Forstner Drill Bits

Forstner Drill Bits were invented by Benjamin Forstner, an American gunsmith.  Forstner received a patent for his new drill bit design in 1874.

Forstner drill bits bore precise, flat-bottomed holes in wood.  The bit includes a center point which guides it throughout the cut, and the cylindrical cutter around the perimeter shears the wood fibers at the edge of the bore.

Forstner bits come in many sizes up to 4″.  They can also be purchased in sets with the most popular sizes included.  Depending on your intended use, you can buy one Forstner bit of the size you need, or it may be more economical to purchase a set of bits, if you do quite a bit of wood working.

Set of Forstner Drill Bits in Wood Case

When using Forstner drill bits, it is important to remember the bits have no way to clear wood chips from the hole, so you must be pull them out of the hole while drilling to clear the chips.

Forstner bits can be purchased with many popular coatings which will keep the bits sharp for a longer period of time.  You can also buy titanium Forstner bits that should last longer than a regular steel bit.

Shown to the right are some of the most popular Forstner drill bit sets, and individual bits.  You can click on any of the images to learn more about each specific set of Forstner drill Bits.