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expired Posted by jlewco • Feb 20, 2024
expired Posted by jlewco • Feb 20, 2024

16-Piece CMT Forstner Bit Set

+ Free Store Pickup

$40

$50

20% off
Menards
22 Comments 17,545 Views
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Deal Details
Menards has 16-Piece CMT Forstner Bit Set (53700016) on sale for $39.99. 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 jlewco 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 SlickDealio | Staff
  • About this deal:
  • 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 jlewco
Community Notes
About the Poster
Deal Details
Community Notes
About the Poster
Menards has 16-Piece CMT Forstner Bit Set (53700016) on sale for $39.99. 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 jlewco 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 SlickDealio | Staff
  • About this deal:
  • 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 jlewco

Community Voting

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+28
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Top Comments

I usually buy CMT when I need a forstner bit in a specific metric size and I've always been happy with the results. With that said, the reviews on this specific set are spotty, some mentioning poor machining. Keep in mind, this is a value set and you shouldn't expect perfect machining...but deep gouges in the cutting surfaces would be unacceptable. Buyer beware but at this price it's worth taking the chance on IMO.

22 Comments

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Feb 20, 2024
677 Posts
Joined Mar 2021
Feb 20, 2024
cdmcc
Feb 20, 2024
677 Posts

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank cdmcc

I usually buy CMT when I need a forstner bit in a specific metric size and I've always been happy with the results. With that said, the reviews on this specific set are spotty, some mentioning poor machining. Keep in mind, this is a value set and you shouldn't expect perfect machining...but deep gouges in the cutting surfaces would be unacceptable. Buyer beware but at this price it's worth taking the chance on IMO.
2
Feb 21, 2024
2,327 Posts
Joined Dec 2005
Feb 21, 2024
mchouse
Feb 21, 2024
2,327 Posts
Thanks!
Feb 21, 2024
2,309 Posts
Joined Oct 2013
Feb 21, 2024
selvaspk
Feb 21, 2024
2,309 Posts
Quote from cdmcc :
I usually buy CMT when I need a forstner bit in a specific metric size and I've always been happy with the results. With that said, the reviews on this specific set are spotty, some mentioning poor machining. Keep in mind, this is a value set and you shouldn't expect perfect machining...but deep gouges in the cutting surfaces would be unacceptable. Buyer beware but at this price it's worth taking the chance on IMO.
Do an average diy home owner use these bits? When? Trying to think if I need it.
Pro
Feb 21, 2024
1,022 Posts
Joined Dec 2003
Feb 21, 2024
dFreezy
Pro
Feb 21, 2024
1,022 Posts
Quote from selvaspk :
Do an average diy home owner use these bits? When? Trying to think if I need it.
Not really, these are for making clean flat bottomed holes, so a little specific to woodworking
Feb 21, 2024
323 Posts
Joined Feb 2018
Feb 21, 2024
reinkespi
Feb 21, 2024
323 Posts
Quote from selvaspk :
Do an average diy home owner use these bits? When? Trying to think if I need it.
I have used them around the house to sink screws for deck rails, etc. I have an inexpensive HF set that works fine. They can be handy but IMO not necessary unless you do legit wood working like the previous poster mentioned.
Feb 21, 2024
677 Posts
Joined Mar 2021
Feb 21, 2024
cdmcc
Feb 21, 2024
677 Posts
Quote from selvaspk :
Do an average diy home owner use these bits? When? Trying to think if I need it.
I agree with all that has been said above...the main advantages are increased diameter capacity and the clean-bottomed hole, one that doesn't go all the way through. Even if you are drilling a thru-hole a forstner bit generally gives you a cleaner cut if you're running the right speed for your material. And you'll find best and consistent results when used on a drill press.
Feb 21, 2024
61 Posts
Joined Dec 2007
Feb 21, 2024
dustyrogers
Feb 21, 2024
61 Posts
Quote from selvaspk :
Do an average diy home owner use these bits? When? Trying to think if I need it.
I have them primarily for woodworking but they've come in clutch DIY home owner stuff on a few occasions — particularly furniture, cabinet, and door/hinge repair.

For example we replaced the hardware pulls on a vintage dresser and needed to shorten the hole size for the machine screws.

They're perfect for drilling fresh holes to plug with dowels to reinforce mounting hardware for e.g. MDF/particle board cabinet doors.

In fact any time you need to sink a dowel but don't have lots of depth, you want a forstner.

And as another poster mentioned, they're great as an alternative to a tapered countersink (and of course you could hide the screw head with a dowel as well).

One benefit is good sharp bits at proper speed will give you a much cleaner entry cut than typical spiral drill bits.

