Let's see your vintage drill bit indices

[Stuart in MN]

Adam Booth / Abom79 just posted a video about his vintage drill indexes the other day:

 

[Davefr]

Adam Booth / Abom79 just posted a video about his vintage drill indexes the other day:

Thanks for posting. Those indexes really look cool when they're fully populated with brand new shiny drill bits.

 

[fowldarr]

I was thinking about that, does anybody have a conversion chart for the closest fractional size to the older numbered system (what size is a '1' or a '7')

 

[akalian]

I was thinking about that, does anybody have a conversion chart for the closest fractional size to the older numbered system (what size is a '1' or a '7')

Is this what you are looking for?

.

 

[fowldarr]

Yes, I think so.

 

[Socket Pounder]

I was thinking about that, does anybody have a conversion chart for the closest fractional size to the older numbered system (what size is a '1' or a '7')

The numbered bits fill in between fractional bits. For when you need a drill bit just a hair smaller than, or larger than, **/**.

 

[larry_g]

I was thinking about that, does anybody have a conversion chart for the closest fractional size to the older numbered system (what size is a '1' or a '7')

The numbered and letter bit do not convert to fractional. The best chart I have come across is this one, http://media.guhring.com/documents/tech/Charts/CutTapDrill.pdf . From it you can find the hole size most likely to be made by a given drill bit, and the percentage of thread depth that you will end up with.

The one your looking for is this one, http://media.guhring.com/documents/tech/Charts/DecEquiv.pdf From that chart there are ~350 sizes under an inch.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[WagonHo!]

General twist drill display case. I’ve been using a Kennedy machinist box for “all” my drill bits, hole saws etc and I really like that it keeps things organized even a place for bits that need to be replaced or sharpened. Don’t know if I’ll change over to the dispenor case it’s got the original glass that is just asking for to be bumped and broken. A couple of bit conversion charts from a 60’s machine shop in Albuquerque, they’re really clean so must have been in the office.

 

[Burn1]

Finally found a NOS set of Cleveland Drills for the stand.

 

[Outlawmws]

Holy cow! That's impressive! Where did you find THAT?

 

[Visey]

Here is a Huot index I just picked up. Sorry about the cobwebs...

 

[jonshonda]

somebody sell me a cool drill index please. Looking for a nice older one that can lay down in a tool drawer.

 

[Outlawmws]

You need to be posting buy/Sell in the classifieds...

 

[454ragtop]

Found this Craftsman at an estate sale the other day, sadly the paint is flaking off badly, and taking the Craftsman logo with it.

 

[Burn1]

Does anyone know what brand of 29pcs standard drill bit set has a full profile shank for use in a drill index? All the box stores I have looked at have reduced shank dia on the larger bits.
Wish to find a new set that all bits fit properly up to the 1/2 bit in 29pcs set.
Your help is greatly appreciated.

 

[pepi]

somebody sell me a cool drill index please. Looking for a nice older one that can lay down in a tool drawer.

Look here
https://www.travers.com/drill-gages/p/63730/?lite=true&pricelistname=SITE

 

[Burn1]

Bingo! Jobber length bits straight shank.
Thank you Pepi!

 

[Outlawmws]

Does anyone know what brand of 29pcs standard drill bit set has a full profile shank for use in a drill index? All the box stores I have looked at have reduced shank dia on the larger bits.
Wish to find a new set that all bits fit properly up to the 1/2 bit in 29pcs set.
Your help is greatly appreciated.

Last I heard Norseman made top quality bits.

 

[crguy]

I just got this 1912 Patent Peerless drill index. Adjustable legs on the back panel, and keyholes for wall mounting (?). The Peerless name is also on the inside of the back panel (?).
What really confuses me about this is the way the sizes read from left to right, And right to left in the same row?

The only other picture I found of one of these was on Worthpoint, and the sizes all read in one direction on that one. It also had one less row, which may have been an option as each row (and the front & back panel) are all bolted together.

Any ideas on why the sizes read that way?

 

[Oregon rock crusher]

That is a very nice and unusual index crguy. I think that is the only vintage index I've seen that has more than one hole for each drill size, especially the easily broken smaller sizes. Pure speculation but putting the fractional sizes sideways like that let them use a much larger font that covered the grouped drill sizes and it sure is easy to read. Looks like a good and rare design feature. You've sure got some neat indexes and I think this one rates high on the desireable list. Ed.

 

[tombell572]

crguy, that is indeed an unusual drill index. I have a number of drill indexes (indices?) but nothing remotely resembling yours--a real find.

