Shopsmith Forums

Milwaukee Center feed screw pilots the bit and allows the bit to pull through fast and they are designed primarily for the trades.

They say "Milwaukee® Selfeed drill bits deliver speed and endurance for repetitive drilling of large holes. Designed for any trade that demands woodcutting for installing pipe and conduit", but a clean sidewall hole is a clean sidewall hole.

The bottom is going to be a bit rougher than a traditional Forstner bit will produce, and the pilot bit is wider, and deeper on the largest bits.

They go on to say that "SwitchBlade bits allow you to remove and replace blades rather than resharpen." Selfeed Bit 4-5/8" (48-25-4621) is the largest bit I have seen, but I wouldn't call it a Forstner as it will not produce a really flat hole. It isn't designed to. It is designed to bore through with a flat side wall.

Everett

reible wrote:For some reason I don't picture those milwaukee bits being for drill press operations, I think it is the feed screw.........

I don't think they make the fisch wave bits in larger styles but I have one and I really like how it cuts. I'd love to replace all of my bits with these but well then there is the cost.

Ed

Milwaukee has a tool called the "hole hawg" that plumbers and electricians are quite fond of. The bits work great in it. Bob

I have been using a Freud set for 20 plus years and have been nothing but satisfied. Due to their design they are fairly easy to sharpen on a stone. The big question with the carbide models is sharpening them. As long as you can sharpen them they might be a good plan. If not the Freud bits are simple to keep razor sharp. The other issue I have is the SS. Without the speed reducer it's hard to use the larger bits. Since the speed reducer is difficult to buy it becomes a problem. I am working on a solution to that now.
Paul

After I posted that last comment I went to the Freud site and it doesn't look like they make anything now above 2 1/8". Bummer.
Paul

I ended up getting an Irwin bit at Lowes. 2 9/16. It has three blades and a removable pilot screw. seems to do the trick

Very Nice Looking!!!!!!