Any feedback on McMaster's "no name" drill bits?

[Davefr]

Has anyone used McMaster's "no name" drill bits. They're all unbranded and I'm curious if they're top shelf or Chinese garbage.

I want to avoid the crappy Chinese house brands like Westward or Interstate.

McMaster's pricing is decent and they sell just about every size individually vs 12 packs.

 

[danielbuck]

I believe last time I ordered drill bits from mcmaster they were made by Viking? I'd have to double check on that, but they were a good brand regardless. I don't think you'll get garbage drill bits from mcmaster.

I DO wish that they would state what manufacturer made the items you're purchasing at the time of purchase. But I've been ordering from them for probably about a decade now, and I've never received anything that was junk. Since most of what I purchase doesn't really matter what brand it is, it just needs to be good quality, I've been fine with it. Hasn't burned me yet.

 

[danielbuck]

Just checked some of the drill bits that I ordered individually (I keep the sets in a set, and individuals just tossed into labeled drill bit drawers, I keep at least a few of most standard sizes), I can't tell which ones I just recently purchased, but almost all of them are from McMaster unless they are Dewalt bits that I use for woodworking, which were purchased locally at home depot, or from my fathers collection.

A lot of CL (Chicago Latrobe) and others don't really have a brand, but are all marked USA.

The last set of standard drill bits I ordered is Viking, and the set of wire gauge bits is CL.

 

[Davefr]

Just checked some of the drill bits, I can't tell which ones I just recently purchased, but almost all of them are from McMaster unless they are Dewalt bits that I use for woodworking.

A lot of CL (Chicago Latrobe) and others don't really have a brand, but are all marked USA.

The set of drill bits I ordered is Viking.

Thanks for checking. Sounds like they're top shelf.

 

[danielbuck]

Thanks for checking. Sounds like they're top shelf.

haven't ever received a drill bit from them that wasn't marked USA, at least from what I'm seeing in the drill bit drawers I have. Same with milling bits (I don't order alot of them as I don't have a mill, but I use them on the lathe sometimes) and a few wood working Forstner bits, all USA.

If you want to know what brand you're ordering, Grainger will show the brand.

 

[Jlarson]

I've always gotten Viking and CL and I believe some Champion stuff too occasionally.

 

[danielbuck]

since I'm not doing anything tonight and out of curiosity I checked some of my tap and dies & such.

Last few that I ordered the dies are marked Widell (USA) on the dies and taps don't have a brand on the taps themselves (they do say USA). The plastic cases the taps came in are marked with a V and have these numbers: 24UBNAGN 46122 which a google search brings up just one result, a PDF catalog for Norseman. Not sure what the V means.

Some older taps I have from Mcmaster (ordered a few years ago) are marked GFT USA, which I believe is Widia.

Have a few NPT pipe reamers from Mcmaster that are APT USA brand, not a brand I'm familiar with and a google search doesn't bring much up for that brand. I don't use reamers often, but they worked very well on mild steel. (edit) a bit more searching brings up "Alvord-Polk Tool", not a name I'm familiar with, but apparently been making tooling for a very long time.

And just to note, the Viking set of standard drill bits I have, the case is marked Viking, but the drill bits have no manufacture mark other than USA. So it appears that not all major USA manufacturers put their mark on the drill bits. CL does, but apparently Norseman and Viking don't. I don't know about others.

 

[kazlx]

I don't think I've ever received anything non-quality from McMaster.

 

[manwithtools]

I've found MSC is better for tooling (because you can choose brand and COO). McMaster wins for hardware in small quantities because it arrives quickly - albeit with no earthly idea of freight cost. No way to know with them what the brand is, although it's generally US COO.

Larger quantities of hardware, usually the local bolt supplier (NOT Fastenal) will win on price. Always need to watch fastener quality as counterfeits run wild in that business. McMaster always has good stuff.

 

[laser3kw]

I don't think I've ever received anything non-quality from McMaster.

Same here. I use them extensively when I am designing equipment. Also, if you are real concerned, shoot them a email through their contact page. I have had satisfying results that way.

 

[rustyzman]

If you call and ask them, they will tell you the brand of what they are selling. I have done that many times with them. They generally only sell quality stuff. Great company to deal with in my experience.