And finally, if you want a through-hole with clean entry and exit, that's easy to achieve with forstners because the center-aligning portion will poke through before the rest; so you can switch sides and get a nice clean cut on both.
2

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Feb 21, 2024
1,218 Posts
Joined Jul 2014
Feb 21, 2024
brenth77
Feb 21, 2024
1,218 Posts
Other sites have listed for $120 to $130 for same kit, but may be overpriced.

A four-piece set of just small ones is $22 at Menards.
https://www.menards.com/main/tool...?exp=false

Bits individually range from $7 to $22.
https://www.menards.com/main/tool...?exp=false

So seems like a really good deal. Shame the 11% hasn't started again, yet. Another $4.40 off would make even better.
Feb 21, 2024
89 Posts
Joined Apr 2010
Feb 21, 2024
ahstram
Feb 21, 2024
89 Posts
I recently bought a 1'' forstner bit for building a wall-mounted ski rack, in which I had 8 inch long, 1 inch wide dowels mounted into 3''x2''x8' pine boards at a 30 degree angle.

I originally thought I could use spade bits for this, but I came across forstner bits after reading this article: https://woodworking.stackexchange...t-an-angle

The forstner bit worked **perfectly** for my project... I should mention that I used a drill press. I suspect it would have been difficult to cut precisely at an angle with a hand drill.
Feb 21, 2024
677 Posts
Joined Mar 2021
Feb 21, 2024
cdmcc
Feb 21, 2024
677 Posts
Quote from ahstram :
I recently bought a 1'' forstner bit for building a wall-mounted ski rack, in which I had 8 inch long, 1 inch wide dowels mounted into 3''x2''x8' pine boards at a 30 degree angle.

I originally thought I could use spade bits for this, but I came across forstner bits after reading this article: https://woodworking.stackexchange...t-an-angle [stackexchange.com]

The forstner bit worked **perfectly** for my project... I should mention that I used a drill press. I suspect it would have been difficult to cut precisely at an angle with a hand drill.
Typically spade bits are for quick and dirty stuff like plowing through studs when running electrical or thru-holes in deck posts...they aren't meant for precision.
Feb 21, 2024
864 Posts
Joined Jul 2008
Feb 21, 2024
wlderdude
Feb 21, 2024
864 Posts
CMT is among the most reputable brands of woodworking tools, with most of them made in Italy. From what I hear, these do not come from Italy but are rebadged Asian imports. Many times I've seen deals on CMT forstner bits, and get excited before reading up on how bad they are in this brand. I already have a mediocre set of forstner bits of Asian manufacture in another brand, so I really don't need these.

What I keep hoping to find is a solid deal on the really good forster bits from a brand like Fisch.

So I'll keep waiting and using the basic set I currently have. They do work pretty okay most of the time for lots of things sometimes.

If you do not currently have a basic set of mediocre quality forstner bits and like making sawdust, this is a decent enough deal to make today the day you pick up a set.
Feb 22, 2024
6 Posts
Joined May 2013
Feb 22, 2024
mtekk
Feb 22, 2024
6 Posts
Quote from brenth77 :
Other sites have listed for $120 to $130 for same kit, but may be overpriced.

A four-piece set of just small ones is $22 at Menards.
https://www.menards.com/main/tool...?exp=false [menards.com]

Bits individually range from $7 to $22.
https://www.menards.com/main/tool...?exp=false [menards.com]

So seems like a really good deal. Shame the 11% hasn't started again, yet. Another $4.40 off would make even better.
Rumor is 11% starts 2/22, as long as this sale doesn't end at midnight you can get your extra 4.40 back.
Feb 22, 2024
1,218 Posts
Joined Jul 2014
Feb 22, 2024
brenth77
Feb 22, 2024
1,218 Posts
Quote from mtekk :
Rumor is 11% starts 2/22, as long as this sale doesn't end at midnight you can get your extra 4.40 back.
Messed up and ordered already. Maybe they'll have one of those "adjustment rebates" to keep everybody from returning and rebuying stuff.
Feb 22, 2024
742 Posts
Joined Jul 2016
Feb 22, 2024
Hiraeth
Feb 22, 2024
742 Posts
New final price of $35.59, after in-store credit rebate of $4.40.

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This user is an Expert in Home & Home Improvement
Feb 22, 2024
17,924 Posts
Joined Jun 2012
Feb 22, 2024
jeff34270
Expert
This user is an Expert in Home & Home Improvement
Feb 22, 2024
17,924 Posts
Quote from mtekk :
Rumor is 11% starts 2/22, as long as this sale doesn't end at midnight you can get your extra 4.40 back.
Quote from brenth77 :
Messed up and ordered already. Maybe they'll have one of those "adjustment rebates" to keep everybody from returning and rebuying stuff.
Yep, 11% started bringing this set down to $35.59 after rebate. If you already purchased it, you an pick up an "11% Price Adjustment Rebate Form" at the customer service desk.

More info here: https://www.menards.com/main/help...-19285.htm

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