Auger bits

[GarageGuy89]

Dropping some money and these pricey bad boys. Using them for pulling wire and need to know if there is any difference between the irwin speedbore bits and the greenlee nail eaters? Will the irwin bits eat through nails as well, or will they dull up like a spade the moment you touch nails?

The greenlees are spendy and id like to avoid that price tag, but not sure if the irwins will eat through the nails?

 

[sometoyotaguy]

If they don't say anything about nails, you can bet that nails will damage them.

 

[Richard Cranium]

Irwins will get dull trying to cut through a nail.

 

[Mohawk Dave]

I do not know your time constraints. However most of my auger bits were bought at the Swap Meet for a buck or two and then I take them to my saw sharpener and for $2.25 he sharpens them. Not nail eaters but...

 

[gdocktor3]

The Irwin bits are good, but one nail will cause a noticeable difference. The older Milwaukee augers would go through anything I know, but never used Greenlee.

 

[oxycodone]

The Irwin augers are great, but as mentioned, a nail would mess the pilot tip up - so would anything that's very hard, like brick or concrete (which I ran into far more often than nails when installing low voltage).
I never used the Greenlee augers, but I can't imagine them being that much better/different.

 

[kctyphoon]

Verizon uses the Irwins.. I have the Milwaukee too which is also very good. Both do well drilling through telephone poles. Depending on how many you're buying, I found eBay to be a good source.. I'd avoid nails with any. Sharp edges and nails don't play well together..

You can search for "ship auger bit".. if you're using a 7/16 hex drive impact just make sure the bits have the power strip for the quick chuck. If not, the hex drive impacts like the Milwaukee fuel high torque model, and their fuel right angle impacts both utilize them. Makes bit changes painless and fast..

 

[metal1313]

from experience the irwin bits will dull quickly if you hit a nail. i have a few of the nail eaters and they work well. i think i got them from cripes for a reasonable price

 

[FigureItOut]

I've had the Greenlees for a little while. I haven't hit any nails that I'm aware of but out of the package in clean wood they out perform the Irwins. I got them on Amazon then saw them cheaper at Lowe's.

 

[KMdef9]

I'd only buy the Irwins if you working on brand new construction and can see any nails. One nail and those things are useless. They dull and the shaft gets warped. I only keep mine for blind drilling now, but some of them burn more wood than cut at this point.

Buy the greenless (or ones that are the same style of bit). That style lasts longer against nails and can be resharpened and they don't warp (as easy).

 

[Cope]

This is the set I've had the best luck with. I bought one bit to try them out and went right back for the 6 piece set. A quick glance at Home Depot's website didn't find them, so I guess they're discontinued.

 

[KMdef9]

This is the set I've had the best luck with. I bought one bit to try them out and went right back for the 6 piece set. A quick glance at Home Depot's website didn't find them, so I guess they're discontinued.

I've used those too, lasted just as long as the Irwins.

 

[3rdgen]

Greenlee nail eaters or the Milwaukee ones arn't to bad. If you have a dremel with a little grinding disk you can sharpen them pretty easy just don't get too carried away. The one good things about everyone using nail guns now is the nails seem to be softer so they are a little easier on the bits.

 

[PBCampbell]

For just dull normal bits, get an "Auger" file to sharpen. It's not really hard to do. Whacking a nail shouldn't do much damage, but a screw or bolt (hardened) can. "Wood Owl" is another brand to look into as well.

 

[FMC1959]

Not concerning nails, but just for making holes, I find true auger bits make nice smooth holes compared to the Irwin speed bore. Granted for making holes in studs for electrical, how nice and smooth the hole is, is not as important.

The Speedbor are very aggressive, probably touch faster than a true auger.

 

[GarageGuy89]

When I mentioned the Irwin Speed bore bits in the OP, I was referring to the auger style bits they make, not the flat ones.

I think many of you thought I was referring to the flat spade Irwin speedbor bits. See link below for the type I was referring to and how they would hold up to with nails.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000LQ905E/?tag=atomicindus08-20