 

[MP&C]

The last few times I have ordered HSS bits from them they have come from Viking, made in USA. They appear to be a quality product.

 

[Chevy-SS]

It's refreshing to think there's at least one company that still appears to place a high value on quality and service. I've been ordering small items from McMaster for about 15 years and have been satisfied every time. McMaster rocks!

 

[danielbuck]

It's refreshing to think there's at least one company that still appears to place a high value on quality and service. I've been ordering small items from McMaster for about 15 years and have been satisfied every time. McMaster rocks!

I've only had to deal with their customer service twice in the past 10 years, and they respond quickly and resolve the issue right away. Both times the problem was not theirs, once an American lock came with a key that wouldn't open it, and the other time there was some problem with the delivery, can't remember what it was. But it was resolved immediately. And I'm not a big customer, I order a few small things once every few weeks or so.

 

[rustyzman]

I've only had to deal with their customer service twice in the past 10 years, and they respond quickly and resolve the issue right away. Both times the problem was not theirs, once an American lock came with a key that wouldn't open it, and the other time there was some problem with the delivery, can't remember what it was. But it was resolved immediately. And I'm not a big customer, I order a few small things once every few weeks or so.

That is one of the great things about them. Even if you are just a normal person ordering one thing, one time, they still treat you well and will help you any way they can. Some of the big companies don't want to deal with the average guy, especially without a business license (grainger). I use Mcmaster a whole lot at work, but I have to buy my own personal stuff off my own account, not through work. Never an issue. Also helps that their Will Call is only about 20mins from home too....

They will get you pretty much any brand or item you want too, even if it is not in their catalog, as long as they have access to it. I have had them source stuff in the past for us that was non catalog.

 

[sberry]

I have never used them but have used those same bits. Every year I buy a dozen or so of popular sizes I use and for pilot bits at Buckley Old Engine Show flea mkt. The guy has some mix bags by the pound too, steal of a deal, very sharp and tough. I think Viking or something, all USA. The guy is from Minnesota near the factory I believe where he gets the stock. He has been at the show over 25years, lots of repeats. I use a lot of small ones I abuse, some I simply toss due to being stressed from hand drilling and they don't owe me much at that point.

 

[Griff93]

I too order from mcmaster for our machine shop's drill bits. I've never been disappointed.

 

[matt_i]

The "black oxide jobber length, 118 deg point" bits I order in fractional, wire and letter sizes have typically been C-L. I can't recall getting another mfg.

If you order metric sizes like a 3.3 or a 4.2 then its made by someone else who laser-marks the shank with the size rather than stamps them like C-L.

 

[PNWguy]

It's refreshing to think there's at least one company that still appears to place a high value on quality and service. I've been ordering small items from McMaster for about 15 years and have been satisfied every time. McMaster rocks!

McMaster stays in business because they only sell good stuff, and it's quick to find.

In the shop I work for, we bill clients hourly at $120 to $200, except for the occasional fixed bid. It's cheaper for us (and the client) to pay more by ordering from McMaster than to get a lower price - but needing to check 3 different places. McMaster's website is incredibly fast, and their parts dump into SolidWorks instantly. They even have some way of importing POs that makes the bookkeeper happy.

When you're paying $120 to $200 an hour for an engineer to buy parts, speed is critical. If their quality was anything but high, we would stop ordering from them. Our theory is that McMaster's stuff is always good, delivered quickly and insanely fast to order.

 

[danielbuck]

Yes, the website is really good, and having CAD files (free, even for non customers!) for alot of the parts is pretty cool, if you're building things in CAD first.

 

[laser3kw]

Yes, the website is really good, and having CAD files (free, even for non customers!) for alot of the parts is pretty cool, if you're building things in CAD first.

that is a key factor why I use them. Good quality parts and CAD files that I can import and make sure the fit my design.

 

[Punkinhead]

McMaster wins for hardware in small quantities because it arrives quickly - albeit with no earthly idea of freight cost.

The lack of freight cost when checking out used to bother me, but after many years of ordering from them I've never felt cheated on shipping. Not once. They're truly a class act.

 

[ckcorder]

Hey guys, I worked for them for a few years - customer service is their number 1 and they always try to source good stuff - across the board. If anyone ever has any questions - feel free to shoot me a message!