Alternative US made Drill Bits

[AmericanMechanic]

I see there are US made bits such as Cle-line, Triumph, etc.. seems the only ones that get much press here are Norseman. Is it group think or is there a real reason?

Thanks!

 

[sberry]

I think they are easy to find. I buy them at a flea mkt. Guy comes every year to the same events.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Drill Hog. eBay and Amazon.

 

[PT Doc]

Drill Hog. eBay and Amazon.

Stay away from Drill Hog. Posing as USA made. Message them from eBay and they will confirm that they are chinese made.

Norseman is a solid USA a drill manufacturer. Check out their site and look at the catalog. Mind boggling options for drills.

 

[1982fxr]

Stay away from Drill Hog. Posing as USA made. Message them from eBay and they will confirm that they are chinese made.

Norseman is a solid USA a drill manufacturer. Check out their site and look at the catalog. Mind boggling options for drills.

What he said.

Drill hog does use a Huot case at least.

 

[Whitworth]

Precision Twist (PTD), Cleveland Twist, Triumph, Melin (more speciality drill bits), Fuller and Kennemetal to name a few.

Norseman are overrated. Don't know why they have so many fanboys here.

Country of origin may change depending.

 

[Professional Tool User]

Stay away from Drill Hog. Posing as USA made. Message them from eBay and they will confirm that they are chinese made.

Norseman is a solid USA a drill manufacturer. Check out their site and look at the catalog. Mind boggling options for drills.

+1 Drill Hog uses misleading advertising by including USA into the name. There's also a possibility that Drill Hog is a one man shop ebay seller. Not that all Chinese drill bits are bad. The Dewalt and Milwaukee ones are apparently decent.

 

[larry_g]

Norseman are overrated. Don't know why they have so many fanboys here.

Country of origin may change depending.

I believe that Norseman are popular here because they are acceptable bits and cater to mechanics and home people. Get into the machinist community and you find different brands that are considered acceptable and top of the line.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Professional Tool User]

It is group think to some extent. Norseman gets promoted on the forum and there are deals you can sign up for from time to time. They also happen to be one of the cheapest USA made drill bit options. I bought an index of Norseman super premium drill bits and was disappointed. I don't know if it is just me, but after the initial coating wore off, it was a pain to sharpen. My Snap on (rebranded triumph thunderbits) on the other hand are a breeze to sharpen and stay sharp for longer. There is a significant difference when drilling through decent quality steel.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

I have a complete Norseman index up to 1/2", but I only got them because there was a good discount offered on this site earlier this year. They are great, no complaints. I personally don't care what brand my bits are as long as they are Made in USA, Germany, or Japan. Properly matching the spec's of your tooling to your work is far more important than splitting hairs over brands that all have good QC. As my individual Norseman bits wear they will be replaced by whatever shows up from McMaster.

 

[rtz]

Stock up on some real bits: https://www.panamericantool.com/

 

[f150skidoo]

I love my index of CLE-Line jobber bits. Before I bought the CLE bits I was going to order Precision Twist drill bits but found out that they started to make them in Brazil. The way I see it If i'm going to pay a premium price it better be made in the US, Canada, Japan, or Europe. The CLE bits say USA right in the bits and they stay sharp for a long time.

 

[ricleh]

It is group think to some extent. Norseman gets promoted on the forum and there are deals you can sign up for from time to time. They also happen to be one of the cheapest USA made drill bit options. I bought an index of Norseman super premium drill bits and was disappointed. I don't know if it is just me, but after the initial coating wore off, it was a pain to sharpen. My Snap on (rebranded triumph thunderbits) on the other hand are a breeze to sharpen and stay sharp for longer. There is a significant difference when drilling through decent quality steel.

Funny, I have had no issue with my Norseman bits. They drill and resharpen just as well as my Triumph and Snapon Thunderbits. All these bits perform very well. I also use old stock Chicago Latrobe and Cle-line bits that work just as well.

 

[M6erfan]

Drill Hog. eBay and Amazon.

Drill Hog. For USA made??? Yeah, no....

 

[Parrothead]

Montana Brand

https://www.montanabrandtools.com/

 

[Hytekrednek]

KnKut has been my go-to for quality drill bits. LOVE my KnKut stubby length set, I use the stubbies more than rest, in small sizes anyway

 

[nafterclifen]

Winter's Drill Bit City

http://www.wintersdrillbitcity.com/

 

[chevy302dz]

Just to post something different, has anyone tried these?
https://baddogtools.com/product/job-site-special/
The drill bits appear to be made in the US, not sure about the rest of the stuff.

 

[Fcvapor05]

Norseman get attention here because their product line is wide, the prices are pretty reasonable for what you get, and they are a giant step up from the cheap bits most people are used to. Are they the best drill bit in the world? No. Are they made in the US and pretty decent for anyone not doing serious machine work? Yes.

 

[AmericanMechanic]

Montana Brand

https://www.montanabrandtools.com/

I have some of their brad point bits for woodworking and they are spot on true to size, and straight.

 

[bwringer]

Winter's Drill Bit City

http://www.wintersdrillbitcity.com/

So how the hell do you, you know, actually buy any of this guy's miracle drill bits, or find out how much they are?

 

[Hytekrednek]

I have some of their brad point bits for woodworking and they are spot on true to size, and straight.

Yes, the Montana brad point bits are excellent

 

[Hytekrednek]

So how the hell do you, you know, actually buy any of this guy's miracle drill bits, or find out how much they are?

Same here, not calling just to ask what is available and the price

 

[Indexmill]

If you want long wearing and good cutting drill bits, get cobalt. A bit pricey but worth it. You can get any size you want at Victor Machinery. They will fill any order quantity, no minimum.

