using cobalt gold finish drill set as your "general" set

[sandmanxx]

Wondering about cobalt gold finish drills as a general drill set.

Does it really matter on these for "home" DIY fab work in garage. I know/see they are labeled as special type of drill set. What is it about them that makes them not a general use set for garage?? The gold finish lol .. Serious question?

I understand about looking at chips while drilling and using oil an keeping hole clean and press speed control.

Reason is just if you find a reasonable deal on net..

Hertel drill sets any good?

 

[uart]

Wondering about cobalt gold finish drills as a general drill set.

Do you have a particular brand in mind sandman?

My opinion is that the coating is about the last thing to consider when buying drill bits. No coating is going to transform a poorly made drill bit into a good one, so worry about the underlying metal and quality of manufacture foremost, and think of the various coatings as more of an afterthought.

 

[cbracer]

Re: using cobalt gold finish drill set as your "general" det

Cobalt material is very hard and designed to drill harder materials like steel. HSS is what most consider general purpose drill bits, but they don't work as well on hard materials. HSS typically though can have a sharper edge and therefore cuts better on soft materials than a Cobalt drill bit. You might not tell much difference for general DIY type stuff, so if price is great why not? I assume the bits are full cobalt? I've never heard of cobalt coating. The gold finish is just a coating and likely will wear off eventually.

 

[uart]

Re: using cobalt gold finish drill set as your "general" det

I assume the bits are full cobalt? I've never heard of cobalt coating. The gold finish is just a coating and likely will wear off eventually.

I assumed the opposite, as the op said "Wondering about cobalt gold finish"

Yes unfortunately it's quite common these days for sellers to claim cobalt as part of the coating when the drill bit itself is not HSSco.

Examples:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lot-of-20-3...balt-Coated-/161738336042?hash=item25a85b272a

http://www.ebay.com/itm/5pc-Bit-Ste...alt-Coating-/251715464367?hash=item3a9b692caf

 

[sandmanxx]

Re: using cobalt gold finish drill set as your "general" det

Thanks for taking time to reply..

HERTEL is the brand I as asking about.

Cobalt ( I assume it's a % added when making metal "for" making drill bits"

As for drilling - whatever I have lol.. Seriously thou, the usual steel stuff you find in big box stores or automotive steel, alum, etc.

One point I did not know is about the tip being sharper on one type.. Just a note and don't read into that statement lol.

Basically I have no real set and whatever I can find that looks good "at that time" I may just click and buy.

Cobalt
Tin
blk oxide
no finish
this finish

Just want a nice "larger then 20 - 50 piece" set and make it work.

 

[sandmanxx]

Re: using cobalt gold finish drill set as your "general" det

AS A EXAMPLE:

Say you find something like this for say $300ish .. But you set out to just get a HSS blk oxide general propose drill set. Then you started looking and it's like you walked into a candy factory

135 pt cobalt Hertel set for $513 but they have it for $420. Now you find it at a clearing house for $300ish

http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INPDFF?PMPAGE=22&PMITEM=07574999

 

[uart]

Re: using cobalt gold finish drill set as your "general" det

I don't know much about Hertel, but I believe they are good quality US made bits. That set is fairly costly, but yeah it's a 115 pc set and it will be cobalt steel (HSSco) and not just a coating.

Typically you can get away with just a 29 pc set in 1/64 increments for most things, except sometimes for tap drilling where you might need letter/number drills to get the optimal size. Maybe you could try out something in a 29 pc set and make sure you're happy with the quality before spending over $500 on the 115 pc set? The cobalt drill bits don't always perform better in other than very hard steels.

I've never used them, but a LOT of people here report positive experiences with the Norseman "high molybdenum super premium" bits.

 

[motorheadsdiygarage]

Re: using cobalt gold finish drill set as your "general" det

I you can find a Dormer Precision Twist Drill Set you can't go wrong.

http://www.dormerpramet.com/en-us/Pages/default.aspx?country=us

http://jwdonchin.com/catalogs/cutting-tools/Precision%20Twist%20Drill%20Catalog.pdf

 

[uart]

Re: using cobalt gold finish drill set as your "general" det

Hi sandman. To be honest I don't know how these compare to the Hertel ones you linked above. But these ones (see link below) cost quite a lot less money and do generally get good reviews in this forum.

https://www.harryepstein.com/index.php/catalogsearch/result/?q=norseman+drill+bits

 

[2jz4me]

Re: using cobalt gold finish drill set as your "general" det

Im sure ill get flamed for this but the harbor freight set has served me well. I dont know how fast the cut is compared to other sets but I have drilled a lot if different steel and aluminum with them and guess what, they drill through.
http://www.harborfreight.com/115-pc-cobalt-drill-bit-set-61886.html

 

[sandmanxx]

Re: using cobalt gold finish drill set as your "general" det

I don't know much about Hertel, but I believe they are good quality US made bits. That set is fairly costly, but yeah it's a 115 pc set and it will be cobalt steel (HSSco) and not just a coating.

