Any good quality cheap drill bit recommendations?

[tlmartin84]

It is time to start looking for a new set of drill bits. I had a set of supertanium by premier, that set was around $400.00 new. They were the BEST bits I have ever seen.

The last set I purchased was a set of jobber's length Milwaukee bits. Around $100.00. They were good but did not last nor cut quite as good as the premier set.

Having said that, I don't have the budget for the premier set, and cannot locate the Milwaukee set (nor did I like them well enough to buy again).

Have any of you all found any ebay sets, (or any set for that matter) that you would recommend?

 

[woody 73]

Alas good and cheap do not go together... Hey I am looking for a good and cheap wife, see they will not go together, or I am looking for a good and cheap bottle of scotch, just will not work!

Try The following:

http://store.harryepstein.com/merch...&Store_Code=1930&Category_Code=MetalDrillBits

 

[Jd34]

Lol.. I'm in the same boat and started a thread before I saw this one. I've been looking on ebay and came across this set but no idea how well they will hold up..
http://m.ebay.com/itm/161268143950?nav=SEARCH

I kinda like the idea of having several of the the smaller bits because I break them often..

 

[neophyte]

Are these are the Supertanium drill bits you are talking about?

http://www.lawsonproducts.com/Supertanium-II/Jobber-Length-Drill-Bit-Kit/P7123.lp#

If so, they appear to be an industrial parabolic flute drill bit set.

Given the price, and the fact they come from Lawson, the drill bits probably have a USA COO.

Parabolic flute drill bits have a modified flute designed to clear chips better.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Lawson bits were rebranded from another manufacturer such as these from Triumph.

http://www.carbideprocessors.com/29...-thunderbit-premium-grade-hss-triumph-093700/

Amazon has a better image of the titanium thunderbits

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007MN1XCM/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I wouldn't recommend purchasing inexpensive Titanium bits. Most industrial drill bits have a high cost difference between Titanium coated and regular bright or black finishes. Were as lower cost drill bits usually have a much lower cost difference. It wouldn't surprise me if there was a significant difference in the coating thickness.

If the Triumph drill bits are still too expensive, you might try the black and gold USA made "Magnum" branded drill bits from Norseman or Consolidated Toledo (CTD). They also have a more open flute design, and a harder surface, although I believe the flute design is different from the Triumph Thunderbits, and the surface is from Nitrocarburizing instead of Titanium Nitride.

http://store.harryepstein.com/cp/DrillBitSets/SPM-29.html

 

[tlmartin84]

Those are the ones, and they are a dang good set. I will have some more someday when I have a good mill/drill.

Addressing the Cheap comment....Some jobs are just too hard on drill bits to put that kind of money into. Places you can't get into square, binding the bit and snap there is a 15$ bit. I was hoping someone had found something along the lines of the Milwaukee price range that did really well..........

 

[Kracin]

good and cheap.

garage sales. find someone selling old drill bits, sharpen them up and be on the good and cheap side of things.

 

[creativecars]

I know they are not great, but pretty good for $9.99 and a coupon. The HF Titanium Nitride Coated Split Point Drill Bit Set, 29 Pc set has served me well. Actually I am on my second set after breaking a few and drilling through some metal bed frame. I really cant complain as I have broken and burnt several bits that cost more than this whole set.

 

[Kracin]

I know they are not great, but pretty good for $9.99 and a coupon. The HF Titanium Nitride Coated Split Point Drill Bit Set, 29 Pc set has served me well. Actually I am on my second set after breaking a few and drilling through some metal bed frame. I really cant complain as I have broken and burnt several bits that cost more than this whole set.

but drill bits are one of those things that you can buy once and be set for a very long time. find an old drill index fill it up with decent bits, they'll last a while before needing sharpening, and then if you can't get sharpening down by hand (which isn't very hard), then purchase a drill bit sharpener like drill doctor and you won't ever have to buy another drill bit unless you somehow snap it off super short. but by that time you'll know better.

 

[uart]

Lol.. I'm in the same boat and started a thread before I saw this one. I've been looking on ebay and came across this set but no idea how well they will hold up..
http://m.ebay.com/itm/161268143950?nav=SEARCH

I kinda like the idea of having several of the the smaller bits because I break them often..

Hi JD, I see no one has replied to your specific question so I'll try to offer some help.

I know what you mean, I always break the smaller sizes too. I'm not sure that ebay drill bit set is all that great though. The smaller sized drill bits of that quality level cost next to nothing. You can literally ebay them for 10 for one dollar from China - postage included! So don't get overly impressed by the large number of smaller ones in that set. All the money is in the medium to larger sizes, 1/4" inch and over, and there's only 2 pieces each of those.