Nonsense. I have 30 year-old USA HSS jobbers bits that still cut like new. If you run them at the correct speed and with the correct feed rate with the right lube, they will last forever. The vast majority of drill bits that do not cut well is from NOT doing the above. Give it a try.

 

[AmericanMechanic]

Nonsense. I have 30 year-old USA HSS jobbers bits that still cut like new. If you run them at the correct speed and with the correct feed rate with the right lube, they will last forever. The vast majority of drill bits that do not cut well is from NOT doing the above. Give it a try.

Agree, I've seen old and well used HSS continue to wotk well. Besides, black oxide looks classic and gold bits for home use look like a walmart gimmick coating

 

[theoldwizard1]

Stay away from Drill Hog. Posing as USA made. Message them from eBay and they will confirm that they are chinese made.

I am going to need more proof than a 3rd hand Internet rumor before I stop buying from them !

 

[Whitworth]

If you want long wearing and good cutting drill bits, get cobalt. A bit pricey but worth it.

Cobalt is long lasting but you'll want a diamond wheel to sharpen them when the time comes, and they are very brittle. Not the best for hand-held drilling. And even in the lathe I've had jobber length cobalt drill bits shatter on me.

 

[Fatboy148]

I love my index of CLE-Line jobber bits. Before I bought the CLE bits I was going to order Precision Twist drill bits but found out that they started to make them in Brazil. The way I see it If i'm going to pay a premium price it better be made in the US, Canada, Japan, or Europe. The CLE bits say USA right in the bits and they stay sharp for a long time.

AND... your local Lowe's store usually keeps this one set on the shelf.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/CLE-LINE-High-Speed-Steel-Twist-Drill-Bit-Set/1000043335

https://www.lowes.com/search?searchTerm=cle+line+drill+bit

 

[bob15]

I am going to need more proof than a 3rd hand Internet rumor before I stop buying from them !

Do your drill bits say "USA" on them?

I only found one set that says "made in USA" on their site; the left hand drill bit set. Nowhere else did I see a "MADE in USA" reference on any of their sets.

 

[red94chev]

I mainly use Hertel at work in the machine shop. I believe they are Made In USA.

 

[AmericanMechanic]

I've never used Drill Hog but in a quick search i see a number of listings that clearly state "made in USA". Maybe those are, now.

 

[M6erfan]

I am going to need more proof than a 3rd hand Internet rumor before I stop buying from them !

Well if DrillHog would ever respond to emails that would be great. I've sent several emails in the last year or so asking about Made in USA and so far all I have is the sound of crickets chirping... Also, if you go to their website there is no email address or phone number or "Contact Us" option. I find that odd.

 

[Hytekrednek]

Well if DrillHog would ever respond to emails that would be great. I've sent several emails in the last year or so asking about Made in USA and so far all I have is the sound of crickets chirping... Also, if you go to their website there is no email address or phone number or "Contact Us" option. I find that odd.

Lifetime warranty, but impossible to contact them. That makes the warranty a useless sales gimmick. Stick to the known good usa makers and avoid the unknown and shady.

 

[M6erfan]

Lifetime warranty, but impossible to contact them. That makes the warranty a useless sales gimmick. Stick to the known good usa makers and avoid the unknown and shady.

Yeah, either that company has the worst mkt'ing strategy known to man or they're indeed shady. Some of their product pages say "Proudly made in the USA" and some say nothing (which is why I inquired, through eBay BTW). I wanted to do business with them but for me there are just too many unknowns with DrillHog.

 

[Joebass]

Cobalt is long lasting but you'll want a diamond wheel to sharpen them when the time comes, and they are very brittle. Not the best for hand-held drilling. And even in the lathe I've had jobber length cobalt drill bits shatter on me.

That's false. Cobalt is added to regular HSS. They can be sharpened with a regular wheel. They shine for stainless. Unless you're talking about Carbide?

 

[Joebass]

PSD is made in Brazil I think. Not sure about Triumph and Chicago Latrobe anymore. Cleveland has an imported line too. Guerig and Dormer are great but pricey. I have thousands of drills up to 2" all made in the US and bought in auctions for pennies on the dollar. The rare occasion I need a drill I check Ebay or if I need it now, Mcmaster.

 

[Hytekrednek]

PSD is made in Brazil I think. Not sure about Triumph and Chicago Latrobe anymore. Cleveland has an imported line too. Guerig and Dormer are great but pricey. I have thousands of drills up to 2" all made in the US and bought in auctions for pennies on the dollar. The rare occasion I need a drill I check Ebay or if I need it now, Mcmaster.

NICE! Nothing like being prepared. I have a good supply of drill bits, but not like yours. Mine top out at 5/8'' for most standard drills. I do have many hole saws though up to 6''. I mostly drill wood, but sometimes steel for smaller fasteners up to 5/16''. I have 2 sets for gunsmithing work that are very good HSS, the other is cobalt. They stay separate from my others so they dont get lost or abused, always there , sharp, and ready.
I mostly do cabinet making, furniture making, and gunsmithing. I do some work on my own autos, but rarely need a drill for that.

 

[mrobins297aaa]

I have bought some of Drillhog's sawzall blades and they say "made in the USA" on them. I've only used them once but they seem to be sharp.

also I bought but have not used is there number set, it says "made in the USA" on the case, so not sure if that means the case is made in the USA or the drill bits

 

[M6erfan]

I have bought some of Drillhog's sawzall blades and they say "made in the USA" on them. I've only used them once but they seem to be sharp.

also I bought but have not used is there number set, it says "made in the USA" on the case, so not sure if that means the case is made in the USA or the drill bits

Huot is made in the USA, that's all that means.

 

[Wamsutta]

Consolidated Toledo Drill

http://www.ctddrill.com