- Overview
- More Info
- Reviews
Perfect for doweling, mortising, pocket holes, hardware installation and
more! Pre-sharpened high carbon steel bits are ready to use in any type of
wood. Cut precision flat-bottom holes without tear-out.
Set includes 1/4", 5/16", 3/8", 7/16", 1/2", 9/16", 5/8", 11/16", 3/4", 13/
16", 7/8", 15/16", 1", 1-1/8", 1-1/4", 1-3/8", 1-1/2", 1-5/8", 1-3/4", 1
-7/8", 2" and 2-1/8" bits.
- With 3/8" round shanks.
- Multi-spurs on bits 1" and larger increase cutting ability and reduce
heat build up.
- Two sharpened inside edges easily cut through all woods and make
flat bottomed holes.
- Polished ground rim and spurs produce smooth hole walls and
accurate diameters.
- Wide flute openings allow fast chip removal.
- Made of high carbon steel
|
| |
Customer Reviews and Photos for:
22-Piece Forstner Bit Set
|
Average Rating:
3.8
(62 customer reviews)
$144.99
Add your review...
|
|
|
1) Submitted by
Robert Joseph, from Fallon, NV
on 12/9/2012
Customer Rating: 
I am not sure about some of the comments I read, bits not being sharp, off center, hard to get out of the case, etc. I use my set quite regularly and have found them to be better than many of the single bits I have purchased for a lot more money. I use them to hollow out duck decoys made of Jelutong, Basswood, and Sugar Pine. While certainly not precision work, they work very well. Check the speed at which they are turning, too fast means they will not work well. Lower speeds are a much using a fortsner bit. I have also use them on a lathe with some very hard wood. (maple, cocobolo, and desert ironwood). The work well with the extreme hard woods as well as softer woods, but again, the speed is the key. As for the irregularities noted by some, I would suggest a diamond stick to dress up any irregularities and to keep them razor sharp. Usually only have to do this once. As for the case, yes they fit snugly in the case and are not easy to get out, but I don't want my tools in a case that allows them to fall out or rattle around. Over all very happy with them, and for the price they are a great value.
|
|
2) Submitted by
Claudio Kezen, from Campos, RJ
on 7/18/2011
Customer Rating:
This is sure a sturdy set of bits. Not very well machined, but it's worth the price you pay for. The cut is decent and the variety awesome.
|
|
3) Submitted by
Greg Johnson, from Spanaway, WA
on 7/11/2011
Customer Rating:
Seams like a nice set of forstner bits. I bought them on sale so for the price there great. Great selection of sizes. I already have a 16 piece set so this set will fill in the gaps. I've only used one of them to help hollow a bowl I was working on and it cut thru the mahogany nicely.
|
|
4) Submitted by
Ralph Wilks, from Dafter, MI
on 6/29/2011
Customer Rating:
I've only had a chance to use one so far but it seem to cut fairly well. I recently had to purchase a single bit to install some cabinet hinges. Wished I had seen this set sooner. At least I will have the set for the next time I need them. Thanks Rockler for having them at such a good price!
|
|
5) Submitted by
John Molinski, from Marshfield, MAINE
on 4/27/2011
Customer Rating:
This set is complete, easy to use, organized, compact and bits perform well. The 2" bit works well for shallow brace mortises in my pergola construction, the chisel work is minimised when used in my shopsmith drill press. I especially like being able to dress the burrs up if needed with the rockler Fostner bit sharpening set. Got them in case but the bit perform well out of the case box.
|
|
6) Submitted by
Ben Yurly, from Melbourne, FL
on 3/22/2011
Customer Rating:
Good deal when you can get them on sale. They don't look like they are real sharp but they cut decent. The large set is nice. I've already used 4 or 5 of them in the first week.
|
|
7) Submitted by
GW
on 3/11/2011
Customer Rating:
I've only tried 5-6 of them. I used them for drilling out the centers of what would become turned boxes ~3x5. Take your time and drill slowly - they worked very well.
