Fingerholes on cabinet door

[TJJirak]

Hi, I want to make fingerholes in a sliding cabinet door.  I don't want the hole to go all the way through the door.  But my forstner bits have a pilot bit, and so they leave a divot in the bottom, which I don't want.  Any way to make the fingerhole without a divot? 

[Von]

Drill almost to depth with a forstner bit and then use a small bearing-guided router bit to clean up the bottom?

[TJJirak]

great idea, Von.  Thanks

[drzaius]

Buy the appropriate size of forstner bit and then grind the spur off. Then use a template or drill press to locate the bit while you drill the hole.

[Ronn W]

I would use a router bushing to clean up the bottom if you have a set.  I have found these very useful.  Drill a guide hole in a thin piece of scrap and clamp it in place where you want the hole. Over size the guide hole so that the hole in the door is the size you want and use the router to rout your hole.

 

https://www.amazon.com/Oskool-Router-Template-Bushing-Guides/dp/B07H935NT6/ref=sr_1_2?adgrpid=1231454011834326&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ouQ1_VfNqbIYpk1IXvKvgg10iTV56JPHW6OLK41Nd5E7SgcXC81ibQ5TMQrIOd1bpEvvDUADtOnLuOda-FyI34iPb9X60omMlYslQD63RjDp0oFS67_w50-a1OUnEsijL9CbYeiCeQLYoyGCLatSCEFt7QZ9dS8Y3rugUBhiwF0-qn8Jw5Gu4TPcvTe9TNyCNcFN-N617E15THXw-ChEUbdm9UXxKWbxgpuMUykaiMg-ohVp5nELfnMaxqBVQD87LDB5F0kPNOkRTPSog5JRNVd_gnGJEw-I-e2iwWtKzxg.xJ2QOrMgQQ5ORHZLOLBP0v_dZtSF5t45adaE4l1_0hY&dib_tag=se&hvadid=76966005661710&hvbmt=bb&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=108786&hvnetw=s&hvqmt=b&hvtargid=kwd-76966120157258%3Aloc-190&hydadcr=10954_13590308&keywords=guide+bushing+for+dewalt+router&qid=1713295433&sr=8-2

[wtnhighlander]

@Ronn W's method works with a pattern bit in the router that has the bearing at the shank end of the cutter. That eliminates the need to offset the hole size, if you have such a bit.

You might also use the forstner bit, and clamp a block across a narrow chisel to serve as a depth gauge so you can scrape the bottom smooth.

[gee-dub]

Yep.  Multiple choice.  Drill a starter hole with your keeper Forstner bit then finish the depth with your Harbor Freight Forstner bit with the center spur ground off . . . or . . . use a bowl bit.

[Mark J]

I've heard of people using a plunge router to make holes.  You'd need to fix the router firmly in place.  And the bigger the bit, the more torque to fight.  3/4" ?