This section provides an overview for forstner bits as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 17 forstner bit manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked forstner bit companies as of November, 2024: 1.Fortune Extendables Corp., 2.Trevor Lindsay Ltd, 3.Johann Eberhard Ges.m.b.H.
Table of Contents
A Forstner bit is a specialized drill bit designed for woodworking, known for its ability to drill clean, flat-bottomed holes. Unlike traditional drill bits, a Forstner bit cuts precise, clean holes without tearing the wood, making it ideal for detailed woodworking projects.
Forstner bits are primarily used in woodworking for tasks requiring precision and a clean finish. They are perfect for drilling holes for dowels, creating countersinks for hardware installation, and any application where the appearance of the hole is paramount. Their design allows for drilling at angles and on the edge of a workpiece, offering versatility in joinery and hardware installation.
For drilling holes with precision in wood, where the sides of the hole need to be smooth and the bottom flat.
Creating countersinks for screws and hardware to sit flush with or below the surface of the wood.
Forstner bits are also excellent for drilling overlapping holes for mortises or large hardware insets.
The Forstner bit operates on a simple principle: it uses a center spur to anchor the bit while the circular rim cuts the perimeter of the hole. This design allows for the drilling of precise, flat-bottomed holes with smooth sides. The lack of tearing makes it suitable for visible parts of woodworking projects.
Forstner bits come in various sizes and styles to suit different drilling needs:
Used for most drilling applications, offering clean cuts and flat bottoms.
Designed for faster cutting and removal of material, suitable for larger holes.
Provides a smoother cut in harder materials, reducing heat buildup.
Forstner bits can be used with a drill press for maximum control and precision or with a hand-held drill for convenience. Pre-drilling a pilot hole is not typically necessary, but starting the hole at a lower speed can improve accuracy and reduce the chance of the bit wandering.
When using Forstner bits, safety is paramount. Always secure the workpiece firmly, wear safety glasses, and ensure your drill or drill press is set at the correct speed to avoid overheating the bit. Avoid forcing the bit into the material; let the bit do the cutting at its own pace.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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STAR-M CORPORATION, established in 1923 and based in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan, is a manufacturer of woodworking drill bits. The company specializes in auger bits and adjustable circle cutters, catering to various sectors, from electric facility construction to horticulture. It crafts various machine drills, including the highly precise T.C.T. carbon and custom-made drills. The company product line offers tools for various materials, including wood, bamboo, and gypsum board. It ensures that each drill bit and tool is not just a piece of metal but a promise of durability and excellence to customers worldwide.
NACHI-FUJIKOSHI CORP. is a Japanese manufacturer of industrial machinery and tools, such as bearings, hydraulic equipment, robots, and cutting tools. They also provide services such as machine maintenance and repair. The company's products are used in automotive, aerospace, construction, and electronics. One of NACHI-FUJIKOSHI's renowned products is their robotic arm, the "MZR series," which is designed for precision assembly and inspection tasks in industries. They received several awards for their technological advancements and contributions to the industry, including the 2021 Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers Medal for new hydraulic equipment technology and the 2020 Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun Grand Technology Award.
OSG Corporation., founded in 1938 and headquartered in Toyokawa, Japan, is a manufacturer of various cutting tools, including end mills, drills, taps, rolling dies, and gauges. The cutting tools are engineered for an array of industries, including energy, automotive, aerospace, die/mold, and heavy. The company also has an academy that it uses as an innovation hub for researching, designing, and developing new products. It established its first overseas subsidiary in the U.S. in 1968, and since then, it has continued to build a network of manufacturing, sales, and technical support locations spanning 33 countries.
ZHANGJIAGANG PRIMWELL IMP. & EXP. CO., LTD. was established in 1990 and is based in Zhangjiagang, China, as a manufacturer of precision machining tools and a provider of software solutions and services. The company delivers products encompassing precision machining tools, cutting-edge software solutions, and user-centric mobile and web applications. The company received awards such as the Tech Innovator Award in 2018 and the Digital Transformation Excellence Award in 2020. It holds quality certifications, including ISO 9001:2015, to maintain standards of quality. It serves a varied clientele spanning the manufacturing, healthcare, finance, and retail sectors.
