Drill bit oraganization

[uscarry45]

I am looking to see how you guys oraganize your drill bits. Over the years I have acquired lots of drill bits - mostly because I break one and it is cheaper to buy another set.

I would like to keep all my drill bits together and have seen the huot drill bit drawer setup which I like the looks of. Are there any alternatives I should look at / make?

I would like to have room for about 5 of each size by 1/16 from 1/16 to 1/2"

Thoughts?

 

[ToolHoarder]

I have an old tackle box I keep mine in, plus a new set of Milwaukee in a separate holder. I mostly have the tackle box set up because I did a lot of finish work, plumbing and light electrical work at other peoples properties, and wanted an easy way to transport my tools. The tackle box has two trays that open with the lid.

I can store my normal bits in the trays, my spade bits sideways in the large compartments, throw in some sliding squares, some files and small planes, plus some screw bits, counter sink bits and miscellaneous stuff in the box.

 

[HanShotFirst]

Buy a Harbor Freight master set, cheapest one you can get. Use them and as you break them, replace from your grab bag of drill bits. But those large set drill organizers are just the chit; can't be beat.

I bought the HF cobalt set for $99.00; the set everyone here said would be ****...well they have been EVERY bit as good as my Hansen's. And again, it comes in that nice jobber box.

 

[zable9]

Huot storage boxes

I am looking to see how you guys oraganize your drill bits. Over the years I have acquired lots of drill bits - mostly because I break one and it is cheaper to buy another set.

I would like to keep all my drill bits together and have seen the huot drill bit drawer setup which I like the looks of. Are there any alternatives I should look at / make?

I would like to have room for about 5 of each size by 1/16 from 1/16 to 1/2"

Thoughts?

 

[Hephaestus29]

Buy a Harbor Freight master set, cheapest one you can get. Use them and as you break them, replace from your grab bag of drill bits. But those large set drill organizers are just the chit; can't be beat.

I bought the HF cobalt set for $99.00; the set everyone here said would be ****...well they have been EVERY bit as good as my Hansen's. And again, it comes in that nice jobber box.

I was reading reviews, and one guy said
that the Drill Master brand drills were
great but the Warrier brand was terrible
and both were from Horrible Freight

 

[T45]

I would like to have room for about 5 of each size by 1/16 from 1/16 to 1/2"

Thoughts?

Get the huot drawer setup, look for it on sale...Zoro 30% off is a good time to buy stuff like this is you can PLAN your capital spending. If you need it immediately, maybe keep an eye on some other options. eg,

http://www.ebay.com/itm/HUOT-DRILL-...SPENSER-ORGANIZER-CABINET-13000-/291683456708

 

[ducksface]

One index by 64ths.
Break one, pull the replacement out of a box, that if you just had to, had them size separated in simple envelopes.
I would never need instant access to five of the same bit.

 

[Ign]

This is one area I gave up trying to be (too) cheap or buck the system. I went Huot and no regrets. They work.

I did, however, buy them on deep sales through Enco or Rutland (both now swallowed by MSC).

 

[HanShotFirst]

I was reading reviews, and one guy said
that the Drill Master brand drills were
great but the Warrier brand was terrible
and both were from Horrible Freight

So the only full set I have from HF are the cobalt bits and they have been every bit as good as my Hansen/Irwin's. I'm a gunsmith, so most of what I drill is tool steel or hardened steel or stainless; all of which are kinda hard on drill bits.

Now I cant tell you if every set HF sells is as good as the one I have, or if they always use the same contractor to make their drills. I just know the one set I got has been very good and I got WAAAY more than my money's worth. I have been replacing with Irwin's when I break/lose drills out of this set. And I re-sharpen my drills using a Drill Doctor.

The Cobalt's were on sale for $99.00 and I had a 20% cupon, so I ended up paying around $80.00 for what turned out to be very good drill bits. Hell, I would have GLADLY paid that for ANY decent set of drill bits.

They have a regular set of tool steel bits for around $50.00 in the 115pc jobber box. I would just about pay that just to have the box, because it's an excellent/handy drill index. I use my drills every day, and I'm so glad I got that set/box. If the HF drills turned out to be ****, I would still keep the box...but in my case, my cobalt drills turned out to be very good drills, so I'm one really happy camper.

 

[Richard Cranium]

This is what I use

 

[velillen01]

This is what I use

I do similar for my loose bits. I also have three sets in the boxes of bits I like for "grab and go". But I tend to keep extras of the common sizes (1/8, 1/4, ect) in the loose bins

 

[jeffmoss26]

I have a couple Huot indexes, an old Huot cabinet with drawers, a round plastic case that I throw in my toolbag, and a nice metal stand for 1/16 through 1/2 inch that sits on the bench.

http://www.carbideprocessors.com/bi...-huot-30550/?gclid=CM-e_9yb99ICFYi6wAod4LQAgA

 

[cheechi]

for 1" insert bits I have one of these each for most common sizes

for 2" bits I have one of the MTS style magnet blocks.

For portable box I keep one of the Milwaukee shockwave sets 'complete' while I usually take the sets out of the box and break them down by size & type otherwise.

a handful of the longer (4" & 6") I keep in a cutlery basket in a drawer they usually get purchased for specific purposes and there isn't always room to store them with the kit they belong.

edit: I didn't realize you were asking about drills. I gave answers regarding bits.

 

[PFSard]

.... and a nice metal stand for 1/16 through 1/2 inch that sits on the bench.

http://www.carbideprocessors.com/bi...-huot-30550/?gclid=CM-e_9yb99ICFYi6wAod4LQAgA

Looks nice. I think I need one. I'll blame you for my spending more money.

 

[Oregon rock crusher]

I hate not being able to find a drill quickly when I need it so I've got a few tray shelves by the drill press with several ways of storing bits. Some are in indexes and some are just poked in insulation foam. By the lathe I keep a set of morse tapers from 1/2" to 1-1/2" in a custom index. Here are a couple pics of a mess of drill bits. Ed.

 

[Davefr]

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=268241&highlight=indices&page=8

 

[rshadd]

For portability, I like the Hout cases... Huot Drill Bit Index for Jobber Length Sizes 1/16" to 1/2" in 1/64th increments



For the shop, the cabinet works well. Huot Drill Stand Dispenser #1-60


The drawer cabinet is perfect form storing multiples of the bits you use and/or break the most.

 

[APEowner]

I like the looks of the Fastcap index but it seems to only be available in fractional. It's I use the Huot drawers and except for price I can't think of anything that would make them better.

 

[ptgarcia]

This is what I use

Do you have more info on that tray? Is that repurposed, or made specifically for drill bits?

 

[d.mcfarland]

If I were you I'd make a wood organizer that works for the space you want to put it.

 

[skruft]

I have just stored the ones I use in sets and kept the extras roughly separated by size. I break mainly very small ones.

 

[disston]

I have several sets in the plastic boxes they were sold in. I have antique drill stands I don't currently use but will fill up someday. I keep loose bits in a small metal case about 8x2x4. There are always a few loose bits around stored in the glove box of my car or mixed in with other stuff in tool boxes.

 

[Richard Cranium]

PtGarcia, it was made for drill bits, I believe it was the insert in a jobber drill bit set.
My B.I.L. purchased a nice little stainless steel Jobber box that has the same insert in it.

 

[derosa]

My issue is figuring out how to store forsner bits, I've got them up to 4" wide and they take a lot of space.

 

[ducksface]

Forsteners are an easy store.
Drill holes for the shank.
Insert shank in hole.
If every one of them was 4 inch, you'd still get 12 of them in just over a square foot of 2x.