them.
You may wish to have a look at Leonard Lee's sharpening publication he has them there and the recommendations for sharpening.
You may wish to have a look at Leonard Lee's sharpening publication he has them there and the recommendations for sharpening.
I am using a small drill press and as mentioned I am drilling basswood. I bought the bit to drill holes in a large batch of toy boats- 100+ holes. I tried speeds ranging from the lowest setting which is around 600rpm with my drill press to just over 2000rpm and I tried different pressures. All I can say is that the Lee Valley HSS bits grab and drill about 3/16"-1/4" 'normally' and then start to struggle. If I bring the bit out of the hole to clear the chips and then go back in the bit will resume cutting but the downwards pressure required is substantial and after drilling just one hole the bit is hot. It feels like the bit is really working to cut. After drilling 2-3 holes in a row the bit is too hot to touch. If I reduce the pressure the bits won't cut at all. The Freud bit cuts with approximately half the pressure and stays cool after drilling holes one after another.You didn t mention what type of drill your using. Forstner bits I would use in a drill press or lathe. Not a portable drill. If your bits getting hot. Are you drilling into softwood or a hardwood? Bits get hotter in hardwoods quicker verses drilling into softwoods. Your speed is probably way too fast. Check out a Speed chart for forstner bits. Speed is totally different verses a twist drill bit. You also maybe forcing the downward cutting pressure too hard or too fast. Let it cut at it s own pace. If using a Saw-Tooth Forstner bit, they get dull quick. And need sharpening more often. Verses a Fisch Wave Forstner bit..
Anyway, I don't think these particular bits are reflective of Lee Valley's HSS bits on mass. I think they are just from an off batch or ?
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