Seeking small Forstner bits (6mm or .3125)
I have some stopped dadoes (box bottoms) to clean out. Normally these would be 5/16″ so a 1/4″ Forstner is good to go but this time I ended up with a .250 width dado.
so now I’m seeking what appears to be a unicorn…
I think I need a Forstner ‘cuz these were cut with an 8″ saw blade and I need to drill out the waste lest my chisel split the dovetail tails.
Any advice is appreciated… I guess I could find a tool grinder that could reduce my 1/4″ bit by .01 -.015 diam but I would be more likely to purchase a 6mm bit if possible. Does no one make Forstner bits smaller than 10mm? or 1/4″ ?
I really don’t want to do these on a router table for a whole raft of reasons….
does anyone have any alternate thoughts? I need something that can engage the radial floor of the groove since I was not able to drill it beforehand ;(
Replies
I don't think you will find such a forstner bit, but a high quality Brad point with deep wings, such as the ones sold by Lee Valley, should do the job.
https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/shop/tools/power-tool-accessories/drill-bits/43255-hss-lipped-metric-brad-point-drills?item=07J1606
As a follow-up a 6mm Festool Domino bit might be able to do the job as well, but for a lot more money unless you already have a model 500 Domino. I see no reason you can't chuck it into a drill press and bore a round hole.
I was thinking brad point too. The smallest Forstner I've seen is 1/4. And they don't work very well, either. Those Lee Valley brad points are the very best there are.
A router would do the job well. Or careful work with a very sharp chisel.
I tried with the chisel, but since the slot is in a tail and it split when I tried.
Unfortunately I own the router plane bits but the Veritas Medium planes are backordered. Perhaps I'll fab up a handmade router plane or simply go at this with a 1/8" chisel...
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