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I got this forster bit from a shop in Berlin (that Dieter whatever shop... located somewhere in the west side of Berlin near a ring bahn station, I forget which). It was one of those cheap bits that they were selling that was old stock. They said it doesn't cut very well and some had rust. I paid maybe 5 euros for it, and the downside is that it cuts terribly... like you have to really force the drill to get a bite and it would burn the crap out of the wood, not to mention the bit gets very hot too.

So today I tried sharpening it, and found a guide somewhere and improved it a bit but it still burns the wood as it cuts. I filed the razor thing, the spur, and the teeth as well as the part on the rim. However I just ended up taking a saw file and filed some teeth into the rim instead, HUGE improvement and now the bit cut almost as well as that Fische bit that the shop sells for 20 euros a piece.

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Cat-gut strings are made from kitten guts, stretched out to near breaking point and then hardened with grue saliva. As a result these give a feeling of Pain and anguish whenever played, and often end up playing themselves backwards as part of satanic rituals.

Typhoon Guitars
http://www.typhoon-guitars.com

Reminds me a bit of this bit, Fisch Wave style http://www.axminster.co.uk/images/products/medium/701766_l.jpg at about $20 for a 15 mm.

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

are you sure it wasn't 20 pounds? I wish I paid 20 dollars for it.

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Cat-gut strings are made from kitten guts, stretched out to near breaking point and then hardened with grue saliva. As a result these give a feeling of Pain and anguish whenever played, and often end up playing themselves backwards as part of satanic rituals.

Typhoon Guitars
http://www.typhoon-guitars.com

I've completely worn out one 3/8" fostner bit (in 10 years), but Filippo's right about the larger sizes.

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A man hears what he wants to hear, and disreguards the rest. Paul Simon

I never bought sets... just bought them as needed. In Taiwan they are on average 10 dollars a piece for anything under 1", and it goes up a little bit as it gets larger. They are actually quite good. Not Fische good but it's good enough for general use. Don't know who makes them but they are made in Taiwan.

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Cat-gut strings are made from kitten guts, stretched out to near breaking point and then hardened with grue saliva. As a result these give a feeling of Pain and anguish whenever played, and often end up playing themselves backwards as part of satanic rituals.

Typhoon Guitars
http://www.typhoon-guitars.com

I only use a forstner bit to install tuners. I doubt it will ever wear out. I also used a one inch forstner bit to inlay two circular inlays into two different headstocks. That bit is probably good as new.

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http://www.CostaGuitars.com
PMoMC