Convalco Forstner Bits
Drawing upon years of experience in making the highest quality forstner bits and forstner bit sets available, Convalco Forstner Bits are the closest wood boring bits on the market to the original forstner bit developed 120 years ago. Convalco Forstner Bits are designed with more weight than most other forstner bits which allows them to be run at higher speeds. Because they are heavier the heat from prolonged use is dispersed causing less burning of material. Machined from solid steel then hand sharpened, Convalco Forstner Bits have a distinct advantage over diecast wood boring bits. Resharpening is available from Convalco, thus insuring a longer life, and longer lasting edge. These forstner bits are guided by their circular rim instead of their center, and consequently will bore any arc of a circle and can be guided in any direction regardless of woodgrain or knots. Bores a TRUE flat bottom hole, with very little dimple. Convalco Forstner Bits are overall professional quality wood boring bits, which deliver longer, more accurate cutting time from a truly authentic American made tool. Click here to see all our Convalco Forstner Bits.

History of Forstner Bits
Benjamin Forstner patented his forstner bit on Sept. 22, 1874. The successful invention of the forstner bit was to make him a rich man. Without the lead screw (which Forstner calls the "gimlet-point") and cutting lips of more conventional wood boring bits it would prove especially useful to gunsmiths like himself and other high-end woodworkers. The forstner bit was unsurpassed in drilling an exceedingly smooth bore hole, with a flat bottom. It was better than the Russell Jennings spiral bits for boring at an angle and not following the grain of the wood. Benjamin Forstner eventually worked out licensing arrangements for the manufacture and sale of his forstner bits by a number of companies. Even today, the Forstner bit continues to be manufactured, although its has changed to a split-ring design. Forstner bits still command a premium price over that of ordinary spiral bits. Benjamin Forstner himself had an interesting life story. He was born in Beaver County, Pennsylvania in 1834, but in the early 1850s moved to Missouri where he came under the influence of communal utopian William Keil of Bethel, MO. He followed Keil to the Pacific Northwest where they founded the colony of Aurora, Oregon. Forstner later settled in Salem, Oregon where he was established as a gunsmith. He traveled East on business often, including to the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia and the 1893 Columbian Exposition where his forstner bits on highest premiums among wood working tools. Through lucrative royalty payments he became a wealthy Salem citizen and property owner. Benjamin Forstner died in 1897.

Using Convalco Forstner Bits
In using Forstner Bits, excessive speed will cause burning. To avoid this and drawing the temper in the tool, the following speeds for the various sizes are suggested:

Note: These bits are not suitable for use in hand-held drills. They are ONLY for use is drill presses.

Centering A Forstner Bit:
True Forstners are rim guided tools with NO center or guide point. A tip for hole location is to:

• Draw intersecting lines through the location point.
• Measure 1/2 the hole diameter on each leg.
• Mark it for rim location.
• Center the forstner bit over the four intersections.

See the diagram below for a visual reference.

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