Bosch 7 piece Wood Forstner Bit Set

Why I reached for this Bosch set

I wanted a compact, no-drama Forstner kit I could toss in the shop bag and rely on for flat-bottom holes, hinge cups, and the occasional decorative recess. The Bosch Forstner set fits that brief on paper: seven common diameters from 1/4 to 1 inch, a consistent 3/8-inch hex shank on each bit, and a short, center-finding spur with a toothed rim that promises cleaner starts and better chip clearing. After a few weeks using it in both a drill press and a cordless drill, I’ve got a clear sense of where it shines—and where it falls short.

Build and first impressions

All seven bits share the same 4-inch overall length and 3/8-inch hex shank. The uniform shank is handy: one chucking size for the entire set, solid engagement in three-jaw chucks, and zero spinning under load in my drill press. The hex also plays nicely with hex-compatible chucks found on some cordless drills. The cutting geometry is a sawtooth peripheral rim, two main cutting edges, and a short centering tip. It’s a geometry aimed at quick chip breakup and good removal, especially in softwoods and when boring larger diameters.

Out of the case, fit and finish were generally good, but not impeccable. On two of the middle sizes, I found light burrs at the tooth tips. A few strokes with a fine diamond card cleaned that up in under a minute per bit, but I’d have preferred a cleaner grind from the factory. The case is compact and keeps the set organized, though it’s basic; foam or nested rings would hold the bits more securely than the molded slots.

Setup, speeds, and feeds

Forstners reward the right speed and a steady feed. Here’s what worked for me:

• 1/4–1/2 inch: 1,200–1,800 RPM in softwood; 800–1,200 in hardwood
• 5/8–3/4 inch: 700–1,000 RPM in softwood; 500–700 in hardwood
• 7/8–1 inch: 450–700 RPM in softwood; 350–500 in hardwood

I also peck-drilled anything 5/8 inch and up—advance 1/8 to 1/4 inch, back out to clear chips, repeat. That habit, plus the large chip-clearance gullets on these bits, kept burning at bay and made a noticeable difference in exit quality.

Performance in different materials

• Softwood (pine, fir): The set cut quickly and stayed cool. The short spur grabbed cleanly without skating. Entry edges were neat, and bottoms were properly flat with a shallow dimple at center from the tip. Sidewalls showed faint tooth marks (typical for a sawtooth rim), but the shoulder was crisp enough for hardware recesses.

• Hardwood (maple, oak): The bits still tracked accurately, but feed pressure mattered more. On the 3/4- and 1-inch sizes, pushing too fast raised the risk of chatter and left a rougher rim. Slowing the press and letting the teeth work brought the holes back to clean and flat. End-grain in maple required a firm clamp-up and slower RPM; the set handled it, but I wouldn’t describe it as effortless.

• Plywood and Baltic birch: Clean top edges, predictable bottoms, and modest fray at the veneer—about what I expect from a sawtooth Forstner. Using a backer board eliminated blowout at exit.

• Knots: The toothed rim actually helps here. The bits didn’t stall in fir knots, though they did want a slower feed to keep the rim from chattering.

MDF and particleboard are always tough on high-speed steel. The set cut both, but edges dulled noticeably faster. If you live in sheet goods, I’d favor a carbide-rim Forstner for longevity.

Hole quality and accuracy

This geometry is designed for flat-bottomed holes, and the set delivered. The bottoms were truly flat with a minimal center mark—useful when a through-hole isn’t an option or when you’re recessing magnets, dowel caps, or hardware. Entry shoulders were crisp when I respected speed and feed; rushing produced fuzz that a light chamfer pass cleaned up. Sidewall smoothness is respectable but not glassy—fine for most joinery and hardware recesses, less ideal if you’re chasing a furniture-grade interior wall straight off the bit.

Diameter accuracy was good and consistent across the set. My 3/4-inch bit drilled holes that accepted 3/4-inch dowels with a snug press fit in maple and an easy slip fit in pine, which tells me runout and rim concentricity are under control. On the drill press, I saw no meaningful wandering. In a handheld drill, the short spur and sawtooth rim make starts more sensitive; a quick center punch or a guide jig stops the bit from grabbing and improves edge quality.

Chip evacuation and heat management

The large gullets matter. Compared with continuous-rim Forstners, these cleared chips more readily, particularly at 5/8 inch and up. As a result, I had fewer burn marks, especially in cherry and maple. In softwood, I often bored to full depth without a peck; in hardwood, a quick withdrawal every 1/4 inch kept temperatures down. If you’ve struggled with smoky 1-inch holes, the gullets and a sensible RPM make a real difference here.

Durability and maintenance

After a few dozen holes in hardwoods and plywood, the edges on my most-used sizes (1/2, 3/4, and 1 inch) still cut cleanly. The sawtooth tips are easy to touch up with a small file or diamond card; the main cutters respond well to a few careful passes on the top face. This is a high-speed steel set, so regular touch-ups are part of ownership if you use them heavily. If you expect hundreds of holes in abrasive sheet goods, plan on more frequent maintenance or step up to carbide.

Drill press versus handheld

On a drill press, these bits are predictable and efficient. That’s where I got the best edge quality and the flattest bottoms, along with precise depth control. In a handheld drill, the hex shank helps prevent slippage, and the short spur does a decent job getting the hole started, but larger sizes (3/4 inch and up) benefit from a guide block or template to keep the bit from craning and to protect the entry rim. I wouldn’t use them in an impact driver; the percussive action is the enemy of clean cutting and edge life.

What I liked

• The 3/8-inch hex shank across all sizes is genuinely useful. No slipping in the chuck, and quick changes without reconfiguring the chuck size.

• Flat-bottom results were reliably flat, with minimal center divots—great for magnets, dowel caps, and hardware seating.

• Chip evacuation is strong for a set in this price range, reducing burn risk in larger diameters.

• Sizes are well-chosen: 1/4, 3/8, 1/2, 5/8, 3/4, 7/8, and 1 inch cover most real-world cabinet and jig tasks.

Where it comes up short

• Out-of-box sharpness varied. Minor burrs on two bits needed a quick touch-up to perform their best. Not a deal-breaker, but something to check before a critical job.

• The sawtooth rim leaves faint sidewall striations compared with high-end continuous-rim Forstners. If you need absolutely pristine interior walls, you’ll want a premium ground-rim set.

• In handheld use on hardwoods at larger diameters, it pays to slow down and guide the bit. Expect more effort than with top-tier carbide options.

Who this set suits best

If you’re a general woodworker, cabinetmaker, or jig-builder who needs clean, flat-bottomed holes without investing in a 14- or 16-piece premium kit, this seven-piece set is a sensible, compact choice. It’s especially good in softwoods, plywood, and most hardwoods when used at appropriate speeds. If you spend most of your time in MDF or you need flawless sidewalls and perfect shoulders for fine furniture, a higher-end continuous-rim or carbide set will justify its cost.

Recommendation

I recommend this Bosch Forstner set for everyday woodworking and shop-jig work, with a few caveats. It delivers reliably flat bottoms, good chip clearing, and accurate diameters across the core sizes most of us use, and the hex shanks make life easier in both press and handheld drills. Just be prepared to inspect the edges out of the case and give any burrs a quick tune-up. If your projects demand showroom-clean sidewalls or you routinely drill large holes in dense hardwoods or abrasive sheet goods, step up to a premium continuous-rim or carbide set. For everyone else, this set strikes a practical balance of performance, convenience, and price.