Roman Carbide DC1891 Carbide Forstner Bit, 16mm

We tested the Roman Carbide 3/4 inch and the 1-15/16 inch bit and was so pleased with the results. Watch our video for the larger bit in action. -- CLEAN PERFECT BORES: Using a drill press, we bored holes in both hard white oak and walnut the holes were beautifully clean and smooth on the sides and bottom. -- NO BURNING: There were no break out edges and the cuts did not burn even after repeated drilling. -- VERY SHARP!: The cutting edges produce large long shavings which indicate a very sharp edge. -- NO SLIP SHAFT: Hex shaft prevents the shaft from twisting in the drill chuck which is just another excellent feature for this already superb forstner bit. -- TRUE ALIGNMENT: The head to the shaft alignment is perfect provided a extremely smooth spin in the drill press.

This bit replaced a non-carbide-tipped bit and was needed for cutting in purple-heart as well as very old cherry and hickory. I was making a large project and needed approximately 64 holes ranging in depth from 5/8" inch to almost 3". I got NO BURNING, NO TEAROUTS, and NO CHIPPING, SPLINTERING, OR OTHER PROBLEMS. The bottoms of the cuts are smoothe, and were all easy to sand to #320 grit sandpaper (600 after varnishing) and look great. This bit was a godsend when I was sanding because (if you haven't worked with it) when purpleheart overheats and burns, it can be EXTREMELY tedious to sand out the burned spots. This bit was so good that I'm planning to buy a set of them soon. Definitely worth buying and I would buy it again. Also I would definitely recommend it to friends and family - and have already done so. Another plus is the price - this is the least expensive carbide forstner bit of thios size that I have found, and I have had NO problems with it.

This is a very precise Forstner bit. I test drilled hard maple with great results. See picture, it cuts very clean and it drills exactly 3.00" (means it is accurate to the thousands of an inch). It takes a strong build drill press with enough horsepower and torque to drive this bit properly at a low speed of less than 500rpm. My press is a Powermatic PM2800b, and runs it very smooth, but I could tell by the motor sound that the bit needs substantial torque (hp). Means, low horsepower drill presses may not be able to drive this size drill. Carbide tipped bits run a lot cooler than HSS bits, therefore they can handle higher speeds without overheating. I'm using other sizes of Roman Carbide Forstner bits for years, and they still cut like on day one without any resharpening. I think Roman Carbide could have sharpened this bit a little bit more, which reduces the needed push down force when drilling very hard wood. But this doesn't change the high quality of this bit, it just reduces the force needed to push it into hardwood, and can easily improved with a few strokes of a mini diamond hone.

Purchased because I don’t have a full set of Forstners and needed to create precise sized holes for LED lamp install in vinyl railing. Ended up using it to bore holes in two-by lumber while building balance of deck. Bit threw big chips, cut cleanly, and very impressed with where I pushed through. I’m an Irwin speed bore bit guy from way back, and since this was framing, I didn’t really sweat making a mess on the board’s backside. But this has made me reconsider by methodology. I’m sure as with many lower-tier priced tools, cutting edge durability is probably potentially less long-term. And I haven’t used it on the vinyl yet. Still, impressed with initial results. Balance and feed were easy and very controllable. For my DIY purposes, and not hard, long-term use, this has been a good solution.

This was a nice sharp bit.

Yes its possible that some people get bad bits and tools in general from time to time. But you have to factor in whether or not that person is capable of using said item properly, a lot of people are not, so I usually take a risk on poorly rated items if they look to be well built. Most of the time I find that the items are satisfactory as is with this bit. The holes are flat, the holes are cut clean, what more can you ask from a forstner bit. The head's design doesn't lend itself to cutting holes at an angle but still doable with a little more patience.

Clean sharp edges, no splintering or tearing even in end grain. Runs as true as my more expensive bits. I would buy again if I needed it. Thankfully, this still cuts like new even after boring many, many deep holes in hardwoods.

High expectations for this bit with all the good reviews, yet after making 8 holes through a combination of 1/8" masonite and 3/4" MDF, the bit has lost all sharpness and started to smoke when going through the 9th hole. The only positive is the bit is true and doesn't have any wobble. Would not recommend this bit.