1/4" hex drill bits

[richfinn]

Looking for recommendations, for minor metalwork jobs like drilling off screw heads etc. would prefer short/jobber length, need to be metric sizes.

 

[nadogail]

I have some that can be used in my Stanley Spiral Ratchet Screwdriver, they came from Harbor Freight.

 

[richfinn]

I have some that can be used in my Stanley Spiral Ratchet Screwdriver, they came from Harbor Freight.

Thanks man, unfortunately we don't have Harbour Freight in the UK Yet (I'm not sure why they haven't expanded overseas actually. We could potentially become multi-millionaires if we brought it over though ) I will check Machine Mart and see if they have the same thing

 

[darkzero]

I find that there's not a big selection for good drill bits with 1/4" hex shanks except those from the well known cordless tool manufactures. And even though they are smaller piece sets & overpriced in my opinion. And in metric, forget it, not from here in the US.

I rarely drill with my impact driver so I won't buy drill bits with 1/4 hex shank. And finding individual replacements isn't as easy to find or cheap. Now that I'm working back in the automotive related field again, I'm using 3 flat shank cobalt with my cordless drill at work. At home I use standard round shanks in my drill press, mill, & lathe.

I do have a set of the cheaper 1/4 hex shank drills from HF but they aren't very good quality. I keep them with my "home" impact driver just in case. I rarely carry my cordless drill with my impact driver (outside of work) unless I know I'm gonna need it for sure.

 

[dnschmidt]

Why do they need to be 1/4" hex? Why not simply use machine screw length in a normal drill? In America I know of no short metric hex bits from anybody.

 

[KnurledNut]

https://www.milwaukeetool.com/products/48-89-4861

 

[BillK]

I might be wrong but it looks to me like those bits would never run as true as a normal bit. Not really sure what the reason would be to ever use them ?

 

[richfinn]

Why do they need to be 1/4" hex? Why not simply use machine screw length in a normal drill? In America I know of no short metric hex bits from anybody.

I already have a pretty good selection of conventional drill bits (PRESTO) , I'm kinda looking to perfect my compact mobile kit as much as possible with a small 1/4" hex drill/driver and my impact driver.

I want the shorter length so I can be as compact as possible without any breakage hopefully

 

[Steve_P]

I have a Ryobi inch set that I bought for some reason and almost never use- I guess they seemed like a good idea at the time.

To me these are more suited for typical homeowner, don't have a real set of tools, use like drilling a hole in the wall for mounting a picture hook. YMMV

 

[richfinn]

I might be wrong but it looks to me like those bits would never run as true as a normal bit. Not really sure what the reason would be to ever use them ?

That's 100% correct, I just need something fairly decent that will work in my 12v screwdriver for emergencies like drilling the odd broken bolt/screw/rivet out occasionally in the smallest package I can find.

 

[RTM]

That's 100% correct, I just need something fairly decent that will work in my 12v screwdriver for emergencies like drilling the odd broken bolt/screw/rivet out occasionally in the smallest package I can find.

With you here. I have a few hex drill bits, and they only get used for household **** in my MKE power screwdriver. Mine aren’t stubbies tho, closer to regular length.

 

[Dave455]

I understand the requirement.

It’s pretty much where I am, if I’m working away from base I can often get away with just taking my impact driver.

Coming from the engineering world I’m sensitive to drill bits, and sadly most of the hex shank bits readily available seem to be shite of the highest order.

These are fairly new from Bosch. I haven’t tried them so don’t know what they are like.


These Fisch bits seem to be excellent, and are the only ones I really like so far. I’ve only used them on wood and plastic so can’t comment on their durability in metal, but they are HSS.

 

[Retired dozer fixer]

I have a set of hex drill bits that stay in 1/4” impact case. Handy for drilling pilot holes for screws then switch to screw driving bit. Works great for smaller jobs.

 

[mike93lx]

How about step bits?

 

[KnurledNut]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/DEWALT-DT5...m-Brushes/dp/B01BU0HDLW/?tag=atomicindustr-21

 

[Chrome Vanadium Cody]

Watching this thread, if anybody has good suggestions I’d love to hear. I use stubby ones of these a lot in right angle drill attachments and haven’t found any I’m happy with. Tried a few brands and the quality always *****. My alternative has been threaded shank drill bits in a right angle air drill. Better quality bits are available but the drill wants to rip my arm off when it binds.

 

[mrjaw14]

That's the rub isn't it. like the idea of drilling with an impact driver for portable kits, but without the clutch to break torque when it binds it can hurt you on larger bits.

 

[KnurledNut]

That's the rub isn't it. like the idea of drilling with an impact driver for portable kits, but without the clutch to break torque when it binds it can hurt you on larger bits.