|
|
8) Submitted by
Josh Hulbert, from Yelm, WA
on 11/6/2012
Customer Rating:
Got this set on a good Rockler sale, so it was a great value for me. There is a huge selection of bits here and they are very sturdy {as is the case, which makes for convenient storage under the drill press}. As other reviews have mentioned they could be sharper out of the box, but that's fixable. They are solid, heavy bits and if you can get them on sale they are very worth it.
|
|
9) Submitted by
John D Hooper, from Crawfordsville, IN
on 2/27/2011
Customer Rating:
I used several sizes of bits to drill out the inside of a Pepper Mill and they made very nice flat bottom holes for mountin the hardware.
|
|
10) Submitted by
Thomas Trieschmann, from Excelsior Springs, MO
on 2/27/2011
Customer Rating:
I had been struggling to make flat bottom holes in wood to be used for attachment to a miter gauge for my table saw. I purchased a single forstner bit from my local hardware store but could not use it as my drill has a maximum bit opening of 1/4". The bit had a shank of 3/8". I purchased a bench drill press at the same time as this 22 piece forstner bit set on sale. When I got the set I still had the same problem but then my drill press arrived and first I just drilled a 3/8" hole with a standard drill bit on a piece of scrap 2x2, then I used an 1-1/16" forstner on another face and the two holes came through with no tearout at all. I love this set
|
|
11) Submitted by
Dick Cook, from Jay, MAINE
on 1/11/2011
Customer Rating:
I used several of the forstner bits to remove the bulk of the wood , than finished it off with my router.
|
|
12) Submitted by
Bill Murr, from Brooklyn, MD
on 10/30/2010
Customer Rating:
Sharp, Good case. Good assortment of sizes. Have used them in hand held battery powered drills smaller bits as well as a drill press and conventional drills.
As with any drill bit, the speed RPM needs to match the size and material of the bit for best results and long life.
I've used these to counter-sink Rocklers' round rare earth magnets in my tool cabinet see on Gallery page, as well as Shaker pegs.
|
|
13) Submitted by
James R Johnson, from Springfield, IL
on 10/22/2010
Customer Rating:
I use the bits to aid in the construciton of small children toys. The bits remain sharp, are true to size and produce good, clean holes. They have become the bits I use the most and have completely replaced other forstner bits that have maintained in my tool selections
|
|
14) Submitted by
Bill from NC
on 7/5/2012
Customer Rating: 
Within 15 minutes of this arriving at my home I had it opened and the first thing I noticed is this is made in Taiwan. I already had a bad opinion of this before even using it. Had I known it was made in Taiwan I would have passed on this set. As long as I had it I decided to give it a try. I chucked the 1/2" into my drill press and gave it a shot into some laminated hardboard. It worked a little better than I expected although I didn't have high expectations to begin with. The hole wasn't as smooth as I would expect from a good quality forstner bit but in this particular case it was good enough. The next one I tried was the 1 1/2" bit. This one failed miserably. It was a poor cut and I couldn't even cut all the way through the wood. Granted it was a piece of hard maple but a good forstner but should be able to cut this. At this point I've given up on this and I'm currently looking for a better quality bit set. I got this for a good price but the money could have been better used on a higher quality set.
|
|
15) Submitted by
Billy Estes, from Irmo, SC
on 7/17/2010
Customer Rating:
I had been looking for a set, the one I found was only 12 bits for 29.99, this was a much better deal and more of them. Thanks Rockler
|
|
16) Submitted by
Tony Lawson, from Blanchard, OK
on 7/14/2010
Customer Rating:
Outstanding quality for the price. Has a good number of odd sizes. A great buy and customer service.
|
|
17) Submitted by
Phillip Smiley, from Brookville, OHIO
on 5/18/2010
Customer Rating:
When I saw this set in your catalog, I thought there was a error on the price. When I received them and tryed them, I was amazed! They cut through the wood like butter! Being a disabled Vietnam Veteran and one of my medical problems being severe neuropathy in both hands, I needed Forstner bits that would drill easily and the price had to be right due to disability received. This product more than made the grade on both accounts! THANK YOU ROCKLER for looking out for your Customers!!