Also that set misses a lot of sizes. It has some 1/64" increments, but many of the jumps are 1/32", and worst of all there's the big jump from 3/8" straight to 1/2". This is a classic "cheap trick" that lets them exclude most of the larger and more costly sizes.

I'm not endorsing any of the harbor freight sets because I've never used them, but it's a pretty safe bet that those ebay bits would be the same (if not worse) Chinese quality as a $20 HF set. But if you compare the number of bits you get, you'd get 17 pieces in 1/64" increments in the 1/4" to 1/2" range with a cheap HF set and you actually get LESS with that ebay set. That's in addition to missing lots of sizes, a lose-lose situation if you ask me. That set is very effective at giving the illusion of getting more than you are actually are.

BTW. The ad doesn't give any close up photos to really judge the quality, but a local hardware place here sells heaps of bulk pack cheap chinese coated bits that look very much like that. They're definitely nothing special, pretty low quality actually, though they will work ok for non demanding jobs.

You know that their claim of "... are superior in every way to the finest HSS steel bits and last up to 6X longer" is complete and utter BS. So that alone should make you wary.

 

[PeterT]

I cheaped out and used my sears titanium bits the other day drilling into the top plate of my workbench to mount a vise. The bit broke off and I spent 30 minutes trying to get it out. During that time I pulled out my set of Norseman bits, and I proceeded to ruin 2 of those good bits trying to drill out the broken bit.
Plus that sears bit set, after all of that the thin metal bit holder, I couldn't get it closed. The entire metal housing hinges buckled. Chinese made garbage, I tossed the entire set in the garbage.
No more cheap drill bits for me

 

[Jd34]

Hi JD, I see no one has replied to your specific question so I'll try to offer some help.

I know what you mean, I always break the smaller sizes too. I'm not sure that ebay drill bit set is all that great though. The smaller sized drill bits of that quality level cost next to nothing. You can literally ebay them for 10 for one dollar from China - postage included! So don't get overly impressed by the large number of smaller ones in that set. All the money is in the medium to larger sizes, 1/4" inch and over, and there's only 2 pieces each of those.

Also that set misses a lot of sizes. It has some 1/64" increments, but many of the jumps are 1/32", and worst of all there's the big jump from 3/8" straight to 1/2". This is a classic "cheap trick" that lets them exclude most of the larger and more costly sizes.

I'm not endorsing any of the harbor freight sets because I've never used them, but it's a pretty safe bet that those ebay bits would be the same (if not worse) Chinese quality as a $20 HF set. But if you compare the number of bits you get, you'd get 17 pieces in 1/64" increments in the 1/4" to 1/2" range with a cheap HF set and you actually get LESS with that ebay set. That's in addition to missing lots of sizes, a lose-lose situation if you ask me. That set is very effective at giving the illusion of getting more than you are actually are.

BTW. The ad doesn't give any close up ophotos to really judge the quality, but a local hardware place here sells heaps of bulk pack cheap chinese coated bits that look very much like that. They're definitely nothing special, pretty low quality actually, though they will work ok for non demanding jobs.

You know that their claim of "... are superior in every way to the finest HSS steel bits and last up to 6X longer" is complete and utter BS. So that alone should make you wary.

Thanks uart! That's a big help... Like someone said earlier -good and cheap, just don't go together.

 

[Catadj78]

Lol.. I'm in the same boat and started a thread before I saw this one. I've been looking on ebay and came across this set but no idea how well they will hold up..
http://m.ebay.com/itm/161268143950?nav=SEARCH

I kinda like the idea of having several of the the smaller bits because I break them often..

Looks like it would be worth a shot at that price but they are out of stock

 

[Kracin]

I cheaped out and used my sears titanium bits the other day drilling into the top plate of my workbench to mount a vise. The bit broke off and I spent 30 minutes trying to get it out. During that time I pulled out my set of Norseman bits, and I proceeded to ruin 2 of those good bits trying to drill out the broken bit.
Plus that sears bit set, after all of that the thin metal bit holder, I couldn't get it closed. The entire metal housing hinges buckled. Chinese made garbage, I tossed the entire set in the garbage.
No more cheap drill bits for me

don't try to drill out a drill bit with any other drill bit.. cheap ones are still hard enough to destroy good ones.. to get a broken bit out of a blind hole, youll need to get a good hard punch (most people i see grab an old broken broach and put a point on it), and break it into smaller pieces to get it out, that or torch it or something. its a ***** removing taps and drill bits from blind holes sometimes.

