Best drill bits for the money?

RegalX · Jan 31, 2013

I am looking for a new set of drill bits, I've used Milwaukee, Dewalt, Irwin, Craftsman etc.... I've came to the conclusion that the quick starting style ***** and can't really be sharpened. I just want a solid set for less than $100. What do you guys use? recommend?

Thunderbisciut · Jan 31, 2013

That's going to depend on what you're looking for. What sizes, lengths, material to drill, etc.

I'm thinking about trying these next.

ricleh · Jan 31, 2013

Norseman Magnum Super Premium

CNGsaves · Jan 31, 2013

I can tell you what NOT to buy . . . Black & Decker and others at big box stores. They'll work in wood for a while, but I've broken more bits doing simple wood/steel drilling in last few years, than prior 20+ years!

Good ones for me are garage sale old school bits back when steel was really steel.

Curious if anyone uses the Drill Doctor to give new life to dull bits?

czgunner · Jan 31, 2013

I'm not sure that they are great, but I bought a set from Mac because he said lifetime warranty. Sure enough, I've broken some of the small bits and he replaces them.

aaron h · Jan 31, 2013

i use black and decker or hitachi or whatever from lowes and sharpen with drill doctor. it works well once you get your sharpening technique down and spend the time to sharpen them, but i still break alot of said bits too

dgreen1069 · Jan 31, 2013

I've had good luck with the Dewalt bits sold at Home Depot.

RegalX · Feb 1, 2013

Thunderbisciut said:
That's going to depend on what you're looking for. What sizes, lengths, material to drill, etc.

Aluminum, mild steel........ I can't see needing to drill much larger than 1/2, a hole saw now and then. My drill has a 3/8 chuck and my drill press has a 1/2 chuck....

ianguilly · Feb 1, 2013

HF cobalt bits, no joke.

0.511MeV · Feb 1, 2013

I use Chicago-Latrobe, because that is what McMaster-Carr sends. I like them just fine.

Jure · Feb 1, 2013

RUKO hss co (gold)

onewaydave · Feb 1, 2013

CNGsaves said:
Curious if anyone uses the Drill Doctor to give new life to dull bits?

Uh-yup. I love finding old junk bits taped in a bundle for a buck or so. All dull as can be. Just watch for damage to the shank, but even that can be worked around sometimes.

The Drill Doctor has paid for itself many times over.

You also occasionally find some odd items in the bundles, like reamers.

Dave.

mobiledynamics · Feb 1, 2013

I don't like buying sets. Jobber grade bits in the sizes I use...

CWP1616L · Feb 2, 2013

Here's a Norseman set on sale for $89.95 LINK

shoturtle · Feb 2, 2013

for the money craftsman colbalt bits set when on sale or syw bonus or discount. It is a pretty big set with 29pc.

lowbucktruck · Feb 2, 2013

CNGsaves said:
I can tell you what NOT to buy . . . Black & Decker and others at big box stores. They'll work in wood for a while, but I've broken more bits doing simple wood/steel drilling in last few years, than prior 20+ years!

Good ones for me are garage sale old school bits back when steel was really steel.

Curious if anyone uses the Drill Doctor to give new life to dull bits?

Yeah, same here! The only drill bits I've had any luck with from the big box stores (Lowes, Home Depot) are the Dewalt ones. The rest are really disposable, just break under anything but really light use. Don't think I am abusing them that much.

The old/vintage twist drill bits seem to hold up better. Guess they didn't make bits out of pot metal back then. :lol:

I ordered some of those Norseman bits, have to try them out. Definitely need to save up some slush money for a Drill Doctor!

Steinmetz · Feb 2, 2013

HSS only. The Drill Doctor is great for dull twist drills. Much better that the old way (bench grinder).

TAMPAGT07 · Feb 2, 2013

ianguilly said:
HF cobalt bits, no joke.

They really get great reviews...Quite possibly my next HF purchase... :beer:

Skin · Feb 2, 2013

in general cobalt HSS (generally just abbreviated Cobalt) are better for high speed metal drilling. Just make sure they're quality and not cobalt "coated". Cobalt coated and titanium coated bits cannot be sharpened so once the finish is gone the bit cuts as well as whatever the base metal is.

kald · Feb 2, 2013

Milwaukee Cobalt for steel!!!!!