If I understand your post, an impact driver will just impact if it binds. It wont hurt you, but I have broken bits that way. Its pretty common for it to impact when drilling anyways, just from resistance.

 

[mrjaw14]

ah so it's not going to impart enough rotational force to grab when it binds because there's not a direct coupling to the motor like on a drill right? I wasn't thinking about that part

 

[Crazyjake8493]

I've never found the tolerances on 1/4" hex drive drill bits to be as good as true drill bits. I keep a few in my mobile tool kit and electrical bags for emergencies (as well as 1/4" hex masonry bits), but I would never use them anytime I needed any amount of accuracy.

 

[Jeff]

A big NO from me. Maybe for drilling a hole in wood or drywall. But metal? No. The tolerances are way too off. Now, I ain't no machinist or engineer or ******, but I know sloppy when I feel it. I DIY my cars and motorcycles. If I need a 1/4" hole, I need a 1/4" hole. Not some sloppy **** thats +/- 1/8". Use those hex's for wood. Get a decent of molybdenum bits for your metal work.

 

[lugnut71]

I use them everyday, mostly on interior work, these are clutched screwdrivers not impacts

 

[Copymutt]

An advantage to them is quick chuck up in battery powered drills. Especially drilling the punch mark & then stepping up in sequence to needed diameter. A downside is you need to split a piece of tubing to create a carrier that will properly hold them in a sharpener such as a Drill Doctor.

 

[KnurledNut]

@lugnut71
Awesome set of tools!
I use a Makita mini driver for sheetmetal work. Its so much more convenient (and lighter) than a full size drill for light duty tasks. Coupled with an impact for fastening, its a dynamic duo!

@richfinn
The short length of combination drill/tap/deburr bits might work for some of your applications, and they are readily available in metric sizes.

 

[richfinn]

I use them everyday, mostly on interior work, these are clutched screwdrivers not impacts

I have a little Bosch GSR drill/driver, tried a bit in the hex chuck today and was impressed how little play there was, I'm guessing some of these 1/4 hex chucks are better than others, nice selection of drivers, that's exactly what I'm planning to use mine for, too interior trim, window regulators and small drilling jobs on vehicles

 

[richfinn]

@lugnut71
Awesome set of tools!
I use a Makita mini driver for sheetmetal work. Its so much more convenient (and lighter) than a full size drill for light duty tasks. Coupled with an impact for fastening, its a dynamic duo!

@richfinn
The short length of combination drill/tap/deburr bits might work for some of your applications, and they are readily available in metric sizes.


View attachment 2064927

Nice, I will look into it, Thanks

 

[richfinn]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/DEWALT-DT5...m-Brushes/dp/B01BU0HDLW/?tag=atomicindustr-21

Found a good deal on these, I'll give them a go, Thanks

 

[Wamsutta]

I would buy the Viking brand if I was going to buy some. Take that for what it's worth.

 

[richfinn]

I would buy the Viking brand if I was going to buy some. Take that for what it's worth.

I'll take a look

 

[speed bump]

I bought a cheap brand from Amazon for when I'm doing carpentry work and need to pop in a few holes without going back for the drill. They worked fine but unfortunately the drill setting my 20v DeWalt doesn't have the oompf for much more than pilot holes in steel.

If I was to get serious I would consider the DeWalt pilot point bits as I have had good luck with them in a tri-lobe shank.

 

[KnurledNut]

Found a good deal on these, I'll give them a go, Thanks

Ive used the fractional Dewalts quite a bit and they did well. The shorter length has its place. The pilot point can be a blessing or a curse. I like the one piece drills.
My go-to is currently the jobber length Makita set. Ive thought about buying a set and making them stubby as they are fairly cheap here. I think I got mine for $11.
We have some expensive fractional domestic made ones here like KnKut, that are top tier.
I have a few USA cobalts that are the best I have used for metal, but they were old stock. I think Vermont American made them.

 

[nbpt100]

In the US you are hard pressed to find hex bit drills in metric, let along a number or letter drill size. Heck you can not even find letter or number drills at a box store or most Ace or TV hardware.

The price of this stuff has also gone way up over the past few years. It makes more sense to get a drill bit sharpener. That way you can make your own stubby drills.

 

[richfinn]

In the US you are hard pressed to find hex bit drills in metric, let along a number or letter drill size. Heck you can not even find letter or number drills at a box store or most Ace or TV hardware.

The price of this stuff has also gone way up over the past few years. It makes more sense to get a drill bit sharpener. That way you can make your own stubby drills.

Thanks, I'm good for drilling equipment in my main tool kit generally (mostly a British brand PRESTO), I'm just building a small kit with a hex driver to keep in my van for cordless screwdriver tasks and figure a few hex drills would be worth a try.