|
|
18) Submitted by
Tatjana, from Winston Salem, NC
on 5/16/2010
Customer Rating:
When I began working with wood on the larger scale I used 10-Piece Forstner Bit Set that I purchased from Rockler earlier. As my work expanded (mostly custom orders), I needed larger bits, and my husband got one in local store, thinking it would do. After countless times of stress and even injuries, I gave up using that other set, feeling frustrated that I can not afford larger Forstner bit set at the time. Sometimes I even used small Forstner bits for drilling pilot holes and then would work on the widening with carving tools, that is how frustrating use of the other large set was. As soon as I saw in e-mail that 22-Piece Forstner Bit Set was on sale, I set my mind to get it. However, reading some of the reviews, I was not expecting too much, but thought "it can not be much worse than the other large set". When it came, thrilled is understatement of my reaction. I used large bit for drilling very hard woods, and it felt like a knife in the butter: smooth, easy, accurate drill. For my hands suffering arthritis, this set is absolutely joy to work with! I have noticed that some people gave lower rate on the product based on the case bit set is in, and honestly why does it matter at all? Case is quite functional, and what matters is performance of the set, which is PERFECT!
I am grateful Rockler made this offer so I was able to afford this set. Thank you!
|
|
19) Submitted by
Lanier Dodson, from Luling, LA
on 5/14/2010
Customer Rating:
I have to agree with the majority here that this set is an excellent value, especially when on sale. The bits I used cut OK out of the box, but they all have small burrs on the cutting edges. I was able to bore the holes I needed with no problem, but when I have time I will use a small hone to clean the bit up. The plastic box that they are now in is good, no problems there. I don't know yet how well they hold the edge.
|
|
20) Submitted by
Tom Bollig, from Denver, CO
on 2/13/2010
Customer Rating:
The odd sizes were a must, and getting the set while it was on sale turned it into a no brainer. The delivery was prompt, follow up by Rockler was a nice touch, sharp bits, and the product works above par. Overall, I'm happy. Thank You, Rockler.
|
|
21) Submitted by
Joseph Couture, from Winter Garden, FL
on 4/30/2009
Customer Rating:
This is a great set for the money. They are not intended for production work but the set has the hard to find in between sizes. In the toys I make, proportion is important so having the right size is critical
|
|
22) Submitted by
Matthew Dick, from Oceanside, CA
on 4/29/2009
Customer Rating:
Great set. Great price.
|
|
23) Submitted by
Mike Seaman, from Kenai, AK
on 12/21/2008
Customer Rating:
Great set for the price. It has the hard to find in-between bits. The box is nice but the way the bits are held is cheesy. Still a good purchase for the money.
|
|
24) Submitted by
Rich Harbour, from Seal Beach, CA
on 12/16/2008
Customer Rating:
Great bang for the buck
|
|
25) Submitted by
Terry, from Princeville, IL
on 12/9/2008
Customer Rating:
Great value! I have paid much more for a few individual bits and quite frankly can't see any difference in quality.
|
|
26) Submitted by
Jim Billcliff, from Kingston, NH
on 12/6/2008
Customer Rating:
Good set of bits for what you would normally pay for just a single.
|
|
27) Submitted by
Andrew, from New York, NY
on 2/11/2010
Customer Rating: 
I have only used one bit in the set so far, and it worked as advertised. I drilled a flat bottom hole in a wooden ball to make a mallet for the xylophone kit. The sides were smooth, and the bottom flat. I held the ball in a vise, and the bit was in a drill press, so I can't comment on the self centering ability of the bit.