GRX · Feb 2, 2013

Best for the money? There are numerous threads here at GJ about how drill bits are not what they used to be far as quality goes. Lots of great used bits out there that are just dull or have broken tips. I am a HUGE proponent of buying older bits at garage sales or swap meets, then re-sharpening them yourself. A bench grinder is a your best bet for this. If you know how to use one that is. Otherwise get a drill doc and forgo specialized sharpening for specific materials.

See my drill bit sharpening thread for more info:

"Love the smell of burning HSS in the evening / drill bit sharpening"
www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=135850

jimmycrackcorn · Feb 2, 2013

Norseman super premiums
+3

RegalX · Feb 2, 2013

The Norseman bits seem really nice, however I hadn't really thought about sharpening the bits I have. I have a nice bench grinder with both course and fine stones....I'll have to do some research on properly sharpening them...

woody 73 · Feb 2, 2013

That Chicago Latrobe set for $135.00 dollars seems a bit high but maybe prices have gone up.

The Norseman set is indeed a very good quality set for the money.

But like some others have said and I agree 100% I pick them up used by the bundle and sharpen them by hand on the bench grinder (larger bits). For the smaller bits I use the drill doctor because my eyes are not what they used to be.

I did buy a few of the HF drill bits from many years ago (not the cobalt ones) but all I could say is a wad of gum went into their make-up, maybe they have gotten better over the years?

cookefab · Feb 3, 2013

Ridgid cobalt from HD, w/ the exception of the 1/2"...can't seem to keep the 1/2" alive drilling anything thicker than 1/4" cold rolled... If you break them, and keep the receipt, its worth arguing since Ridgid is a HD brand...I've won 9/10 for 8+ years now...and I love my SO cobalt set, but its not in the OPs price range....wish I knew who the OEM was for those...probably ALOT less...

purplezr2 · Feb 3, 2013

cookefab said:
Ridgid cobalt from HD, w/ the exception of the 1/2"...can't seem to keep the 1/2" alive drilling anything thicker than 1/4" cold rolled... If you break them, and keep the receipt, its worth arguing since Ridgid is a HD brand...I've won 9/10 for 8+ years now...and I love my SO cobalt set, but its not in the OPs price range....wish I knew who the OEM was for those...probably ALOT less...

The snap on thunderbit is made by Triumph drill bits, I know that.

spotco2 · Feb 3, 2013

I bought a large drill index many years ago and spent a paycheck for it. Over the years I've figured out that I really needed 3 instead of just one.

I like the Dewalt bits that come in the kit from Home Depot for most general stuff. It's compact, inexpensive and the bits cut nice when they are new. As they get dull, bend or break, I just pick up replacement singles and replace what needs replacing. I usually go through 3 or 4 of these kits a year.

The large index gets bits replaced by jobber bits from Grainger or Fastenal or whatever the hardware store down the road has (usually Irwin).

I've got another set that is just bulk bits of multiple popular sizes for cutting steel only. These get abused and resharpened with a green disk on an angle grinder.

The key to keeping a good set of bits is to learn how to use them. Learn what speed you need to be using for the material you are cutting and how much pressure needs to be applied. Also proper use of coolant or cutting fluid will make your bits last much longer before the tips get to the point that you can not sharpen them any more.

I had a guy one day that I watched waste bit after bit because he did not know what he was doing trying to drill though a piece of 1" plate. I tried to give him some tips and he told me that I didn't know what I was talking about. I pulled out a 3/32" bit and buried it all the way to the chuck in my drill in the side of the plate, then cross drilled the plate with the same bit. He became a believer in cutting fluid that day.

BFHtime · Feb 3, 2013

Ivy brand Cobalt bits, not cheap for a full set, worth it. I wonder if they still make them. These work great on almost anything but tool steel, (machine shop tool steel). Just keep them cool with cutting oil.

alfazer · Feb 3, 2013

My side of the pond it's Dormer or Presto that are the best ones I have.

Best drill bits for the money?

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Banned

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member