Tom B.

 

[h~moto]

I can't answer your question as to why the sizes read the way they do, but I love the way the sizes are arranged. Each bit is 1/8" larger than the size in front of it. The system puts all 16ths in one row, two rows of 32nds and four rows of 64ths.

 

[crguy]

I actually acquired 2 drill indexes recently. This one had to be repainted. Made by the Morse Twist Drill & Mach. Co., it holds taper shank drills from 3/16" to 1".

I have a full set of taper shank drills in a wall mounted index that I made. Some of my drills step up in shank size before the holes in the index do, so I couldn't completely fill it up, but the pic will give you an idea.

Sizes are stamped in the nickel plated brass strips on top.

It took an impressive amount of patternmaker work for the castings on this. The top plate is a separate piece from the rest of the "X".

Anybody else seen one of these?

 

[rshadd]

General Hardware Mfg. Co.

 

[rshadd]

Huot Drill Stand Dispenser #1-60

 

[Davefr]

I actually acquired 2 drill indexes recently. This one had to be repainted. Made by the Morse Twist Drill & Mach. Co., it holds taper shank drills from 3/16" to 1".

I have a full set of taper shank drills in a wall mounted index that I made. Some of my drills step up in shank size before the holes in the index do, so I couldn't completely fill it up, but the pic will give you an idea.

Sizes are stamped in the nickel plated brass strips on top.

It took an impressive amount of patternmaker work for the castings on this. The top plate is a separate piece from the rest of the "X".

Anybody else seen one of these?

That's an impressive piece and a great restoration!!

 

[454ragtop]

Really like that taper shank index crguy, as well as that other unique one you just posted. New Bedford is only about 15 miles from here, you'd think there would be more of them around, but I've never seen one.

 

[Davefr]

A few new additions. Pretty scarce Raised Globe CTD, Morse and what I think is a homemade brass carousel.

 

[crguy]

A few new additions. Pretty scarce Raised Globe CTD, Morse and what I think is a homemade brass carousel.

Nice! Does the brass one turn?

Did you get the CTD off Ebay recently?

 

[Davefr]

Nice! Does the brass one turn?

Did you get the CTD off Ebay recently?

Yes and yes.

 

[crguy]

Yes and yes.

I had that CTD on my watch list, but decided not to bid. Haven't seen another like it as far as I can recall.

 

[Davefr]

I had that CTD on my watch list, but decided not to bid. Haven't seen another like it as far as I can recall.

I've only seen one other and I "chickened out".

 

[Maui]

What methods have you guys used to successfully clean these metal drill bit indices? I’ve got several Cleveland Twist Drill indices that I have been wanting to clean up, but I’m not sure what the best approach would be, and I don’t want to damage the original finish on them. Would evaporust be a good candidate?

Maui

 

[d42jeep]

I just used a brass hand wire brush to clean up this one I picked up at an estate sale today. I blew out the holes for the bits with compressed air and wiped it off with brake cleaner. I hadn’t seen any interesting ones lately but I had to grab this one.
-Don

 

[crguy]

I just used a brass hand wire brush to clean up this one I picked up at an estate sale today. I blew out the holes for the bits with compressed air and wiped it off with brake cleaner. I hadn’t seen any interesting ones lately but I had to grab this one.
-Don

Nice! I like the decorative touches. I have one of those myself.

 

[Davefr]

A 3pc Morse "select-a-matic" set. Interesting concept but I'm not sure it's all that efficient to quickly select a bit. I wonder if the intend of these was for carrying around in a portable tool box?

 

[d42jeep]

I spent some time with the Drill Doctor sharpening old bits and going through my spares and am just missing 4 bits from filling up my new index. Good rainy day project.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

Wow, two indices in two weeks. Today was a number mate to my Cleveland Twist Drill fractional index. Found it at a little Berkeley estate sale this morning.
-Don

 

[gearheadglen]

Its been a while since I've posted. Wanted to post a couple I have not seen represented yet. First is a Montgomery Wards, the second pic are 2 Wells Brothers (which are super early and very rare). The last picture is a NOS Union Card index. I have a metric Standard Tool Co that I'll have to remember to get a picture of so I can post it.

 

[Davefr]

Its been a while since I've posted. Wanted to post a couple I have not seen represented yet. First is a Montgomery Wards, the second pic are 2 Wells Brothers (which are super early and very rare). The last picture is a NOS Union Card index. I have a metric Standard Tool Co that I'll have to remember to get a picture of so I can post it.

Wow, those are really cool!!!