The box is durable, but it is difficult to remove the bits from the box, since by design, the bits are sharp.
|
|
28) Submitted by
Bill Olson, from Greeley, CO
on 12/4/2008
Customer Rating:
I was surprised by the box and bit quality. My project is making some clocks for Xmas. gifts. The bits drilled the holes easily for the clock inserts.
|
|
29) Submitted by
Hans, from Wayne, PA
on 12/4/2008
Customer Rating:
Excellent and well worth the money.
|
|
30) Submitted by
Iago, from Portland, OR
on 12/6/2008
Customer Rating:
Really nice assortment of sizes. Good quality metal and excellent, smooth cutting ability so far. At this price, this is a must have if you use Forstner bits. Recommended.
|
|
31) Submitted by
Bill Wichser, from Hamilton, NJ
on 11/23/2008
Customer Rating:
Surprised by the performance of these bits as they exceeded every expectation! Great value here.
|
|
32) Submitted by
Alan Faber, from Grandville, MI
on 12/5/2008
Customer Rating:
This was a gift, I was disappointed in the quality of the case. The drill bits may very well be ok, it was the first impression that sets the tone. The set I purchased for myself a few months ago arrived in a nice stained lacquered box. This one just appears cheap.
|
|
33) Submitted by
David, from Fairfax Station, VA
on 11/23/2008
Customer Rating:
First you need to clean off the corrosion inhibitor. Then you might notice that the course grinding on some of the cutters and have doubts. But they chuck up true and make clean cuts. They require a bit more pressure than some of the more expensive bits I've used, but those bits individually cost as much as this set. I'd buy it again in a heartbeat.
|
|
34) Submitted by
Nick, from Woodstock, IL
on 11/20/2008
Customer Rating:
I see many comments on the look of the bits and they are right, but if you chuck the bits up and use it you will find they are satisfactory for 90% of the work you will do. So although they may not look that great they do perform better than they look.
Remember to use SLOW speeds with the larger bits. Again, for [price] it is a great deal, especially because you get the 1/16" sizes.
|
|
35) Submitted by
John Slocum, from Sunnyvale, CA
on 3/26/2011
Customer Rating:
My first time with Forstners. This was half off and I just got a new Drill Press so I picked these up - excellent bargain. Drill slowly, I've found. After 1/2 inch the waste buildup in the hole needs to be cleared to avoid burning. I bought a 40mm bit identical to this set's design for my Mag Jigs. I drilled about 9 or so holes for my jigs through 3/4 and 1" material. I did get some fold-back, i.e. a burr, on the main cutters not the spurs so that gives you an idea of how long before sharpening. Beware that the max RPM on the shaft is really arbitrary =1" marked 620 RPM. They don't even match the recommended speeds mounted to the inside top. But they're not visible once you put the bit in the chuck, so I go off the recommended speeds. The recommended speeds match my Press's recommendation in most cases for Hardwood, but not softwood ex. 1/4"-3/8" BitSet:2000 MyPress:2400. These bits drill very nice smooth holes. If you're drilling plywood, beware the veneer on the other side. Drill even slower or drill in from the other side. Otherwise these are tear-out free.
|
|
36) Submitted by
Ken, from Cincinnati, OH
on 9/22/2008
Customer Rating:
Finest collection of bits I've seen and chucked into the drill press at the right speed cuts like butter.
|
|
37) Submitted by
C. Ewing, from Stuart, FL
on 6/22/2008
Customer Rating:
Super set, Super selection, Super Sizes!
There are more standard sizes than I have ever seen in a single set! It's GREAT to be a Dad on Father's Day! (Did I mention the Super savings?)
|
|
38) Submitted by
Frank Haser, from Cameron Park, CA
on 6/19/2008
Customer Rating:
Good set for the average wood worker. With care these should last a fair amount of time and do a good job me. Looking forward to putting them all to work. More than worth the money I paid for it. With care these should last for a good while. Nice case to keep them in too.
|
|
39) Submitted by
Bill , from Inwood, WV
on 7/19/2010
Customer Rating:
Excellent set of Forstner Bits. Got them on sale and was surprised at the quality of the bits and the price I paid when I received them.
|
|
40) Submitted by
H Smith, from Oxford, WI
on 1/12/2011
Customer Rating:
Good set for the price. Not as sharp as I would have expected.
|
|
41) Submitted by
Richard
on 5/2/2008
Customer Rating:
I wouldn't consider this set for production work, but for the price, and the average shop, it's an outstanding value. They (the ones that I've used) cut very well, with little or no cleanup. I would not hesitate recommending them.