Typically you can get away with just a 29 pc set in 1/64 increments for most things, except sometimes for tap drilling where you might need letter/number drills to get the optimal size. Maybe you could try out something in a 29 pc set and make sure you're happy with the quality before spending over $500 on the 115 pc set? The cobalt drill bits don't always perform better in other than very hard steels.

I've never used them, but a LOT of people here report positive experiences with the Norseman "high molybdenum super premium" bits.

Yea you may be right

I may just get a set of high moly bits.. Now if Norseman has them in machine screw length

 

[sandmanxx]

Re: using cobalt gold finish drill set as your "general" det

Im sure ill get flamed for this but the harbor freight set has served me well. I dont know how fast the cut is compared to other sets but I have drilled a lot if different steel and aluminum with them and guess what, they drill through.
http://www.harborfreight.com/115-pc-cobalt-drill-bit-set-61886.html

I was there last week and saw a smaller set. I may just get the smallest set in addition to whatever I get - and see/use the HF and its result

 

[uart]

Re: using cobalt gold finish drill set as your "general" det

I may just get a set of high moly bits.. Now if Norseman has them in machine screw length

Ok I just now realized that the Hertel set you linked to were screw machine length. Yeah the extra rigidity of screw machine length is really good where you don't need longer bits for depth or access.

There seems to be a lot less choice out there when you're looking screw machine length. Maybe others can make some suggestions.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Re: using cobalt gold finish drill set as your "general" det

I got a deal on some Neiko "gold" bits about 10 years ago. I think they have stay sharper longer.

Neiko drill index ****. Buy a Huot.

 

[sandmanxx]

Re: using cobalt gold finish drill set as your "general" det

Yea it seems so on machine screw length shopping =

 

[sandmanxx]

Re: using cobalt gold finish drill set as your "general" det

Maybe I can compromise and find a mechanic length set!

 

[uart]

Re: using cobalt gold finish drill set as your "general" det

Yea it seems so on machine screw length shopping =

Only a small 21 pc set, but this machine screw set is available from Amazon for just $53.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B000LDD6EI/ref=dp_olp_new?ie=UTF8&condition=new

 

[scissorman]

The BEST drill bits you'll ever buy are 135* split point Cobalt. Precision Twist drills are very good (they are Dormer brand).

 

[ttpete]

Re: using cobalt gold finish drill set as your "general" det

Cobalt's not necessarily gold. Originally, tooling with a gold color was coated with titanium nitride (TiN). It's very hard and helps keep a sharp edge on the tool.

I use regular high speed steel (HSS) drills for most work. US made, of course.

 

[oldldh]

I bought the 29 pc set at Home Depot...

And...

So far, so good...

The Black Oxide has 29 pcs...Model # 48-89-2802...Price $ 59.97...

The Cobalt set has 14 pcs...Model # 48-89-0026...Price $ 64.97...

Those gigantic 115 pc cobalt sets cost a ton of money (The Harbor Freight set is "on sale" for a hundred bucks!!!), and I don't think I would ever need all those sizes...If you do need them, they are the only way for you to go...

Good luck in your search...

 

[royesses]

Re: using cobalt gold finish drill set as your "general" det

I was there last week and saw a smaller set. I may just get the smallest set in addition to whatever I get - and see/use the HF and its result

I've had that set for about 3 years. It is a quality set. I use it for general purpose and have had no problems with it. Cobalt drills are a little bit more brittle than HSS. They can retain their hardness at elevated temperatures so are great for drilling steel and stainless. Great general purpose set. If you break one you can replace it with bits from Amazon, Drills and cutters dot com Victor machinery or just about any online supplier.

 

[FMC1959]

Yea you may be right

I may just get a set of high moly bits.. Now if Norseman has them in machine screw length

Check out the Norseman website, you will see the have Jobber, Mechanic, and Machine Screw length
http://www.norsemandrill.com/catalogNorseman.php

Also check out this PDF Catalog they have, they have just about every drill bit conceivable, and small to large set sizes. Start on page 4, some good info on what to get.
http://www.norsemandrill.com/pdf/catalog/norsemanDrillBits 2015-1.pdf

My 2 cents for what it is worth, you can get a Cobalt set at anytime for specific jobs that require them, but for overall drilling into anything (wood, steel, iron, and all around any material), the MolyB bits are your best bit.

In fact I would suggest a 29 piece set of the MolyB and then get some el-cheapo sets (multiples). Use the cheapies for any job and save the MolyB's for anything that may be a bit tougher material and you need a good quality bit, or an instance where precision is needed.....anytime you think it is necessary.

I have some Norseman MolyB's and some other Cobalt sets I keep in a drawer for anytime I need a good bit. Then I have multiple sets of super cheapies; if the break or dull, I just chuck them in the garbage and grab another.