anyone use the HF step bits

[klhitman]

are they only good for the one time use or OK for the occasional garage use? pretty sure they wouldn't be good for shop use!!!


http://www.harborfreight.com/3-piece-titanium-nitride-coated-high-speed-steel-step-drills-91616.html

 

[atari]

I have used them to put holes in my trucks frame rails. The first hole drilled nicely and so did the last one. I would give them an A+ for sure at 9.99-14.99. I am afraid to spend 40 bucks on one and then lean on it, not these. Plus they actually work really well.

 

[RAYJAY]

are they only good for the one time use or OK for the occasional garage use? pretty sure they wouldn't be good for shop use!!!


http://www.harborfreight.com/3-piece-titanium-nitride-coated-high-speed-steel-step-drills-91616.html

Bought 2 sets of the 3 drill bit in a package about 2 years ago still on the first set and i use them a lot for step drills , beside all the HF haters..... the tin and cobalt drill bits work great for me the black oxide are another story.....

 

[cheap bastard]

They work well in plastic, aluminium and other soft material. They dull quickly with steel. That is just my experience. There may be different suppliers to H/F with differing quality. If you can find a known good quality piece, such as a Greenlee, it's a better deal IMHO.

 

[bobadame]

You have to be careful to not over rev these in steel. That also goes for the name brand step drills. The cutting edge is a single thin flute which can quickly over heat and dull. Use oil and drill slow, they seem to last as long as the "good ones".

Actually I think the original Unibits had a single flute. I believe these have 2. Anyway, I've had very good luck with them.

 

[klhitman]

well i have coupon for 6.99 so i thought why not?

 

[Ign]

I abuse them and spin them way too fast everytime I use them. Drill 1/4" plate +. They're awesome. Sometimes one step will dull which basically renders everything after that useless 'cause you can't get past the dull step. But for the money they're amazing and definitely not one-use. They hold up better in hardened materials than cheap twist bits, and don't walk.

 

[chancez]

You have to be careful to not over rev these in steel. That also goes for the name brand step drills. The cutting edge is a single thin flute which can quickly over heat and dull. Use oil and drill slow, they seem to last as long as the "good ones".

Actually I think the original Unibits had a single flute. I believe these have 2. Anyway, I've had very good luck with them.

What this guy said^^^

They work awesome! very nice set of bits that cost a fraction of a single name brand bit.

They lasted a long time untill I put them in my air drill and drilled lots of holes in .120 wall steel box tubing. I had the tip of one glowing red. I just wanted to see what it would take to destroy them.
for less than 10 bucks, they are one of the best deals at HF. on my next trip im picking up another 2 sets, one for steel, and one for aluminum.

 

[Red Green]

Those are a good value. I have some and have been very happy for the price.

Sometimes you can clean up the cutting edge if it gets dull.

 

[Bolster]

I recall in the HF Pass Fail thread, that the early Unibits were pretty high quality, and then they changed sources, and their unibits went down significantly in quality.

So if you buy now, you may not get the same quality ones that those of us who bought early got.

They're so cheap, buy some and see if they last or not.

 

[mtkst19]

after spending 80 bucks for a 3 pack of irwin bits for my home garage use, i bought a set of the hf ones so friends dont f up my good ones. so far they have taken the rigors of their abuse. same can be said for hf's drill bits (have the $100 set and the $60 set)

as already mentioned above-- speed of the drill seems to be the key to longevity. now if i can only get my friends who work out of my home garage to understand that drilling slower is actually quicker. Just picture hand drill on high speed w/ smoke and shrieking noise rolling off the bit. that's my friends. no lube no care...

 

[tvfd911]

A buddy brought over his set today for a project I was working on. probably made 16 holes in 16 ga sheetmetal with one of the bits. Looking at the cutting edge afterwards, some wear was noticed (but were performing just fine), but that was no lube and probably using them faster than we should have. For the little $ he had in them, I was impressed.

 

[klhitman]

after spending 80 bucks for a 3 pack of irwin bits for my home garage use, i bought a set of the hf ones so friends dont f up my good ones. so far they have taken the rigors of their abuse. same can be said for hf's drill bits (have the $100 set and the $60 set)

as already mentioned above-- speed of the drill seems to be the key to longevity. now if i can only get my friends who work out of my home garage to understand that drilling slower is actually quicker. Just picture hand drill on high speed w/ smoke and shrieking noise rolling off the bit. that's my friends. no lube no care...

yah we go though those Irwinn at work cause people will take them and put them in a electric drill and run balls out. the set i have in my box that i use with my cordless on low speed or high speed(depending on the metal) has lasted a while.But i work with people who don't care about their stuff, like using a impact as a hammer and a standard screwdriver for a pry bar.

