DEKOR™ FORSTNER BIT INSTRUCTIONS

DEKOR™ FORSTNER BIT INSTRUCTIONS
The DEKOR™ Forstner drill bit is a precision cutting bit. When used correctly, it will create the proper
diameter and depth necessary for use with DEKOR™ products. The instructions below will help you to
understand what materials the Forstner drill bit will work with, and materials it will not work with. This
instruction sheet will also cover proper drilling techniques and steps to take in preparation before
starting your project and outline the procedure when using the precision stop for our DekDot product.
Here are a few types of common wood decking and flooring that our Forstner drill bit will drill into with
minimal to medium resistance as taken from the following website which has an extensive listing of
materials you may be using for your project (http://www.sizes.com/units/janka.htm)
• Redwood (420 hardness soft)
• Cedar (580 hardness soft)
• Douglass Fir (660 hardness soft)
• Yellow Pine, Short leaf (690 hardness medium)
• Mahogany, Honduran (800 hardness medium)
• Maple, Soft (999 hardness medium)
There are a few types of wood that are harder and will require more effort to drill and may require more
than one bit to complete your project depending on its size.
• Oak, Tasmanian AKA Red (1010 hardness hard)
• Pine, Heart (1225 hardness hard)
• White Oak, North American (1360 hardness hard)
• Maple, Ivory (1500 hardness hard)
Following are some examples of woods that are very hard to drill into with the DEKOR™ Forstner bit
and will require a large amount of force at lower rpm resulting in greater torque demand from your drill
motor and will most likely require more than one bit depending on number of drilled holes required for
the project.
• Bamboo, Carbonized (1800 hardness very hard)
• Hickory (1820 hardness very hard)
• Mahogany Santos (2200 hardness very hard)
• Walnut, Brazilian AKA Epay (3680 hardness extremely hard)
There are a number of composite materials that the DEKOR™ Forstner drill bit may drill into and have
noted a few manufactures of these materials. (Note: The nature of these materials will cause heat
buildup quicker, so frequent clearing of deck particles from the bit and hole is necessary.)
• TREX DECK©
• TIMBERTECH©
• AZEK ©
• FIBERONDECKING©
Materials that require a special drill bit are not compatible with the DEKOR™ Forstner bit, but are not
limited to;
• Concrete
• Brick
• Stone
• Metal (Ferrous) In some cased thin gauge Aluminum can be easily drilled.
• Some composite materials (fiberglass, graphite epoxy)
REV New 5-23-2013 - ©2013 DEKOR™, Denver, CO
The following steps will show you the proper techniques that will help you drill the correct hole depth and
diameter for our recessed lighting products. Other DEKOR™ products also use our customer Forstner bit
but without the depth stop and use through hole drilling.
For this section you will need a drill motor. (Note: Not all drills are the same, the following practice steps will
help you understand what it takes for your particular drill to achieve the job.) You will also need one 1/8th
inch drill bit for pilot hole, DEKOR™ Forstner drill bit, Forstner drill bit stop washer, Forstner drill bit C-ring,
and a piece of material from the project wood you are using.
1. Read all cautions for your drill motor in the owner’s manual. Make sure you have proper eye protection
safety equipment; safety glasses or goggles.
2. The DEKOR™ FORSTNER drill bit is a precision bit and is designed to optimize
our product fit within a hole. (Note: You will have much better results by
practicing using the bit and stop. Take a scrap piece of the material you are
going to use in your project.
3. Start by attaching a 1/8th inch drill bit to your drill, and drilling a pilot hole through your material. This
hole is also used for routing of the lighting wires
and providing a path for the Forstner bit to follow.
When drilling a through hole this step is optional
but you will have more consistent results by using
1/8” Drill Bit
a pilot hole.
4. Next prepare the Forstner bit by sliding the white
stop washer onto the shaft. Lock the C-ring in place
in the groove in the shaft.
5. Place the tip of the Forstner bit in the pilot hole. Make sure it is seated in all the way.
6. Begin by drilling slowly until it starts to cut it to the project material. Use the correct motor rpm that you
used on your practice piece. As soon as it begins cutting maintain that speed and apply vertical pressure
to the bit. (Note: Some composite materials will melt and deform if too high of speed is used.)
7. As it begins to cut into the material the head of the bit will fill up with debris.
It is necessary to frequently stop and clear the head of debris.
8. When the stop washer starts to make contact with the material make sure to
clear out debris frequently. It is critical so that the bit will drill to the depth
determined by the stop washer. Caution: Do not to apply excessive pressure
once the stop washer as come in contact with the material as the force of the
C-ring on the washer may cause the washer to spin and possible mar the
material surface. When coming to full depth take your time!
9. After the hole has been drilled test the fit by using a DEKOR light fixture.
The light should be flush or just slightly below the top surface.
Once you have completed several practice runs and are satisfied with the results
use what you have practiced in your actual project.
©2013 DEKOR™, Denver, CO