 

[Fender1325]

I dont frequently drill every day, but I've used my Dewalt black oxide drill bits in various hardwood and metal and I've been pleased. Theyre affordable too.

 

[uart]

don't try to drill out a drill bit with any other drill bit.. cheap ones are still hard enough to destroy good ones..

Yep, cheap bits can sometimes be a bit too soft (and dull quickly or even bend) or they can be a bit too brittle and break. So if you've got one that's broken off then it's likely to be plenty hard and brittle. You definitely don't want to try to drill it out with another HSS bit.

Another way to proceed if you have access to the other side is to drill though (from the other side) with HSS until you're just shy of the end of the broken bit. Then just go at it with a carbide tipped drill like a masonry bit or even one of those small pointy ones that they use for glass and tiles. Once you can see it starting to mash into the end of the broken bit you can usually finish it off by punching it back out.

BTW. I drilled though a broken file once with one of those little glass/tile bits (carbide spear point), just to see if it could do it.

 

[mossyboy6]

Check out Chicago-Latrobe bits.

Made in USA, very good prices.

 

[Wamsutta]

For drill bits on a budget, the Hitachi bits at Lowes are pretty good.

 

[uart]

Looks like it would be worth a shot at that price but they are out of stock

Nope. See what I said above about lack of large sized drills in that set, you actually get a lot less than in a standard 1/64" increment 29 piece set. It's poor value when you could get something like this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/29pc-135-Bl...131003132420&rk=2&rkt=6&sd=201167288417&rt=nc for a few dollars more.

That "Eastern Steel" set will be a low grade HSS, most likely "4241" (4% tungsten, 2% molybdenum, 4% chromium and 1% vanadium) which is pretty much the standard composition for low cost hss bits coming out of China. Maybe "HSS 4341" (1% more molybdenum) if you're really lucky. And if you're really-really lucky they might even be somewhat properly sharpened out of the box, but it's unlikely. About 50% of mine needed to be sharpened before they were ever used.

No need to worry that sharpening them will remove their coating though. The Titanium Nitride (a term which by unfortunate coincidence translates directly into "gold paint" in Mandarin Chinese) coating will be completely gone from the chisel point and cutting edges the very first time that you drill steel with them anyway.

Ask me how I know. See attachment or this thread: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=233829

 

[pauls_workshop]

You might check out Montana drill bits, made in US but much lower cost than most premium US brands. - Paul

 

[Parrothead]

For drill bits on a budget, the Hitachi bits at Lowes are pretty good.

Yup, I have some too and for the price they're excellent. I go to them more than my Craftsman Cobalt bits.

 

[PECVD2]

If I break a twist I use McMaster Carr or franks' s tools locally and buy individual Ti coated HSS twists
most average around $10 each
do you need an entire set?

 

[404]

What happened to the goods sets of bits. Are they gone, or just dull?
If dull, get a excellent quality sharpener and sharpen them. Costs as much as a few sets of bits. We all will sharpen a 10 cent pencil, but a 2 dollar drill bit we buy new when it dulls?

Bed frame angle iron is made from select materials that have been rejected for use in any other application. It is a very nasty material with inclusions and hard spots of some sort of ****. I use a lot of it too, but I use my less good drill bits and resharpen when the bit cracks off a corner.

 

[tlmartin84]

I sharpen them now in my bench grinder, I have just snapped some off to short to sharpen, and the tiny ones are hard to get a good edge on. The ones you can sharpen cut like new though.

It is mainly back to the fact though that that set is $300.00. I WILL have a new set of the premiers, they will just be reserved for drill/mill press use only. I HAVE NEVER SEEN A BIT CUT LIKE THOSE, they are as advertised.

I want a decent priced set, that are essentially disposable for using in hand drills. I want something that cuts well, holds an edge, and is affordable so that when you snap it off your not outta 10-15 bucks a pop.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Niko

Better than "no name" Chinese !

 

[sberry]

You might check out Montana drill bits, made in US but much lower cost than most premium US brands. - Paul

I think that is what the flea mkt guy has, very good and I buy a few each year. I buy some for pilot work, a half a dozen lasts a year and I toss them. Around a dollar a piece. After a lot of hand drilling they are well stressed and have earned their keep.
He often has grab bags as little as a dollar for off sizes, near 3/8 etc. They are 10 in a store.

 

[geojag]

Cheap, good, drill bit. Pick 2. Just like many other thing cheap and good rarely go together. FWIW, I have been pleasantly surprised with Milwaukee bits. You may still some holiday promotional packs on clearance now. I picked up a bunch recently.

 

[uart]

He often has grab bags as little as a dollar for off sizes, near 3/8 etc. They are 10 in a store.

