GOOD Drill Bit Set

bowtieman55

bowtieman55

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 25, 2006
Location
Edenton, NC
Besides the tool trucks, what's a good quality brand of drill bits? We'd like a broad range, without the worries of breaking the small ones on the first use.
 
Precision makes some good stuff. Check with MSC industrial supply. I think their sets are around $150, but its good stuff. Learning how to sharpen by hand on a wheel is the trick to making any drill last a while. I'm sure there are videos. Lots of practice.
 
Even crappy drills should last. What are you doing exactly? Maybe I can give a suggestion.
 
Order from MSC or McMaster Carr. More $ but well worth it! Great customer service from both.
 
I got some good ones from Fastenal . They are for drilling thru decently thick metal. Not Flippen cheap but worth it to me.

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So $139 is crazy priced off a tool truck but you guys are spending more?
 
If you take care of them, go slow, use oil, the cheap stuff works and lasts. I use the HF bits...last month they had their $25 or 30 set for 9.99 with coupon.

I drill in mostly 1/8 up to 1" thick steel...most often 1/4 to 1/2 thick. Holes mostly 3/16, 1/4, 1/2, 5/8". I resharpen the half and 5/8 as needed. Smaller ones just go in the scrap bin. They have packs of 7 or 10 at HF in 1/8, 3/16, 1/4 etc....catch them on sale and use coupon, and it's not worth the time to sharpen them.

Is this for hand-drill or drill press? Whichever, just go slow and even. You don't need a lot of pressure, let the bit do the work.
 
I caught the dewalt pilot points on sale at lowes about 7 years ago. I've broke a few that I've had to replace but been pretty happy with them overall.
 
bowtieman55 said:
Besides the tool trucks, what's a good quality brand of drill bits? We'd like a broad range, without the worries of breaking the small ones on the first use.
Click to expand...
Greenfield, Cleveland, Precision, there are a whole bunch. MSC is ok, but usually overpriced. McMaster is a good source, but they don't have specific mfg's listed which can be a little aggravating. Grainger/Fastenal/Bryant Supply/Motion Industries all carry decent stuff too. I like shopping at www.travers.com because they have a location in Greenville, SC and have a good website. Go for the flattest angle you can find (135 degree is better than 118 in my opinion). Most modern inserted carbide drills are typically about 140degree included angle. They are that way for a reason. I have 3 collections of drill bit in my shop, 1 HF/Northern/Lowes drill index for using with the hand drill and any non-important applications on the drill press or mill, a collection of various odd size made in US drills for when I need a good hole or have a hard material, and a full index of US made bits with all fractional, letter, and number drills from 1/32-1/2" that only get used in the mill or lathe, never by hand, and only in the drill press if I don't have the right size in another set.
 
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Thanks everybody. Now we've got some starting points.
 
If you're drilling by hand, you're going to break small bits...that's just how it goes. TSC has on sale right now (or had) for ~$10 a set of 10 each bits from 1/16 to 1/4". Then go buy 10 packs of 1/4, 3/16 and 3/8 kobalt bits from lowes. I've got the fancy drill dr and use it for larger bits, but for the small stuff it's not worth buying expensive and you can't sharpen them...so just buy a lot. As for larger bits, buy a sharpener and don't worry about the brand...a mac or snap on warranty on a $40 bit isn't going to do you any good at 9pm Friday night. (no offense snappy).
All that being said, the dewalt bits are worthless.
 
Some of the drill indexes we have at work at 400-500 bucks. I was thinking 150-175, but I was very wrong.
 
I bought the big Nitride coated set from HF several years ago. (10 +)
I used them a lot - on the lathe , air/electric drill, drillpress - and now it's about time to replace them.

The thing is is HOW you use them.
Speed control, oil ( or cutting fluid ) pilot holes and the such go a long way.
In fact, I buy the 2 or 3 dollar pack of small bits just to use for pilot hole.


Matt
 
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