 

[chancez]

after spending 80 bucks for a 3 pack of irwin bits for my home garage use, i bought a set of the hf ones so friends dont f up my good ones. so far they have taken the rigors of their abuse. same can be said for hf's drill bits (have the $100 set and the $60 set)

as already mentioned above-- speed of the drill seems to be the key to longevity. now if i can only get my friends who work out of my home garage to understand that drilling slower is actually quicker. Just picture hand drill on high speed w/ smoke and shrieking noise rolling off the bit. that's my friends. no lube no care...

reminds me of some kids in my machining class. Someone had the drill speed set so high, that the 1" block of steel had begun fusing to the 1/2" bit and was bulging out the bottom of the block. i couldn't believe it

 

[klhitman]

i need to take a pic of a broken screwdriver with a inpact socket and a washer welder to the shank and put it in the home made tools thread.(yes that is the stuff guys make at work other than buy a 5 dollar wonder bar!)

 

[DanCo]

They work well in plastic, aluminium and other soft material. They dull quickly with steel. That is just my experience. There may be different suppliers to H/F with differing quality.

Same experience here.

 

[mtkst19]

reminds me of some kids in my machining class. Someone had the drill speed set so high, that the 1" block of steel had begun fusing to the 1/2" bit and was bulging out the bottom of the block. i couldn't believe it

this made me laugh.

best drill press experience i have witnessed was when a friend chucked up a turbo manifold we had made out of schedule 40 stainless steel weld ells. he then proceeded to drill the hole for an egt gauge w/ the press speed on the highest setting. i watched the bit glow bright red and melt off. i lol'ed. no lube no nothing. it was worth watching a bit get destroyed to see his dumbfounded look.

the titanium 115 bit set i had lasted 4-5 years. I kept it next tot he press so it was easy access for everyone to use. As a result, pretty much lost or burnt up/miss used them all. was very well worth the money though. i have the cobalt set too, but that one i keep locked up in my box.

im sure there is better usa made bits or what have you. but i have been happy with what i have bought.

 

[JayL]

+1 My HF step drill bit set is doing just fine. Would buy again if needed.

 

[klhitman]

i guess use a tool the right way and it will last forever. i just cant figure out why this 5/8 drill bit wont go through this stainless steal and 1500 rpm.
i wish i could get it through people heads the smaller the bit the faster, the bigger the slower and a pilot hole helps. as a rule of thumb.

 

[t100]

years ago I learned the term "work hardened" in the hard way. I found nothing works good on stainless.

I bought 3 sets of the HF step bits 4 years ago, I did manage to break the stubby one(not to be confused with worn out) with my 18v Milwaukee drill.

over all I'm really happy with them.

 

[ddawg16]

I can't complain.....considering the price and that I don't use them very often....they work when I need them....and I usually need them at the worst time....

If I had paid $100 for a set of step drills and only used them once....I would not consider that a good use....

 

[Benz Tech]

I have used step bits since their inception, under the name Unibit. All of my HF step bits function exactly the same as my Unibits. As an Auto Tech I have performed hand held drilling operations many thousands of times, in hundreds of different materials. Average RPM on any bit should be any speed that gets good results for bits about 1/8" and smaller, bits up to about 1/4" need the 700 RPM range, bits larger than 1/4" use RPM of 200 to 400 NO FASTER. If you apply proper-enough pressure and correct SLOW speed you will find most holes can be bored dry. In tougher jobs drilling steel motor oil is called for.

*** and drilling are the same: you need to go slow, apply just the right amount of pressure, and use plenty of lube and it won't be dull. Happy drilling!

 

[klhitman]

*** and drilling are the same: you need to go slow, apply just the right amount of pressure, and use plenty of lube and it won't be dull. Happy drilling!

yes sir i do agree

 

[oldtools]

I am also very happy with my HF unibit. I needed to make a fuel gauge adapter for my car. I have a 8.8 grade bolt that happen to have the same thread as my fuel rail. I put the bolt on a lathe, but the lowest speed was still extremely high. All I have was only a few drop of tapping fluid. Lot of smoke, but I did it and the bit survive. You can not tell from the picture, but the cutting edge is still sharp.

 

[oldtools]

I have used step bits since their inception, under the name Unibit. All of my HF step bits function exactly the same as my Unibits. As an Auto Tech I have performed hand held drilling operations many thousands of times, in hundreds of different materials. Average RPM on any bit should be any speed that gets good results for bits about 1/8" and smaller, bits up to about 1/4" need the 700 RPM range, bits larger than 1/4" use RPM of 200 to 400 NO FASTER. If you apply proper-enough pressure and correct SLOW speed you will find most holes can be bored dry. In tougher jobs drilling steel motor oil is called for.

*** and drilling are the same: you need to go slow, apply just the right amount of pressure, and use plenty of lube and it won't be dull. Happy drilling!

Some women like it fast and hard.