forstner bits in gun building

[borderdogs]

Hi Guys,
I have a question regarding the use of forstner bits in the process of inletting a lock. Does anyone use them in gun building? The reason I ask is that they clear material quickly and leave a flat bottom and they come in pretty small diameters. I am planning a build and having used these bits quite a lot building furniture. Inletting the internals of a lock seems like it might be a good place to use them. Thoughts?
Rob

[Justin Urbantas]

I use them. They work great. Great in a lot of applications. The small ones are especially useful

[Nordnecker]

Yes. I use them.

[Craig Wilcox]

As Justin stated, the small ones are very good.  Clean cut, flat bottom - sizes 1/4, 5/16. 3/8, 7/16 are all very useful.
If you have a patch box, the larger sizes will give you a flat bottom very quickly - then you can use your sharp chisels to square the opening.
Some do not like the little divot that the starting point leaves - it doesn't bother me, as many old ML's show that spur hole.  I think it would be a pretty quick job to chisel that final 1/8".
Available from many suppliers.  I got mine years ago from Constantine's, down in south Florida.  I believe that they are generally available by the 1/16", up to larger than 2" diameter.

[Cory Joe Stewart]

I use them for the above mentioned reasons as well.  I also use them to start a barrel inlet.




Cory Joe Stewart

[borderdogs]

Thanks for the replies its very interesting to hear how they are used. I suspected they were used and even though I was planning on using them in the lock area I was considering a capbox for this build and if I install one I wanted to use them there too. I think its interesting to see them used to assist in inletting a barrel.
Thanks,
Rob

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

I use them too, where they are applicable.  I also grind drill bits into a brad pointed bit for drilling the screw head holes in a lock inlet, for example.  Before I got Forsner bits, I would grind spade drills to cut patch box openings, but the Forsner bits work much better.

[borderdogs]

Thanks Taylor, It seemed like it would be a useful way to move a lot of wood pretty quickly with a flat bottom. I have some real small ones that are handy. In building furniture I have used them to clean out mortises before using a chisel.
Rob