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Decent wood spade bits

9

90zcar

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Nov 8, 2013
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I actually don't own a little set of spade drill bits. I never really had the need for any. I do mostly automotive/metal work at home.
Anyways my fiancé wants to do some craft type things for Halloween that my Lenox hole saws probably wouldn't be that great for. Does anyone have these Irwin bits from lowes?
ec0606b39c56903febeb9936981603b2.jpg


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thebeekeeper1

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I have them. They are as good as any. Their nature is to drill sloppy holes, but they drill holes. Forstner bits will drill a much nicer hole, if that is needed. :)
 
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LB-1911

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Sep 24, 2011
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Northwestern Il.
90zcar said:
I actually don't own a little set of spade drill bits. I never really had the need for any. I do mostly automotive/metal work at home.
Anyways my fiance wants to do some craft type things for Halloween that my Lenox hole saws probably wouldn't be that great for. Does anyone have these Irwin bits from lowes?
Click to expand...

Have'em, they work, if you have a HD nearby Bosch DareDevils would be an option. I have those as well and prefer them over the Irwins.

http://www.homedepot.com/b/Tools-Ha...s-Drill-Bits-Spade-Bits/Bosch/N-5yc1vZc90oZ9u
 
I

iScream

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Middle TN
thebeekeeper1 said:
I have them. They are as good as any. Their nature is to drill sloppy holes, but they drill holes. Forstner bits will drill a much nicer hole, if that is needed. :)
Click to expand...

I second this. Forstner bits are so superior to spades that I wouldn't even consider using spade bits for anything I even slightly cared about cosmetically.

-Chris
 
M

MarkG

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May 23, 2012
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Elgin, IL
I'm with the other guys-----by their nature, spade bits don't drill clean holes anyway, so don't spend a lot on them. If you're looking for accurate/neat/clean, buy a Forstner bit set, but it'll cost you!
 
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ggielen

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Apr 7, 2014
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With the above on forstner if the holes need to be clean. As for spadebits, definitely Bosch Daredevil over that Irwin set. I love my daredevils, i won't touch the 'standard' Irwin spade bits anymore unless they were given for free, and even then i'd have to think about it. The ones i have are rusting away in the drawer.

The self-propelling screw design on the daredevils is very helpful when you are in a bad position to exert force, and makes the job go 5x faster than regular spade bits. Irwin does have some too with that type of design, though i have not tried those (Irwin MAX). When i was building my garage one of my friends (girl) was helping out and didn't have the strength to drill a hole in the ceiling, working overhead, with a regular spade bit. If i'd have had the daredevils at the time i'm sure she would have had no problem since they pull themselves in, no strength required.
 
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uart

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Forstner bits require a lot more pressure to make them cut. Yeah spade bits make rougher holes, but they cut a lot more freely and are dead easy to resharpen if they ever need it.
 
OP
9

90zcar

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I was at my local hardware store today and they had the irwins on special for 19.99 so I decided to pick them up for that price and support local business rather than run 20 minutes away to Home Depot. I researched both sets and they both have the same amount of negative/positive reviews. These may get used twice a year of I'm lucky.
9def2ce7e794222e10676226404e8d75.jpg


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engineer2

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Chicago burbs
I bought a set of these at Menards for $10 on sale a few months ago, but haven't used them yet. They look nice though.
 
W

woody 73

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LB-1911 said:
Have'em, they work, if you have a HD nearby Bosch DareDevils would be an option. I have those as well and prefer them over the Irwins.

http://www.homedepot.com/b/Tools-Ha...s-Drill-Bits-Spade-Bits/Bosch/N-5yc1vZc90oZ9u
Click to expand...

Funny story well maybe not so funny at the time but I picked them up on sale at the HD (the Dare devil) bits and dang on the very first hole the tip broke off.
So I am thinking I must be at fault and a few weeks later another tip breaks off what the xzxzxz:wtf: They must be making them super cheap or I got a bad batch or something!
 
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Trey T

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Houston, TX
For holiday crafts, I believe spade bits will work well. I rarely use spade bits, only to run wires through wall stud/frame
 
J

jd_1138

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NE Ohio
Only spade bits I have came with a $15 Ryobi drill/driving set. They work nicely. You really start finding uses for them once you have them. :)
 
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uart

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Australia
djjsr said:
Another option is brad point bits (for wood only). Between Forstners and brad points, I never use spade bits anymore except drilling studs to run wire.
Click to expand...
A good set of brad points up to about 3/8" or 1/2", and an inexpensive set of spade bits to cover the larger sizes from 1/2" up. In my opinion that's the most economical choice for someone doing hobby and craft type of work.


markbugno said:
Spade bits are so easy to sharpen that it really doesn't matter what brand you get.
Click to expand...
Yeah, mine are just the plain "vanilla" type (that don't have a spur in the outer edge like the ones bought by the OP). They are dead easy to sharpen on any reasonably well dressed grinding wheel.
 
U

uart

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Australia
I know we like pics at GJ, so this is what I mean by plain vanilla spade bits (no spur on the outer lip). Cheap, readily available and easy to sharpen.
8285827.jpg
 
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ggielen

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Apr 7, 2014
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69
That taper is interesting.. Spade, forstner, hole saws, they're all impossible to decently enlarge a hole if you can't use a drill press. Seems like those greenlees have that solved.
 
0

03protege

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Sep 13, 2012
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Louisiana
Wait, let me put on my safety helmet....

I bought a big assortment of spade bits from Harbor Freight several years ago and for the 1-3x a year I use a spade bit they have worked great.

They work as well as any other spade bit I have ever used, I'm not sure how well they hold a sharp edge but as little as I use them that won't be an issue.
 
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NoahG

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Feb 24, 2013
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Detroit, MI
I am a believer in the Bosch Daredevil bits. While I've used regular Irwin bits for years with success, I was recently building with some 6x6 pressure treated beams. Needed to drill them for bolts, so I picked up a 12" long, 3/4" Daredevil bit. That thing in my M18 Fuel drill went thru fast! However, they won't replace traditional spade bits, as the screw drive tip isn't always the best choice.
 
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fattony1218

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Aug 4, 2015
Messages
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I bought those screw tipped bosch bits...boy do they cut like a motherf#cker! Glad I still have a set without that screw tip for when I need a nicer hole...

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