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frontpageHeel_Toe62 posted Jan 19, 2024 08:19 PM
frontpageHeel_Toe62 posted Jan 19, 2024 08:19 PM

16-Piece CMT Forstner Bit Set

+ Free Store Pickup

$50

Menards
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Deal Details
Menards has 16-Piece CMT Forstner Bit Set on sale for $49.99. Select free ship to store where available (store locator), otherwise shipping rates may vary (~$10 + processing fees)
  • Note: Availability for pickup may vary by location.
Thanks to Community Member Heel_Toe62 for sharing this deal.

About this product:
  • Made of heavy-duty steel
  • Precision-balanced center point
  • 2 precision-ground cutting edges for soft and hard wood
  • Long-lasting cutter performance
  • Bits available with the following diameters:
    • 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".

Editor's Notes

Written by citan359 | Staff
  • About this deal:
    • Our research indicates that this deal is $40.98 less (45% savings) than the next best available price from a reputable merchant with prices starting from $90.97 at the time of this posting.
  • About this store:
  • Additional Information:
    • Mfr. recommended R.P.M chart can be seen here
    • Please see the original post for additional details and/or view the Wiki and forum comments for further helpful discussion if available.

Original Post

Written by Heel_Toe62
Community Notes
About the Poster
Deal Details
Community Notes
About the Poster
Menards has 16-Piece CMT Forstner Bit Set on sale for $49.99. Select free ship to store where available (store locator), otherwise shipping rates may vary (~$10 + processing fees)
  • Note: Availability for pickup may vary by location.
Thanks to Community Member Heel_Toe62 for sharing this deal.

About this product:
  • Made of heavy-duty steel
  • Precision-balanced center point
  • 2 precision-ground cutting edges for soft and hard wood
  • Long-lasting cutter performance
  • Bits available with the following diameters:
    • 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".

Editor's Notes

Written by citan359 | Staff
  • About this deal:
    • Our research indicates that this deal is $40.98 less (45% savings) than the next best available price from a reputable merchant with prices starting from $90.97 at the time of this posting.
  • About this store:
  • Additional Information:
    • Mfr. recommended R.P.M chart can be seen here
    • Please see the original post for additional details and/or view the Wiki and forum comments for further helpful discussion if available.

Original Post

Written by Heel_Toe62

Community Voting

Deal Score
+36
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Top Comments

Heel_Toe62
137 Posts
140 Reputation
I'm highly suspect of drill bits fulfilled by Amazon. I recently recieved counterfeit Amana countersink bits twice off of a listing with nearly 2000 reviews and an average of 4.8 stars. It seems that counterfeit bits get comingled with the genuine and many of the bad reviews contained images of the knockoffs.

24 Comments

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Jan 19, 2024 09:04 PM
1,584 Posts
Joined Dec 2018
burntorangehornJan 19, 2024 09:04 PM
1,584 Posts
Looks like a good deal, especially if you're close enough to Menard's to do store pickup. Still, $10 for shipping isn't bad if the price is $50.

Product photo does look different than the one on Amazon for some reason.
https://www.amazon.com/CMT-537-00...B000P4JMAK
1
Pro
Jan 19, 2024 09:14 PM
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PEMP
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Jan 19, 2024 09:14 PM
898 Posts

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Amazing deal! I don't live near a Menard's, but even with $2.80 handling fee and $11.64 shipping, I felt like it's still a good deal.
1
1
Jan 19, 2024 09:31 PM
11 Posts
Joined Mar 2022
mikcartheeJan 19, 2024 09:31 PM
11 Posts
I don't know about this set. The recent reviews on Amazon are very disappointing.
2
Original Poster
Jan 19, 2024 09:37 PM
137 Posts
Joined Apr 2018
Heel_Toe62
Original Poster
Jan 19, 2024 09:37 PM
137 Posts
Quote from mikcarthee :
I don't know about this set. The recent reviews on Amazon are very disappointing.
I'm highly suspect of drill bits fulfilled by Amazon. I recently recieved counterfeit Amana countersink bits twice off of a listing with nearly 2000 reviews and an average of 4.8 stars. It seems that counterfeit bits get comingled with the genuine and many of the bad reviews contained images of the knockoffs.
2
Jan 19, 2024 09:46 PM
93 Posts
Joined Jul 2015
MJHanegraafJan 19, 2024 09:46 PM
93 Posts
Reviews for this on Amazon are 59% 4-star and 5-star, and 25% 1-star and 2-star. Major concern is the quality of the cutting edges. May not be a bad value at this price; getting what's paid for?

Just noticed this statement in Menards post: "These bits are ideal for drill presses and electric and cordless drills in all types of soft woods." - Key term being 'soft woods'.
Last edited by MJHanegraaf January 19, 2024 at 02:49 PM.
1
Original Poster
Jan 19, 2024 09:54 PM
137 Posts
Joined Apr 2018
Heel_Toe62
Original Poster
Jan 19, 2024 09:54 PM
137 Posts
Quote from MJHanegraaf :
Reviews for this on Amazon are 59% 4-star and 5-star, and 25% 1-star and 2-star. Major concern is the quality of the cutting edges. May not be a bad value at this price; getting what's paid for?

