![]() In addition to the three main parts, Forstner bits have a shank that fits into a drill chuck. The chipper removes material from the middle of the hole and creates a flat bottom. Rims are available in three styles: saw tooth, continuous, and wavy. The cutting rim slices the wood fibers creating a smooth, clean hole without tear-out. ![]() The center spur is a small, pointed tip that helps to guide the bit into the wood, preventing it from wandering off course. Related: 14 Types of Wood Drill Bits (Which to Use & Why)Īnother drawback I should mention is while the hole’s bottom is flat, the center spur leaves an indentation in the middle, which can be a disadvantage if the hole is exposed on your project’s finished surface.Ī Forstner bit has three main parts: Spur However, a Forstner bit’s precision comes at a cost, as they tend to be more expensive than other types of drill bits. Tear-out happens when the bit rips the wood fibers rather than slicing through them. They’re also less likely to cause tear-out than other drill bits. At the same time, the rim severs the wood fibers around the hole’s perimeter, allowing it to produce precise, clean-sided, flat-bottomed holes in wood. The primary difference between a traditional twist drill bit and a Forstner bit is twist bits have spiral grooves or flutes, while Forstner bits have a cutting rim.Ī Forstner bit’s spur guides it, preventing it from walking across your material’s surface. I always wondered why you capitalized “Forstner” bit until I realized it was the last name of its creator. According to Wikipedia, the bits are named after their inventor, Benjamin Forstner, who patented it in 1886. What are Forstner Bits?įorstner bits are cylindrical drill bits with a smooth or sawtooth rim and a small spur in the center. Visit my site policies for more information. ![]() If you purchase from these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. The winner of forstner bit vs spade bit question depends on the project, because if you won’t mind shaving the hole down a little bit spade bits are just fine.This article contains affiliate links. They also drill into angled sides vertically, making hole alignment and spacing easier than with any other drill bit. And while even in a drill press, the spade drill works faster, the versatility, precision and cleanliness of the Forstner drill make it the undisputed winner. With Forstner bits you can drill overlapping holes, and they are the only bits that are suitable for this. A spade bit works like a chainsaw, where a Forstner bit cuts more like a table saw with a fine blade. Forstner Bit vs Spade Bit in a drill pressįorstners deliver much better results than spade bit when used in a drill press. But for fine woodworking I would say spend a little more money and buy some good Forstner bits. ![]() So, when working in rough construction with pine or other soft woods, spade bits are much more efficient. I use them in a handheld drill too, but I gotta put some weight into it, and clean out the hole more often. And make sure that you do not apply a lot of pressure when using them, especially when drilling hardwood. You can use Forstner bits in a hand driven drill but they work much better in a drill press because of the extra control of downward force that a press can apply. With them you should use the slowest speeds. Sharpening Forstners is much difficult.įorstners are not high-speed bits at all. Spade drill bits also work better with plastics as they are less prone to overheating and melting the material. You can also sharpen and even tune up a spade bit to make a cleaner cut. You can even use them to cut thin aluminum and copper. Spade bits are intended for high speed use and are most often used with electric hand drills. Forstner Bit vs Spade Bit: cleanliness and precision of the cut If you are going to drill into end grain, neither Forstner bits nor spade ones work very well at the bottom of the hole, when they chop the fibers across the grain. But you can find bits up to 4″ (see also our best Forstner bit set review).īoth Forstner and Spade bits make flat bottom holes. Since both bit types remove a large volume of wood and drill large holes, you shouldn’t go too quick. Forstners are commonly available in sizes from 0.3″ to 2.0″ diameter. The cylinder may also have teeth that add more cutting edges to cut faster. The bits are ordinarily available in diameters from ¼ to 1½ inches.įorstner bits have cylindrical cutter around the perimeter, it helps to guide the bit into the material and shears the wood fibers at the edge of the bore. They are good for faster cutting in construction where tear out doesn’t matter, such as holes in floor joints, studs, etc. Spade bits are mostly used for rough drilling in wood. Bosch Wood Forstner Bit Set for drilling smooth, flat-bottomed and splinter-free holes
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