[Quickstep]

A while ago, I assembled a nice set of Freud Forstner bits. They work well, and lately I've been using the 7/8", 1-1/16", 1-1/2" and 1-3/4" sizes while making pepper mills. The pepper mill holes include deep drilling in endgrain and I can now tell that these sizes are becoming disproportionately dull compared to the rest of the set. I'm considering getting those four sizes and dedicating them for mill use. What are my best choices given the task at hand? Should I be considering carbide?

 

[sawdustfactory]

Try Colt (Maxicut?). Available at Craftsupplyusa. They have extenders that fit right inroads morse taper.

 

[Dave Paine]

+1 with Sawdustfactory. Colt Maxi-Cut are presently the best on the market.

In addition to Craft Supply, also available at Packard Woodworks and Lee Valley.

http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.aspx?p=62137&cat=1,180,42240

They have a Morse taper adapter so you can use these directly in the tailstock without a drill chuck.

I like the design of the extensions, they just twist to connect. Two wrenches to separate.

 

[Quickstep]

The option to use a bit with a morse taper seems like it would make bit changes a breeze. So much so, it would be nice to have an adapter for each bit. At $43 per adapter, that could add up pertty quickly. Has anyone ever seen forstner bits with the morse taper "built in"?

 

[Fred Hargis]

I've not tried them in end grain, but I have a set of Freud carbide Forstner's I must have bought 14 years ago (or more). In that time they have drilled numerous holes in all manner of materials, including MDF, particle board (some with laminate on it) and a lot of hardwood. I've had them sharpened once, and they are still performing like a champ. But for the MT thing, it does look like you can get an adapter to use with the Maxi Cuts. When you go to the link, go all the way to the bottom of the page.

 

[Dave Paine]

The option to use a bit with a morse taper seems like it would make bit changes a breeze. So much so, it would be nice to have an adapter for each bit. At $43 per adapter, that could add up pertty quickly. Has anyone ever seen forstner bits with the morse taper "built in"?

It is so easy to remove a bit with the Colt-MaxiCut Rotostop design, just two wrenches. I would not worry about bit changes. I find it to be faster with the wrenches than the tommy bar.

I do not expect individual Forstner bits with the morse taper. Too expensive to manufacture, need inventory for each MT size.