Just noticed this statement in Menards post: "These bits are ideal for drill presses and electric and cordless drills in all types of soft woods." - Key term being 'soft woods'.
these should cut fine in hardwood if you're turning them at an appropriate speed: https://youtu.be/fFe--8Uah_A?si=_DdSxb4hudE76u9L
Jan 19, 2024 10:20 PM
4,384 Posts
Joined Oct 2011
polymorphicdealJan 19, 2024 10:20 PM
4,384 Posts
Quote from MJHanegraaf :
Reviews for this on Amazon are 59% 4-star and 5-star, and 25% 1-star and 2-star. Major concern is the quality of the cutting edges. May not be a bad value at this price; getting what's paid for?

Just noticed this statement in Menards post: "These bits are ideal for drill presses and electric and cordless drills in all types of soft woods." - Key term being 'soft woods'.
The Menards listing says for hard woods in two areas.


Features
Made of heavy-duty steel
Precision-balanced center point
2 precision-ground cutting edges for soft and hard wood
Long-lasting cutter performance

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Jan 19, 2024 10:58 PM
93 Posts
Joined Jul 2015
MJHanegraafJan 19, 2024 10:58 PM
93 Posts
Quote from Heel_Toe62 :
these should cut fine in hardwood if you're turning them at an appropriate speed: https://youtu.be/fFe--8Uah_A?si=_DdSxb4hudE76u9L
Will give them a try. Not expecting great things but not out a bunch if there's an issue, and it's nice to have 16 bits.
Jan 19, 2024 11:10 PM
251 Posts
Joined Feb 2018
jdoublehJan 19, 2024 11:10 PM
251 Posts
Quote from Heel_Toe62 :
these should cut fine in hardwood if you're turning them at an appropriate speed: https://youtu.be/fFe--8Uah_A?si=_DdSxb4hudE76u9L
And you'll more than likely use one or two bits more than all the rest. When you figure out what you use most, either learn to sharpen them (not hard, plenty of YouTube videos), or upgrade those to ones to higher quality bits which will keep an edge longer - and learn to sharpen them Wink
Jan 20, 2024 12:24 AM
1,043 Posts
Joined Mar 2009
ginuwinqbinJan 20, 2024 12:24 AM
1,043 Posts
This or the Irwin branded set?

https://www.amazon.com/Irwin-Tool...vMEALw_wcB
Jan 20, 2024 12:34 AM
1,558 Posts
Joined Jul 2006
AnalogJan 20, 2024 12:34 AM
1,558 Posts
Quote from ginuwinqbin :
This or the Irwin branded set?

https://www.amazon.com/Irwin-Tool...vMEALw_wcB
The Irwin is 14 pc. this is 16. Also, the menards set goes up to 2 1/8", whereas the Irwin only up to 2" if you care.
Pro
Jan 20, 2024 04:04 AM
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PEMP
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Jan 20, 2024 04:04 AM
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Quote from Analog :
The Irwin is 14 pc. this is 16. Also, the menards set goes up to 2 1/8", whereas the Irwin only up to 2" if you care.
Yes. Specifically, the Irwin bit lacks 1-3/4", 1-7/8" and 2-1/8". If you buy those three bits separately, they will add $55-$60 to the cost. The Irwin set does have an extra 1/4" bit (which you could pick up separately for about $5).
Last edited by PEMP January 19, 2024 at 09:10 PM.
1
Pro
Jan 20, 2024 04:10 AM
898 Posts
Joined Mar 2022
PEMP
Pro
Jan 20, 2024 04:10 AM
898 Posts
Quote from ginuwinqbin :
This or the Irwin branded set?

https://www.amazon.com/Irwin-Tool...vMEALw_wcB [amazon.com]
I have the Irwin set for some time and just bought a 1-3/4 and a 1-7/8 Irwin from Amazon to supplement it. That's still one size short of the CMT (the Irwin has 2 of the 1/4" bits and so only 13 unique sizes). Fortunately, I didn't open the new bits and they are within the return window, so I can get ~$36 back. This goes a long way towards the CMT kit.

I have several CMT saw blades and they are awesome. However, I don't anticipate these forstner bits will be anything amazing. From the images and videos I've seen, they look pretty similar to the Irwin bits; and it wouldn't surprise me if they're from the same factory (both made in China). That being said, the Irwin bits have been fine for me, but this seemed a good pricepoint to replace them, keeping the Irwins as backups for the sizes I use most.
1
Jan 20, 2024 01:54 PM
13 Posts
Joined Nov 2020
OrangeMusic963Jan 20, 2024 01:54 PM
13 Posts
Quote from ginuwinqbin :
This or the Irwin branded set?

https://www.amazon.com/Irwin-Tool...vMEALw_wcB
I bought the Irwin's from Lowe's. Absolutely a waste of money. Drilled 3 holes in maple before dulling out on lowest speed in drill press
2

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Jan 20, 2024 02:29 PM
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wlderdudeJan 20, 2024 02:29 PM
874 Posts

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As someone with good experiences with CMT cutting tools, I got excited about CMT forstner bits once when I found them at another retailer for a good price. When digging though woodworking forums, what I found was inline with the Amazon reviews. That is to say, they aren't anything special. If you want the good ones, something like Fische is where you will find them.
If you need them, this is a good enough price on a bit that will probably work mostly, just like the ones for sale for the same price at your local home center. You may need to sharpen some of them, the middle part might be off center on a few of them, or maybe the one you grab first will work awesome and make you feel good about the messed up ones in the box you didn't use.
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