Any decent masonry bits at big box stores?

[reader2580]

Are any of the masonry sold at HD/Menards decent quality?

I usually buy the New England Carbide bits at Menards because they are Made in the USA and they typically work just fine. However, I am on my third 3/16" bit from two different Menards stores and the shaft is curved on them. The first one I hit a rebar or something and ruined it. The second one wouldn't cut hardly at all because it was so bent. The third one I chucked up and didn't even try drilling with it since it is bent too. (I also chucked them in my drill press that has virtually no run out and they still were all over the place due to being bent.)

 

[dacan23]

The Bosch or Milwaukee ones that are made in Germany aint bad. Have to make sure its not the Bosch ones made in China which ****.

Are any of the masonry sold at HD/Menards decent quality?

I usually buy the New England Carbide bits at Menards because they are Made in the USA and they typically work just fine. However, I am on my third 3/16" bit from two different Menards stores and the shaft is curved on them. The first one I hit a rebar or something and ruined it. The second one wouldn't cut hardly at all because it was so bent. The third one I chucked up and didn't even try drilling with it since it is bent too. (I also chucked them in my drill press that has virtually no run out and they still were all over the place due to being bent.)

 

[chaosracing]

The Bosch or Milwaukee ones that are made in Germany aint bad. Have to make sure its not the Bosch ones made in China which ****.

I second the Bosch bits that are made in Germany. Even dull, they still go through concrete better than Chinese made new bits.

 

[ChrisLS8]

DeWalt are what we use at work and they are made in Germany

 

[toplessHO]

before I read any comments I was going to say any of the German bits.
So I 3rd it or 4th

 

[tonyciambrone]

yep...bosch and dewalt. I try to buy what I need from Cripe distributing for SDS bits

 

[rlitman]

I recommend the Bosch bits that say they can go through rebar. The "Bulldog Xtreme", which say they last 4x. They're fantastic.

Oh, and FYI, SDS+ bits have a 1/2" shank. They're really meant to be chucked in an SDS drill, but you can get them to work in a 1/2" hammer drill if you clock it correctly against the chuck jaws. ALL SDS bits will be superior to crappy plain shank hammer drill bits.

 

[reader2580]

I'll have to look at HD for German made bits. I think SDS bits are a little extreme for a 3/16" hole.

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

I also am a fan of the Bosch bits. Don't have an opinion on the Dewalt.
That being said I will not be purchasing any additional Dewalt reciprocating blades in the future!

 

[reader2580]

Unfortunately, it appears that the Bosch bits in stock at HD are all Chinese. I guess I will have to stop by Menards and HD to see if anything is made in Germany.

 

[dogdog]

I have had good luck with Bosch smaller drill chuck masonry bits, Dewalt (bot sds and drill chuck), Hitachi SDS MAX stuff, (Black and Decker glass/ceramic bits )

But these things a lot of the things are how you used the bits... if you monkey around with it, any name brand would **** out on you. I have also have not too many problems with the HF SDS bits, but they are PITA, definitely not as good as name brands....

Use lube, pull out often bounce to clear chips and apply coolant (water), if it sequels, you are burning the bit.

 

[reader2580]

The problem with the drill bits I was using is they were bent. The first bent bit I used wouldn't drill hardly at all even brand new. The second bent bit I didn't use at all because I figured it wouldn't work either.

 

[dacan23]

LOL, I tried this last month but had a hard time getting it right, it was wobbling too much, but only needed to drill a few holes.

Oh, and FYI, SDS+ bits have a 1/2" shank. They're really meant to be chucked in an SDS drill, but you can get them to work in a 1/2" hammer drill if you clock it correctly against the chuck jaws. ALL SDS bits will be superior to crappy plain shank hammer drill bits.

 

[neophyte]

Most Milwaukee masonry bits I’ve seen have been made in Germany in the past. I don’t know about currently though.
Dewalt has regular drill bits and jigsaw blades that are both manufactured in Germany, and while this sometimes varies, if the bits are on the shelf you might want to check coo.
You also might want to check Hitachi and Makita.
Makita produces stuff all over the world, and Hitachi is now owned by the same corporation that ownes Metabo, so it’s possible that one or both companies might be having masonry bits produced in Germany.

 

[dogdog]

The problem with the drill bits I was using is they were bent. The first bent bit I used wouldn't drill hardly at all even brand new. The second bent bit I didn't use at all because I figured it wouldn't work either.

any pics ? I find it odd a new bit is bend out of the box ..... any brand , even for HF ones. I know they are cheap still drills lots of hole fine but pita to drill slower than other brand stuff..., and it's the carbide that matters, but the bit bend is odd.

 

[Gmonkee]

I use the bits with three flats cut on the shank most. Just picked up two sds bits to see if they last longer.

Stay away from the cheapest unless it's a one or two hole job and you leave the bit at mom's house just in case.

I did bend one but being a cheapo it was used until the carbide point was gone. It nearly finished two rooms of curtain rods. Not bad for a buck.

 

[kctyphoon]

Bosch, Milwaukee, Dewalt.. what’s in stock “in store” will depend on the type of store for HD as far as Milwaukee goes.. Dewalt available in lowes. Bosch is the best option in stock usually for most Home Depot’s. Never seen a Menards so i have no idea what they sell.

 

[ChrisLS8]

That's weird you had bent ones, SDS bits are more prone to snapping vs bending if you exert force sideways while drilling. I know you said it was out the box but it's still out of character for sure.

 

[reader2580]

I stopped at Home Depot this morning and they only had Bosch bits in regular Masonry bits. They were all made in China. The Milwaukee bits were all SDS. I'll try Menards this evening. I may just have to settle for one made in China versus Germany.

I only have four holes to drill. The first bit I used drilled fine until I hit a rebar or something and wrecked the bit. The second bit was bent enough for the tip to wiggle around a lot. I tried the second bit and I was only able to drill about 1/4" into the concrete with considerable effort. The third bit was also bent and I didn't even try it. I chucked it in my drill press to be sure it wasn't my cordless hammer drill, but it wasn't any better in the drill press.

 

[kctyphoon]

You can always order online, but i feel like youre overthinking this. I have plenty of Bosch bits from hd in all different sizes and they all work fine. But like i said, you can get German made dewalts from lowes online and other places. What size bit do you need?

 

[Crazyjake8493]

Almost all the SDS bits I have are Bosch Bulldog Extreme bits from HD and I've never had a problem with them. I also have one Dewalt bit that I only used a few times for some wedge anchors and it cut well.

The only non-SDS masonry bits I have are the Bosch BlueGranite Turbo Carbide bits that I use in my M12 drill or impact driver for Tapcons, they're good quality as well.

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

I find HD on the expensive side but definitely handy access. I buy at a tool and supply store. I go to Anchor Products were I live but maybe (Aucklands) Grainger might work as well

 

[spike99250]

I think he is looking for non sds bits. sds bits are not overkill for a 3/16 hole.
We have used about 40 of them in the past five months on the job I am on.