16 Piece Forstner Bit Set

16 PIECE FORSTNER BIT SET

The Benchmark Abrasives 16 Piece forstner bit set gives professional woodworkers a broad range of sizes for clean, accurate flat-bottom holes, recesses, and counterbores in wood, plywood, and MDF. Built with precision-ground, one-piece heat-treated high-carbon steel bits, the set is designed for furniture making, cabinetry, joinery, hardware installation, and other precision woodworking where clean hole edges and controlled depth matter.

Each bit uses a sharp center brad point for fast, accurate positioning and outer cutting spurs that score the perimeter before the main cutting edges remove material, helping produce cleaner edges with reduced splintering. With 16 cutting diameters ranging from 1/4" through 2-1/8", woodworkers can move from smaller precision bores to large flat-bottom recesses without piecing together individual bits.

Product Specifications

Features

• 16-Piece Size Range: Covers sizes from 1/4" through 2-1/8".
• Professional-Grade Construction: Heavy-duty heat-treated high-carbon steel for demanding woodworking use.
• Precision-Ground One-Piece Design: Consistent cutting geometry and accurate hole sizing.
• Self-Centering Brad Point: Helps establish the center of each hole for controlled starts.
• Perimeter Cutting Spurs: Help create cleaner edges and reduce splintering.
• Efficient Chip Clearance: Helps evacuate chips and debris while reducing heat buildup.
• Flat-Bottom Cutting Geometry: Creates accurate recesses and counterbores.
• 3/8" Straight Round Shanks: Fit suitable three-jaw drill chucks.

Sizes Included

• 1/4"
• 3/8"
• 1/2"
• 5/8"
• 3/4"
• 7/8"
• 1"
• 1-1/8"
• 1-1/4"
• 1-3/8"
• 1-1/2"
• 1-5/8"
• 1-3/4"
• 1-7/8"
• 2"
• 2-1/8"

Applications & Performance

Ideal for:

• Furniture and cabinet construction
• Woodworking and finish carpentry
• Flat-bottom recesses and counterbores
• Hardware installation
• Joinery and precision boring
• Plug and grommet openings
• Removing knots or damaged wood
• Blind-hole drilling
• Projects requiring multiple bore diameters

Forstner bits are especially useful when a standard twist drill would leave a conical-bottomed hole rather than the flatter-bottomed recess required for many woodworking and hardware applications.

Materials

Designed for drilling:

• Solid wood
• Plywood
• MDF

Machine Compatibility

A drill press is preferred for maximum control over alignment, feed, and drilling depth. The 3/8" straight round shanks fit suitable three-jaw drill chucks, but machine suitability depends on the diameter of the individual bit being used.

Compatible examples include:

• RIKON® 30-212VS Drill Press
• Delta® 18-900L Drill Press
• Powermatic® PM2800B Drill Press
• Grizzly® Models: G7943, G7944
• DEWALT® DCD800B Drill/Driver
• Makita® XFD14Z Driver-Drill
• Bosch® GSR18V-535CN Drill/Driver: up to 1-1/2" in hardwood or 2" in softwood; use another machine for the 2-1/8" bit.

For handheld drilling, use rotary drilling mode with a suitable guide jig and verify adequate low-speed torque and cutter capacity for the selected bit size. A drill press is strongly preferred as cutter diameter increases.

Safety Tips

• Secure the workpiece firmly with clamps or an appropriate vise.
• Use a drill press whenever possible, especially with larger-diameter bits.
• Select an appropriate drilling speed for the individual bit diameter and material.
• Larger Forstner bits generally require slower operating speeds.
• Clear accumulated chips periodically to reduce heat buildup.
• Feed the bit steadily without forcing the cut.
• Use a sacrificial backer when drilling completely through a workpiece.
  
• Wear appropriate eye and hearing protection.
• Keep hands, loose clothing, and hair away from rotating chucks and cutting tools.
• Stop drilling and inspect the bit and setup if excessive heat, burning, vibration, or poor cutting develops.