cobalt drill bits, cheap vs expensive

[tpolley]

i'm looking to buy a set of cobalt drill bits. i notice horrible freight has a 29 piece set for around 50 dollarshttp://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=36891. a few years ago i bought a 29 piece set of titanium drill bits for around 12 or 13 dollars that has served me well. i don't abuse them however i've broken a few being a dumbass and holding the drill one handed. i've drilled thru 3/8 steel plenty of times and never had one dull. i always use oil. anyhoo, northern tool also has a 29 piece set for 69 dollars http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_13793_13793 but they also have a set for 99 dollarshttp://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_7899_7899. i don't mind paying a little extra for a better quality set of bits but in this case is there that much of a difference?

[Bolster]

Good question! I'll be following this thread for answers.

[chadster1]

The main difference between the two sets at Northern Tool is that the $69 one is a 21 piece set and the $99 one is a 29 piece set.

[-B-]

Judging by the pictures the HF are fakes that may only be coated and the NT ones both look like real cobalt drills. I hope you are aware that cobalt drills shatter usually long before they become dull they shatter at the same rate as a HSS bit gets dull when not used in a drill press. Any side load or of torque pressure and shards will be flying. Usually you only need cobalt for drilling hardened materials I rarely use cobalt drills in the hardened materials I have to drill CRMO, 6/4 Ti, grade 8 bolts, ect. , when I do they are center bits to start my holes for machine length high quality HSS bits in 117 % or 135% . Speed and feeds are the keys to drilling hard materials the bigger the hole the slower you go.

[Stuey]

Most likely the 21 pc set is from 1/16" thru 3/8" in 64ths while the 29pc is 1/16" thru 1/2" as advertised.

As chad mentioned, the 8 bits from 3/8" thru 1/2" account for the cost difference. Makes sense - larger bits cost more.

[tpolley]

yeah... i thought i read the description better than that. i didn't see that one is 21pc and the other is 29pc. so the horrible freight bits are likely coated in cobalt and the northern tool bits are cobalt all the way thru? i wondered how easily a hard drill bit would break in a hand drill. maybe i'll just stick to a good set of titanium bits.

[Uncle Buck]

All right, remember this lesson. "I will not buy cutting tools, bit, taps & dies, lathe cutters end mills, easy outs, bandsaw blades, hack saw blades, or even sand paper from Harbor Freight." Now, before anyone thinks I am pooping on HF parade, I am not. I have some tools from Harbor Freight that have performed flawlessly through the years for me, and I would and do highly reccommend those tools. Cutters and abrasives are not part of those materials. Never ever buy these supplies from HF or you will either F up what you are working on, or injure yourself. Leave cheap cutters alone and buy only quality cutting tools. Even used and re-sharpened cutters are vastly superior to any cheap or budget priced cutters. You can even skimp on the drill or drill press or other such machine that drives the cutter, but never the cutter. Buy the very best you can afford. Cheap will always perform to it's standard of quality, particularly in cutting tools and abrasives, there is zero room for crap there.

BTW: That also includes Northern, Enco, MSC, Travers, Grainger etc. cheap crap is cheap crap, it will not matter who sold it to you.

Stick with the better known brands such as Norseman, Greenfield, Cleveland, Triumph, and several others I should have here that are escaping my ol memory at this moment.

[W-Cummins]

a few years ago i bought a 29 piece set of titanium drill bits for around 12 or 13 dollars that has served me well. i don't abuse them however i've broken a few being a dumbass and holding the drill one handed. i've drilled thru 3/8 steel plenty of times and never had one dull.

maybe i'll just stick to a good set of titanium bits.

So lets see you purchased a POS set of drill bits that are TIN coated ( probably not even HSS) and they are working out ok for your needs. I too think, you should stick with the "Good" set. Can you just get another$12 set, to replace the non abused but only slightly broken ones?? :thumbup:

William....

[Bolster]

Might you want to invest in a drill doctor for resharpening? I don't sweat dulling a bit so much if I can resharpen it in a few minutes. I realize that doesn't do much for the bits that are TiN coated...which is why I just go with HSS.