Forstner Vs. Holesaw

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Bit of help please from all of you chippies/joiners out there.

I need to put a 40mm dia. hole through 20mm oak as cleanly as possible, I have a decent pillar drill.

Would you use a good quality holesaw, I have a DeWalt arbour, but not a 40mm holesaw - or would you use a Forstner bit, I don't have a 40mm one.

I am going to have to buy one or the other... which one??

Thanks.
 
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hole saw will end up burning itself through oak.
forstener bit will probably be the better bet.
 
Thanks Greggers,

I did wonder if the relative coarseness of a holesaw's teeth would struggle with oak.

I think I will get Axminster so send me a 40mm Forstner.

Unless there is a third way I haven't thought of...
 
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I had thought about the flat boring bit option, but thought that 40mm dia. would be too large??

I note that Bosch make a really robust looking flat bit, but only up to 38mm dia.
 
A hole saw would do ok really, so long as it's a welded band type such as a Starrett and you use your pillar drill.
Make sure the saw is tight in its arbor though, and drill from both sides.
Quite a bit cheaper than a Forstner I would imagine, although these do have the advantage of drilling a flat bottomed hole.
John :)
 
Don't expect the adjustable bits to last for ever, but certainly they have their uses......just use them gently!
I'd still go for a hole saw, personally.
John :)
 
I've got one of those heavy duty expansive bits, IIRC they were sold as a "power" bit, most of the lighter duty types are intended for use with a brace. Used it lots of times for drilling holes in oak with pillar drill. OK as long as you go easy, keep the speed below the recommended max, and use a light feed. Not that keen on holesaws for clean holes in oak myself. I always seem to end up with some burning. Probably me. Forster bits are OK.
I've also got one or two flat bits modified with a shorter point and "scribing points" to give a clean, more or less flat bottomed hole. They're smaller than 40mm. Obviously you can only use them with due care in a pillar drill.
 

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