continued: weirdo drill bit size rant

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Rifleman1776

Rifleman1776

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More weirdo drill bit size rant material came my way the other day.
A friend is wanting to make some decorative holders for votive style candles. He has the cups for the candles and wants to set them in wood. The cups require a 2 1/8†hole.
I searched my Forstners but only found a 1 15/16†and 2 3/8†as closest sizes. Neither would work. We tried a hole saw at 2 ¼â€, still too sloppy.
We finally settled on an adjustable auger that I had modified for power drills. He will further modify by grinding off the threads on the pilot.
Bottom line is this is the last time he will make this type of candle holder.
I think the suppliers believe they are keeping customers by requiring purchase of these weirdo size bits. In this case, about $40.00-$50.00. But, the reality is, they are dissuading new customers from trying these projects.
BTW, I found this set at Harbor Freight.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=94212
 
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Frank, I just had to go look through my cheap set of Forstners to see if the set came with a 2 1/8th bit. Sure enough it was there. The bit looks like it went though a war, but its there. I think I got the same set from the old Woodworkers Warehouse on sale. Man I miss that store. :( If, by any chance, you need that bit again, let me know and i'll ship it out to you. I can't remember the last time I used that bit.
 
Funny I feel this way about the pen kits and different manufacturers of the "same" kits (ie its the same but has one little thing different so it can have a new name for a new distributor) but needing different bushings. I find that I am more inclined to stay with the tried and true than to take a chance on a kit that I have to buy bit(s) and bushings for that in the end I may not like any better than the original anyway.

[:X]
 
[start rant]I really don't find 2 1/8" that odd. Forstner bit sets are usually sized in either 1/8" or 1/16" increments. If it called for something like a 2 9/64" forstner bit that'd be different. The thing i can't stand is when they have to make a kit that requires a 33/64" bit. Most people have drill indexes that go up to 1/2", mine happens to be in 1/64" increments.[end rant] Just my 2.68759 cents.
 
Frank, the New Grizzly Catalog has the High Quality Tool Steel
2 1/8" Forstner Bit for $17.49. Model G1824.

These are better than the cheap junk ones. I know, I have some.

When Grizzly says High Quality Tool Steel, they mean it.
 
Originally posted by ozmandus

Frank, I've done a few tea lights and votive candle holders... I use my parting too to cut the hole... mark the circle and cut inside the circle then you can expand to get a snug fit.
Click to expand...

He wants to mount on a long stand. Not turnable.
 
Frank said:
More weirdo drill bit size rant material came my way the other day.
A friend is wanting to make some decorative holders for votive style candles. He has the cups for the candles and wants to set them in wood. The cups require a 2 1/8†hole.
I searched my Forstners but only found a 1 15/16†and 2 3/8†as closest sizes. Neither would work. We tried a hole saw at 2 ¼â€, still too sloppy.
We finally settled on an adjustable auger that I had modified for power drills. He will further modify by grinding off the threads on the pilot.
Bottom line is this is the last time he will make this type of candle holder.
I think the suppliers believe they are keeping customers by requiring purchase of these weirdo size bits. In this case, about $40.00-$50.00. But, the reality is, they are dissuading new customers from trying these projects.
BTW, I found this set at Harbor Freight.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=94212
Click to expand...

Thirty bucks for an 18 piece set of forstners, including the elusive 2-1/8" bit? Sounds like a good deal to me and a solution to your own problem. Why not just spend the money and spare us all the drama.

Cheers.
 
So now the 2 1/8" forstner bit is a weirdo size???

It's available in every set I've seen that run over 2" but since Frank says it's so we should consider it gospel. I'm complaining to my congressman! There ought to be a law about this sort of stuff.
The nerve of those people.
 
Frank, I was looking in the Grizzly Catalog and they have 1/16" Filler Sets. These should take care of the oddball hole sizes.
Didn't you need a 2 1/16" before? Well this filler set will do it...
 
Originally posted by Mudder

So now the 2 1/8" forstner bit is a weirdo size???

It's available in every set I've seen that run over 2" but since Frank says it's so we should consider it gospel. I'm complaining to my congressman! There ought to be a law about this sort of stuff.
The nerve of those people.
Click to expand...

Absolutely. Glad you agree. BTW, the sets referenced went up to 2" then started in the larger set at 2 1/4". I still think it is a bit of an oddball size and projects should not require non common sizes. Now, you have seen two sets that don't have it.
 
Originally posted by Rifleman1776

Originally posted by Mudder

So now the 2 1/8" forstner bit is a weirdo size???

It's available in every set I've seen that run over 2" but since Frank says it's so we should consider it gospel. I'm complaining to my congressman! There ought to be a law about this sort of stuff.
The nerve of those people.
Click to expand...

Absolutely. Glad you agree. BTW, the sets referenced went up to 2" then started in the larger set at 2 1/4". I still think it is a bit of an oddball size and projects should not require non common sizes.Now, you have seen two sets that don't have it.
Click to expand...


I've seen nothing Frank. Every link in this thread including the one you posted has a 2 1/8" bit in it.
 
Although I do agree with the oddball rant. this one just does not apply. even my HF set has 2-1/8 bit. I think you just got lucky;) with the gap in your two sets. The one that really gets me is the 1-1/16 needed for a peppermill. find a common set with that one in it. twist drill bits want to jump by 16ths above 1/2 inch, so of course all the bits needed for pens above 1/2 inch have to land on a 32nd or 64th.
 
I guess I got it all wrong; I always thought the point of woodworking -- be it flatwork, turning, carving, et al -- is to be able to buy more tools!!! :D:D:D:D:D
 
Well, the saga continues. Yesterday, friend brought over a brand new Harbor Freight 2 1/8" Forstner bit and he was mighty proud of it. Put in drill press and all we got was a little dust and smoke, not much of a hole. I looked at it and can honestly say, it was the dullest cutting instrument I have ever seen. Teeth looked like rough castings, no grinding or sharpening evident at all. He took it to a professional sharpener, who works only part-time. Now we wait. Another day, maybe he will be able to make his candle holders.
 
Originally posted by jwoodwright

Frank, what a waste of time... The Grizzly HSS Set would have saved time and money. Now you have a HF bit and need Pro Sharpening... Ouch! I feel your pain from here...
Click to expand...

Fortunately, it isn't my pain. My friend is just using my shop. He bought the bit. I didn't tell the most painful part. He paid $30.00 for it off of eBay. I think the whole set of six is only $30.00. And once it is sharpened, it will be a one-time use thing.
 
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