Best step drill bit set?
- Thread starter Coryc1
- Start date
PelicanPines
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Best or best value...?
Best value... Harbor Freight.
Best value... Harbor Freight.
laser3kw
Well-known member
X2
I have the three piece set. Works great. Maybe not in a production environment but in a garage, two thumbs up
vavet
Well-known member
Project farm on YouTube covered step drills a while ago. Hercules was not the best, but it was pretty darn good for the money.
dr_clyde
Well-known member
Lenox vari-bit by a mile.
I routinely hog holes in 1/2” stainless with mine.
Any two flute design will be far better than a single flute. For that reason I stay away from Irwin unibits.
I routinely hog holes in 1/2” stainless with mine.
Any two flute design will be far better than a single flute. For that reason I stay away from Irwin unibits.
Ign
Well-known member
I ordered a Temo? I think it was? from Amazon per PF's review. So far it's been fantastic and I'm liking the spiral flute vs straight flute.
HF was awesome around 2009. Something changed in their metallurgy and they just flat-out **** now. Don't waste your $ unless you’re only drilling plastics and nonferrous
HF was awesome around 2009. Something changed in their metallurgy and they just flat-out **** now. Don't waste your $ unless you’re only drilling plastics and nonferrous
sparky 1971
Well-known member
Lenox are the best I have used. I also tried the Milwaukee version and have nothing to complain about. I haven't found a step bit yet that has a tip that holds up. Since I only use them to make a hole larger, the tip doesn't matter so much to me anymore.
Tinner
Well-known member
BiggityBen
Well-known member
i used Klein's for a while but i would break one about every month. i bought the Milwaukee 3 piece set that has 1/4" impact shank and i break one about every 6 months or so now. never used any other though.
macgee
Well-known member
I have a bunch of new old stock Unibit's (pre-Irwin packaging) marked M42 steel on the boxes. They've worked well but I've never used them to start a hole, only enlarge. Also have Norseman's that work well.
The two flute Astro Pneumatic "Blue Steel" step bits shown above look interesting and makes sense, lasting longer, more edge to make same cut. Heat is always a big problem for these so a good coating helps a lot protecting the cutting edge last longer.
The two flute Astro Pneumatic "Blue Steel" step bits shown above look interesting and makes sense, lasting longer, more edge to make same cut. Heat is always a big problem for these so a good coating helps a lot protecting the cutting edge last longer.
dr_clyde
Well-known member
I've never tried the Astro drills, but I have drilled a bit of Hardox. If they hold up to routine drilling of Hardox and stainless, you might have found my new favorite.
I'm going to order some and see how they compare.
I'm going to order some and see how they compare.
Hardox will kill everything eventually, but we use mag drills at low RPM with cutting lube and they've done well compared to the various old sets we've used.
We were using some Mac ones before this and our guy just stopped warrantying them because every other week we've hand him 1 or 2.
APEowner
Well-known member
We use a lot of stainless sheet metal and flame cut/hardened HARDOX at work and when we need to enlargen holes we've switched everything over to AP "Blue Steel" step bits.
Those are pretty.
WisJim
Well-known member
I have an old Unibit that was a dollar or so at a garage sale, but needed something bigger and bought a pair of Menards house brand. The Menards work, but there is an obvious difference between them and the Unibit. The pricier ones are worth it if you use it a lot.
Renegade1LI
Well-known member
Lenox seem to still be good, milwaukee cause you can get them at HD anytime.
2ndGearRubber
Well-known member
I've been happy with my Astros, best I've used thus far.
Daveyclimber
Well-known member
I have a 3 piece set of Irwin, random milwaukee bits and a large klien. The Irwin's have seem the most usage over the last 10 years and they are the best I own hands down.
Everyone here posting should watch this... $30 one of the best he tested is a deal.
How is the Napa set? https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/SER...6478906937&adgroup_id=78844950918&adtype=pla&
Kscardsfan
Well-known member
Used Milwaukee for a while, seemed like good quality. But it was in electrical boxes, so it wasn’t a challenging environment. In my garage I keep the el cheapo harbor freight ones. If they get dull they get trashed and I start over.