WEN 8-Piece Forstner Bit Set with Carrying Case

5 reviews for WEN 8-Piece Forstner Bit Set with Carrying Case

1. Rated 5 out of 5

   Josh Schiller (verified owner) – October 16, 2022

   An excellent selection of sizes and a great case! This was a recent and excellent upgrade from a previous set of Forstner bits I had used for years. The carry case is hard plastic and excellent for storing the bits. They are standard size and the bits are sharp! I mainly use them for anywhere I want a dowel connection or where I want to make a ‘flat’ hole to hide a screw or wall anchor if hanging something on a wall. The hole then provides the perfect diameter to put a wood plug in to hide the screw. This has worked well in making towel holders, where I use a solid shower rod to have it fit into the end pieces of the cedar holder. Very pleased with this set.

2. Rated 5 out of 5

   Valentin Carroll (verified owner) – August 16, 2022

   USEFUL; WORK WELL — The WEN 8-Piece Forstner Bit Set with Carrying Case is a useful set to have on hand for you often don’t know in advance what size you will need. In the past I have purchased a couple of Forstner bits as I have needed them but it would have saved time and effort to have had them on hand. It is also a much better value to get the set rather than buying several individually. The bit sizes range from 1/4″ to 1 3/8″. The set comes with a case with a clear opening so that you can easily see what size bits that you have. The case also keeps the bits together for easy storage and retrieval. I noticed that the cutting edge on the WEN bits differs from the name brand bits I purchased earlier. On the 1 3/8″ bit, the earlier bit has a flat cutting edge while the WEN bit has serrated teeth on the cutting edge. The WEN bit cut through the material faster. Although Forstner bits are intended for use with a drill press, I have only used them with a hand-held drill. In that case it is important to have a powerful drill and a fully charged battery if using a cordless drill. I also like using my drill which has a handle on the side to provide me with more control. I tested several of the bits from the smallest size to the largest. The bits cut well in pine but took longer as one would expect for the larger sizes. They also performed well in a harder wood (Southern Yellow Pine) but it just took a little longer. The bits and case are made in China.

3. Rated 4 out of 5

   Enrico Spinka (verified owner) – December 27, 2021

   This 8-Piece Forstner Bit Set includes a good assortment of wood bits. They range in diameter from 1/4” to 1” in 1/8” steps with the addition of a 1 3/8” bit, all with a 3/8” shank. The design allows to bits to drill a clean square hole. They come in a plastic carrying case. I rated the quality of these bits down for two reasons. Although they do cut well, I would expect the cutting edges to be machined with a perfect edge. These were not. Also the latches on the case are very flimsy and I don’t think they can last more than a few uses. The packaging stated that these are made in China. Overall I would still recommend these as they do cut well.

4. Rated 4 out of 5

   Virgie Emard (verified owner) – June 9, 2021

   WEN 8-Piece Forstner Bit Set with Carrying Case is an inexpensive starter set of good quality. The set includes eight bit sizes starting from ¼ – inch, increasing by 1/8th – inch increments up to 1 – inch, lastly, a 1 3/8 – inch bit all in a large plastic case. This is a good useful range of sizes. Forstner bits are preferred for wood cutting where wood tear out is minimized or eliminated. They’re also useful when you aren’t drilling through wood and want a flat bottom in the hole remaining. The bits are carbon steel. They come with straight cylindrical shanks, 3/8-inches in diameter, and have saw tooth teeth cutting rims as opposed to continuous smooth rims. The design of the cutting end is X-wing with pilot spurs to prevent the bit from wandering when the hole is first started.I compared this set to two other more expensive sets I’ve got. I found the results of comparable quality, the test holes matched up in appearance. The cut was clean, no tear out and these bits seemed to cut fast, possibly because of the saw tooth rims. Now, more expensive sets are justified as using better metal, more precisely ground and stay sharp longer. I haven’t had these long enough to determine how they’ll hold-up, but they’re fine out of the box. WEN from experience does make good value products. As a first set or to replace some bits that have worn out, it is a good choice.

5. Rated 5 out of 5

   Alaina Ortiz (verified owner) – May 9, 2021

   If you don’t have a set of Forstner bits, you should get one. I always thought you could only use them in a drill press, but they work just fine in a hand drill, as long as you are not overlapping holes too much. This set appears to be almost identical to my old expensive set – all the same sizes and geometry. I don’t have any projects going at the moment, so I chucked the biggest bit in my hand drill and chewed-up a piece of scrap wood for a test, and it worked just fine. Even with a hand drill, I got nice sharp edges and a clean flat-bottomed hole. The case is serviceable. I needed a screwdriver to pry the latches open, but then I cut down the nubs with a razor and now I can pop them open easily with my fingers. Forstner bits are also relatively easy to re-sharpen, look on YouTube – so a set should last a lifetime.