SAAME Tools is a manufacturer of general purpose tools that was founded in 1979 and is headquartered in Pudong, Shanghai, China. SAAME's main activity is the designing and manufacturing of hand tools, power tools, plumbing tools, carpentry tools and PPE among others. Its product range include wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers, and saws. The company also offers a wide range of accessories, such as sockets, bits, and blades. SAAME's products are used by a wide range of customers, including the automotive, health, manufacturing, and construction industries.
Festool GmbH, headquartered in Wendlingen, Germany, has been a power tool manufacturer since its founding in 1925. The company offers an array of power tools and equipment, including mobile power supply cordless tools, exoskeletons for enhanced arm support, dust extraction tools, drilling and screwdriving tools, and various sawing tools. These tools meet the demands of modern power tool applications with ergonomic design. It serves multiple industries like woodworking, construction, carpentry, and painting, providing solutions for precision tasks and ensuring a cleaner work environment.
Zhejiang Xinxing Tools Co. Ltd., established in 1994, is a Chinese manufacturer and supplier of precision cutting tools based in Haiyan, Zhejiang. The company’s product lineup includes annular bit series, including rail cutters, machine clamp-type drills, and reinforced concrete drill bits. It also offers interchangeable insert core drills, such as tool and S-drill holders, as well as spade drill inserts. Other products in its portfolio include countersinks and step drills, deep hole drills, as well as magnetic drilling machines. With over 90 patents, the company caters to global customers across diverse sectors, such as architecture, energy, and transportation.
HTT - Centro Affilatura S.r.l., established in 1982 and headquartered in Italy, is a manufacturer of solid-carbide cutting tools. The company specializes in patented solutions for one-shot and one-up applications on composites + metal stacks for Boeing and Airbus programs. Its products include tools for hole making, milling, and other cutting applications tailored for materials like Titanium, Aluminum, and Inconel. The company offers customizable solutions, including tool coating, grinding, and tool-room management, ensuring optimized machining processes for its clients in the aerospace and automotive sectors.
The Company operates diverse businesses, ranging from nonferrous metals and other fundamental materials to cemented cardide tools/metalworking solutions, the manufacturing of semiconductor-related and electronic components/materials, resource recycling, and renewable energy power generation. In each business, the Company holds the No.1 position in production volume, sales volume, etc.
Carmon, established in 1969 and based in Brescia, Italy, is a manfuacturer of precision metalworking tools, inverter welding and plasma cutting machines. The company operates through two independent production plants: one in Castenedolo, focusing on tools, and another in Genoa, devoted to welding machines and plasma cutting machines, which are marketed under the brand Ergus. Its product line includes tools such as endmills, drills, and threaded gauges. Its R&D team is provides tailor-made solutions for customers, including OEM manufacturing and mechanized welding systems.
Danyang Tongyu Tools Co., Ltd, founded in 1996 and based in Jiangsu, China, manufactures and supplies saw blades, hole saws, drill bits, and other cutting tools It provides HSS Drill Bits with ANSI standard and DIN standards, Glass Drill Bits and Masonry Drill bits, SDS-MAX and SDS-PLUS Drill Bits, Chisels and more to its local and global clients. The company delivers the sample order in 1 to 2 days; a massive order is delivered within 10-15 days, depending on the quantity of the ordered goods.
Ranking as of November 2024
Derivation MethodRank | Company | Click Share |
---|---|---|
1 | Fortune Extendables Corp. |
11.8%
|
2 | Trevor Lindsay Ltd |
9.8%
|
3 | Johann Eberhard Ges.m.b.H |
9.8%
|
4 | HoleSawMfg |
7.8%
|
5 | Mitsubishi Materials Corporation |
7.8%
|
6 | NACHI-FUJIKOSHI CORP. |
7.8%
|
7 | Utensileria Carmon Srl |
5.9%
|
8 | Festool GmbH |
5.9%
|
9 | OSG Corporation |
5.9%
|
10 | Sinolite Tools Limited |
3.9%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the forstner bit page as of November 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
---|---|---|
China | 6 | 46.2% |
Japan | 3 | 23.1% |
Germany | 1 | 7.7% |
Italy | 1 | 7.7% |
Austria | 1 | 7.7% |
Taiwan | 1 | 7.7% |