The author tested eight brands of drill bits for the accuracy of their stated dimensions, the efficiency of their design, and their chip-clearing ability. The 3/8-in. bits were selected for the most rigorous tests, drilling 200 holes in hard maple and 875 in particleboard. The 3/16-in. bits were tested for clogging in pine; the 1/2-in. bits were tested on white oak. He found that the spade-shaped bits performed the worst, the W-shaped bits produced mixed results, and the spur-shaped bits were best overall.

Lee Valley’s high-speed steel (HSS) set cut clean, accurate holes in maple and plywood. Chip clearing was not a problem and it drilled to a respectable depth in the white oak, leaving flat-bottomed holes similar to those produced by the Forstner bits they resemble. They also penetrated easily and produced a nearly chip-free exit in hard maple. These bits scored an excellent in the entry-hole rating, an excellent/good in the through-hole rating, and and excellent in chip clearing.

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