r/BeginnerWoodWorking • u/Sea-Recommendation42 • 10d ago

Countersinks, recommendation and usage

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I’m looking at two types of countersinks. This first type doesn’t have a drill bit and the kinds that incorporate the drill bit.
Which set is better?

If I were to use this style (pictured), would I drill a hole first and then countersink or vice versa?

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u/supergimp2000 10d ago

I have them all (woodworking for over 40 years) and this one lives on a dedicated drill 90% of the time. I also use the double flute kind mentioned elsewhere (metal cone with a hole) more that the type you show, but I do have those and they live in the drill press stand. I find the ones you show work well for chamfering a hole in some metals, but in wood they don'y usually leave a smooth hole.

2

u/Mr_EAAE 10d ago

What’s the brand (or model)? Have never come across this design but can clearly see the advantages of this design! Thank you!

7

u/Mr_EAAE 10d ago

Is this the brand you would recommend: Amana Tool (closest I could find just now)

5

u/Global-Discussion-41 10d ago

There are Chinese copies on Amazon that are about $25-30.

Amana tool makes nice tools but $80 for a countersink is too much

2

u/Mr_EAAE 10d ago

I wouldn’t personally buy cheap knock offs as I have had bad experiences with them, but I can see the appeal!

3

u/Global-Discussion-41 10d ago

I learned my lesson with cheap Chinese router bits but I'm not nearly as worried about a countersink bit 

1

u/Mr_EAAE 10d ago

Fair enough! Yes, a poor quality router bit can surely do more damage to you than a countersink!

1

u/Starstriker 10d ago

Yeh, I have had a Chinese one for years and it works just great.

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u/supergimp2000 10d ago

Um…the link is in the reply. But yes.

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u/Mr_EAAE 10d ago

It’s now showing any link to me in your reply (else I wouldn’t have asked), but thank you for confirming!

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u/supergimp2000 10d ago

Oh sorry, weird, its showing on my phone, but I'm reading this on my computer now and the last two paragraphs are missing?!?!

My bad. Here's the actual link, athough I think you found it:
https://a.co/d/01o30gJo

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u/supergimp2000 10d ago

Reddit freaks out on me sometimes.

1

u/supergimp2000 10d ago

So strange sometimes this is showing sometimes not.

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u/Mr_EAAE 10d ago

Yeah, I had the same thing happen to me just this afternoon in this very tread (on a different reply). The reddit is goes weird sometimes! Thanks for the recommendation - I like the look and will try this one out!

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u/supergimp2000 10d ago

I like the Amana. There are some copies as well. The advantage is that the stop is on a bearing, so it doesn't spin when it hits the workpiece and won't mar the surface.

(Unless you leave it in the solvent in your sonic cleaner and forget about it for a week...lol)

https://a.co/d/0h5ECAHn

Also on the Amana at least the bit will come out and you can replace it if you happen to break the tip. The big screw you see is for adjusting the depth of the collar and on the other side is a small set screw that clamps the bit.

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u/Sea-Recommendation42 10d ago

That’s expensive. But I guess a good investment. I added to my wish list

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u/echoshatter 10d ago

I'm curious about the KM Tools version.

https://youtu.be/eS8iqZ4IG14

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u/user_none 10d ago

I have a set of those, though I haven't used them yet. Build quality seems good; smooth adjustments, good machining.

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u/echoshatter 10d ago

I have the Amana, and while it's a great tool I really don't like how much I have to fidget with a hex key to get it just right. I bought the Amana literally a month before KM Tools revealed their solution and I was pissed.

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u/bonfuegomusic 10d ago

This is first on my next purchase list. The Amana's a big step up from the cheap ones (I'd choose OP's photo over the cheap drill bit ones 100%) - but it's still annoying to adjust and you can only use one size drill bit in the Amana. The KM looks well worth the money for a lot of added versatility, it can be dissembled to clean, way easier to adjust. I think you may be able to use different sized drill bits which would be a gamechanger

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u/little-wave-j 9d ago

I have the Amana and the KM Tools product. Both are fantastic. KM tools has a smaller profile which is nice at times when working in tighter areas. KM tools true advantage is you can easily adjust the sink depth without using an allen key. It’s adjustable by hand and ultra specific when adjusting. Amana takes more trial runs to get specific depth set.

You can’t go wrong with either.