|
|
42) Submitted by
Larry, from Shelburne , MA
on 3/16/2008
Customer Rating:
Nice set, works very well.
|
|
43) Submitted by
William H Darnell, from Ocala, FL
on 3/16/2008
Customer Rating:
Not a bad set of drill bits for the price.
|
|
44) Submitted by
Mike Dooley, from Jacksonville, FL
on 3/13/2008
Customer Rating:
I have been looking for a set of these bits for a while. I previously had been getting them one-at-a-time as needed. When I received an email with a promotion for 22 bits [at sale price], I jumped on it. So far I have only used the 3/4" bit, but the bits appear to cut nicely through red oak very cleanly.
|
|
45) Submitted by
Paul J. Sweeney, from Ventnor City, NJ
on 3/4/2008
Customer Rating:
When I received my 22 Bit Rockler set, as I opened it, my 30 year old son stated: "geez Dad, you didn't have to go out and buy me my own set of Rockler bits." I said, "I didn't buy them for you, I bought them for myself to use, since you've already 'burned' out my other set..." As I took them out of the very nice locked case, they were/are nice and sharp. I also, noticed that they were made in China; I wished they were made in the USA, but, no matter. They are a great product for the price and they do a great job; nice clean, smooth cuts. Sorry, I don't have any pictures! Now, I have to figure out a place to hide them from my son...
|
|
46) Submitted by
HK, from New Braunfels, TX
on 11/24/2008
Customer Rating:
I'm sure as glad I didn't purchase these at regular price! I was disappointed to see China on these, but at the price I wasn't surprised, for my purposes they should be OK.
|
|
47) Submitted by
M, from Parma, OH
on 6/21/2008
Customer Rating:
For the home shop this buy was a very good value. Great that the sizes of each bit is stamped onto the bit, unlike Rockler's router bits that don't have sizes stamped onto the bit itself which is unforgivable. No one else does that.
|
|
48) Submitted by
Kate, from Scotts Hill, TN
on 2/26/2008
Customer Rating:
When I opened the box and saw the words "Made in China" a chill ran down my spine. My experience with nearly every tool I've ever gotten from China is that most of them are junk. So, I took one out and looked at it under a magnifying glass. They are kind of crude in their finsh, as is typical of Chinese products. Then gave one a test run. Surprisingly it cut very well and left a nice clean finish. So, for the price, I'm going to use them until they're worthless.
I would really like to see "Made in China" on the items they sell that it applies to.
Looks like it's a great selection of bits at an affordable price, not a bad deal at all!
|
|
49) Submitted by
Tom Weldon, from Castle Pines North, CO
on 3/7/2008
Customer Rating:
When I purchased the 22-Piece Forstner Bit Set, I didn't have a specific project in mind. I just thought is sounded like a great deal. I have taken out a couple of the bits and found them to perform quite well, When I read that they were made in China, my expectations were not that high so I was pleasantly surprised. Had I known up-front that they were made in China, I probably would not have bought them. So, I'm keepin' 'em and I hope they have a long life. My advice for the future is to let potential buyers know if products like these aren't made in the USA. In retrospect, I guess I shouldn't have been that shocked. Really great price for the set!
|
|
50) Submitted by
Rich Brazzale, from Seaford , VA
on 3/17/2008
Customer Rating:
I am going to [ditto the comments] of Tom Weldon and add some of my own. I did use a couple of drills and they seem to work like a charm. I am hobbiest and do not manufacture so hopefully these will last a long time but time will tell.
|
|
51) Submitted by
John Gentry, from New Iberia, LA
on 3/13/2008
Customer Rating: 
Poor quality, but then you get what you pay for.
|
|
52) Submitted by
Joe, from Leechburg, PA
on 3/6/2008
Customer Rating:
It was disapointing to discover these bits were made in China! When one considers how many American based companies there are who make drill bits. Time will tell how long these China made bits hold there edge.