Yeah $1 a piece is really good for a US made bit around that size.

 

[Aaroncl]

I picked up a $30 set of Irwin cobalt bits at Lowes a few years ago. I didn't expect them to hold up as long as they have. I've drilled thru everything from hardwoods to 3/8 holes in 1/4 steel. Using right speed/pressure and cuttin fluid I haveent burnt up any. I broke two but only by knockingy drill off the bench with a 1/8 bit in the chuck. I think you would be thoroughly surprised.

 

[uart]

I sharpen them now in my bench grinder, I have just snapped some off to short to sharpen, and the tiny ones are hard to get a good edge on. The ones you can sharpen cut like new though.

I want a decent priced set, that are essentially disposable for using in hand drills. I want something that cuts well, holds an edge, and is affordable so that when you snap it off your not outta 10-15 bucks a pop.

Ok I see what you mean now. I've tried sharpening broken ones like that before and sometimes the web is just too thick to get anything decent. Also if you get too close to the shank the steel there can be a bit soft as well.

Is it mostly smaller sizes that are broken? That's what I usually break. If so you can buy small size replacements for very little money on ebay. Ok, this is my secret "stash of shame" that I haven't been game to show here before. But I buy these little 10 packs of 1.5mm, 2.0mm, 2.5mm, 3.0mm and 3.5mm, uncoated (bright finish) hss bits, from china at 10 for $1. No joke, ten each of all the sizes listed above (delivered) for $1 a pack, and they definitely drill plain steel and cast iron without any problems.

 

[BioNerd]

I like dewalt titanium coated. Cheap and good.

 

[BioNerd]

I just had to buy 1/8 bits because I broke the 2 Milwaukee cobalt the super supplied. I went to ace hrdwr and picked 2 sets of 2 titanium coated irwin bits for $5 a set.
They are way better than the Milwaukee and they dont seem to flex that much with more pressure.

Im getting an irwin titanium coated set or replacements next.

 

[uart]

I went to ace hrdwr and picked 2 sets of 2 titanium coated irwin bits for $5 a set.

$5 for two 1/8" bits isn't cheap though. Are they cobalt (M35 or M42) or are they just coated HSS?

 

[Thumper68]

If you are just starting out I always recommend that you pick up a set of the better HF bits for general use, and then as you either break them or know you need a certin size for a job pick up 1 or 2 good ones, that way you have a set to start and will build up a good set.

Over the last few decades I have built up a good set from 1/16th to 2 inch a full numbered set and a mostly complete lettered set.

 

[CoyoteKyle]

If you look at cost per hole instead of cost per drill most of the drills y'all are talking about are expensive when it comes down to it!

 

[uart]

If you look at cost per hole instead of cost per drill most of the drills y'all are talking about are expensive when it comes down to it!

I know what you mean, better more expensive sets can end up costing less per hole - as long as you don't break them too soon.

I still think it can be justified having a cheap set for hand drill usage, or at least in applications where breakage is more likely, and a good set for more DP and the more demanding or important job. Cheap drill bits are great for learning/practising your drill sharpening skills too.

Also as I said above, I like to use those very cheap ones in the small sizes which are most often broken.

 

[gooblunar]

We had a set of FMT'S we got from fastenal and the we're great until people that had no clue on how to use drill bits.

https://www.fastenal.com/web/produc...rchMode=productSearch&filterByVendingMachine=

 

[LX-Markham]

I use the cheaper bits until I encounter something they won't drill. Then I break out the good bits.
Every once and a while I'll sit down and re-sharpen the discarded bin of dull cheap bits.

BTW, for the canadian GJ'ers: canadian tire has the 100 Maximum cobalt set of sale.
http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/maximum-cobalt-drill-bit-set-100-pc-0540658p.html#.VLAWNZya98F
website doesn't shown them on sale, but I picked them up locally for $50

 

[McLean]

I went through this same dilemma recently. Checked out the Harbor Freight sets and they looked like such garbage, I couldn't even bring myself to pay the very low price. I'm beginning to wonder if maybe some of the older sets are slightly higher quality...

I ended up with a set of the Bosch Cobalts and I have been impressed: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000TZX3A/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[BioNerd]

$5 for two 1/8" bits isn't cheap though. Are they cobalt (M35 or M42) or are they just coated HSS?

Yeah it is not cheap. It was ACE hardware

 

[BioNerd]

. Cheap drill bits are great for learning/practising your drill sharpening skills too.

Also as I said above, I like to use those very cheap ones in the small sizes which are most often broken.

Well, diggin out a broken drill bit from a hole isn't always an awesome experience.