|
|
53) Submitted by
Rodney Roberts, from Cashmere, WA
on 3/8/2008
Customer Rating:
The finish on these bits is crude, to the point that the cutting edge on some of the bits had visible dings and irregularities. The only reason I gave them 3 stars was the price. As with most manufactured goods from China, figure on discarding some parts and repairing the others. I would like for tools that are manufactured in China to be so indicated.
|
|
54) Submitted by
Brad, from Catskill, NY
on 11/9/2008
Customer Rating:
Performance was bad, to say the least, all the teeth on every bit were significantly blunted, and all had chips out of the steel. Why they bother with the protective plastic caps on the bits is beyond me. It looks like they were all put on tumble dry before packaging.
|
|
55) Submitted by
Jerry Finch, from New London, WI
on 5/15/2009
Customer Rating:
The price was right, but you get what you pay for.
Most of the cutting edges had noticable burrs and the tips of the rim teeth were rounded. However, about 3 hours with an auger bit file and honing stones made all the bits cut cleanly. These are technically not Forstner bits, but are brad-point multi-spur bits, so the very small sizes do not cut overlap holes very well.
|
|
56) Submitted by
Helen, from San Francisco, CA
on 8/13/2010
Customer Rating:
I got these bits when there was a 50% off sale, and since there was a good amount of in-between sizes, I picked it up. The bits are not very sharp and causes a bit of tearout. The sides are torn up as well, unlike my CMT bits which leave the sides completely smooth and the bottom with no tear out (drilled exactly the same way with a piece to back up the cut on the bottom).
For the price, these are good because the number of sizes available, but don't expect precision/smooth cuts.
|
|
57) Submitted by
Steven Quijano, from Beaumont, CA
on 11/3/2010
Customer Rating:
The center point on just about all the bits are not ground true to center. This will wiggle your work piece on your drill press or wiggle you if placed in a handheld drill. Really poor quality.
|
|
58) Submitted by
Brian Thate, from Brookfield, WI
on 12/26/2010
Customer Rating:
Bought this set when it was on sale. Have used a couple of the bits for some european hinge mounting in red oak. I have to say after boring just four holes I am not very pleased. All the bits have burrs on the outside teeth from the start. I hope they last for a while. Bored holes with a drill press at the specified RPM on the case. If I do a lot more hinge bores I will buy a dedicated carbide bit. I have always trusted Rockler's quality but now will do more comparison shopping.
|
|
59) Submitted by
Helen G, from San Francisco, CA
on 3/1/2011
Customer Rating:
For the price, it's a good deal for how many odd sizes you get. However, the quality of the drilled holes is not that great. There is a lot of tear out compared to my Forstner bits, which leave the sides and bottoms absolutely smooth. I need to do a lot of sanding to get the holes nice and smooth if they are not hidden.
|
|
60) Submitted by
Ed, from Gilroy, CA
on 11/22/2011
Customer Rating:
I have this set and tried them a few days ago. I am surprised at the good reviews. I used several between 3/8 and 1" and all were horrible. Trying Freud next.
|
|
61) Submitted by
Chris Jordison, from Norwalk, CA
on 12/13/2011
Customer Rating:
I build Electric Guitars which require a high degree in precision. These bits are awful. I've yet to find even 1 bit that spins in my new Drill Press true. I have old old Forstner bits that spin true. If you require high precision placed holes then this set is not a good choice. But if you are just drilling some holes that do not require accuracy then go for it. Im disappointed. The reviews are so off on this one. I use reviews a lot to help me in buying good tools and it usually helps. But this time it was bad. So, Luthiers! Dont even think about it.
|
|
62) Submitted by
Rich Heineman, from De Queen, AR
on 3/28/2008
Customer Rating:
These bits are acceptable after sharpening. Out of the box the inside edges were burred. I was disappointed but I got them for half price on sale. Once they were touched up, they cut pine well. I haven't tried them on hardwood. This is a good general set with many sizes. If you're looking for quality and durability, pay for higher-end bits.
|
Home  Hand Tools and Shop Accessories Drilling Drill Bits Forstner Bits 22-Piece Forstner Bit Set 
|
(0 Items)
