Drill Bit Set for Drill Press Questions

[bulletpruf]

Fellas -

I'm active duty military, in Korea for 2 years. 98% of my tools are in storage. While I'm here, I'm trying to supplement and upgrade my tool collection.

Before I left Ft Benning, GA, I bought a large drill press; pictured below. Takes up a lot of room, but it's been on my list of tools to buy for quite some time. What I have yet to purchase - drill bits of the appropriate size (believe it takes bits with 3/4" shank and smaller; all of my stuff is 3/8") and a drill press vise.

Majority of my work is automotive; I restore/hotrod/upgrade classic cars in my spare time, and I mainly drill into metal; aluminum or cast iron.

As for drill bits, I'm obviously looking for the standard twist drill bit. Jobber length. I'm thinking tungsten carbide is better than high speed steel. What about the shank size -- should I look for bits with 3/4" shank or am I fine with 1/2" shank?

Not looking to drop $1,000 on drill bits but realize I'll have to spend more than $20 for a decent set that will last a while. Thoughts on good bang for the buck? Gyros looks like they are real proud of their stuff, but it would be difficult to drop $600 on a set of cobalt drill bits when I can get a set of high speed steel bits at Harbor Freight for $30 http://www.harborfreight.com/8-piece-silver-and-deming-drill-bit-set-527.html#.Uxxildz6TwI

Thanks,

Scott

 

[Outlawmws]

For most uses HSS is more than antiquate, Coatings are for specialized use or particular productions work. if you do a lot of drilling on thick aluminum, you might want to avoid even the black oxide coatings in favor of plain unfinished HSS.

There was a thread in the last couple of weeks discussing many aspects of coated drill bits.

 

[rharman]

The Harbor Freight $99 set gets decent reviews. Fractional, Letter, and Number sets all-in-one.

I've been considering it just to get the letter set. I have fractional and number already but nothing wrong with spares of those.

With a 25% coupon it's hard to pass up.

 

[Outlawmws]

Pass on it. HF has hit of miss quality bits at best, based on many other threads on the same topic...

 

[jagwinn]

Javelin! Looks good.

 

[Jamming]

No matter what bits you decide to buy learn to sharpen them. I know how to sharpen a drill bit by hand but my Mother in law got me a Drill DR. For Christmas one year. A small learning curve but once I had it it stays out on the bench for daily sharpening of bits, it's a nice bit(pun intended ) of kit.

 

[bulletpruf]

For most uses HSS is more than antiquate, Coatings are for specialized use or particular productions work. if you do a lot of drilling on thick aluminum, you might want to avoid even the black oxide coatings in favor of plain unfinished HSS.

There was a thread in the last couple of weeks discussing many aspects of coated drill bits.

Ok, HSS sounds like something to start off with.

I will not be doing much drilling on thick aluminum.

Thanks,

Scott

 

[bulletpruf]

The Harbor Freight $99 set gets decent reviews. Fractional, Letter, and Number sets all-in-one.

I've been considering it just to get the letter set. I have fractional and number already but nothing wrong with spares of those.

With a 25% coupon it's hard to pass up.

I'll check the HF stuff out. I have a pretty good set of Dewalt drill bits, but it's smaller stuff.

Thanks,

Scott

 

[bulletpruf]

Pass on it. HF has hit of miss quality bits at best, based on many other threads on the same topic...

Ok, I'll do a search for the other threads.

Thanks,

Scott

 

[bulletpruf]

Javelin! Looks good.

It's a work in progress. Original Z code '71, loaded with 401, AC/PS/PDB, console, luggage rack, etc. Now has owner built 401 w/Edelbrock heads, T-10, NASCAR style 9", full cage, etc.

Have a few GTOs and a 66 Fairlane GT convt. too. All back in the states.

thanks

Scott

 

[MFolks]

If you plan on drilling hardened metals, a good set of Cobalt bits is what you'll need. Slow speeds, coolant or oil, and steady pressure.

 

[bulletpruf]

No matter what bits you decide to buy learn to sharpen them. I know how to sharpen a drill bit by hand but my Mother in law got me a Drill DR. For Christmas one year. A small learning curve but once I had it it stays out on the bench for daily sharpening of bits, it's a nice bit(pun intended ) of kit.

Looks like a good piece of gear. I'll add it to my list.

Thanks,

Scott

 

[bulletpruf]

If you plan on drilling hardened metals, a good set of Cobalt bits is what you'll need. Slow speeds, coolant or oil, and steady pressure.

Thanks. Will start pricing these and see what I can find.

Scott

 

[retfr8flyr]

The problem with Cobalt bits is, unless you spend big bucks for the solid Cobalt bits, you can't sharpen them because the Cobalt is just a fine coating over HSS. I would just get a good set of bits and sharpen them regularly. I like to buy American and I have had great success with these USA made bits. http://www.wintersdrillbitcity.com/ I use them in my drill press, as well as for all my hand drilling.

 

[theknurl]

The problem with Cobalt bits is, unless you spend big bucks for the solid Cobalt bits, you can't sharpen them because the Cobalt is just a fine coating over HSS. I would just get a good set of bits and sharpen them regularly. I like to buy American and I have had great success with these USA made bits. http://www.wintersdrillbitcity.com/ I use them in my drill press, as well as for all my hand drilling.

you're confusing terms;
there are HSS bits
Cobalt HSS bits
there are solid Carbide bits
and TiN coated bits (gold colored)

there are no solid Cobalt bits

 

[bulletpruf]

you're confusing terms;
there are HSS bits
Cobalt HSS bits
there are solid Carbide bits
and TiN coated bits (gold colored)

there are no solid Cobalt bits

Ok, the Dewalt stuff that I have is gold colored.

I'm assuming you can sharpen cobalt HSS bits; let me know if I'm wrong here.

Thanks

Scott

 

[retfr8flyr]

You're correct, brain fart at 4 am, I was thinking of the Carbide tipped and Tungsten coated bits as not being able to be sharpened. Cobalt bits are actually made from a steel alloy with 5 to 8 percent cobalt. I still recommend the Winters drill bits though.

 

[Mohawk Dave]

a great drill, IMO, is Norseman. GJ is talking about a group buy here...http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=239330

Might want to get in on that if it happens. I am.

Here's a great all around set...http://store.harryepstein.com/cp/DrillBitSets/J-115.html

EDIT: and when you need to buy bigger than 1/2", (you can buy large sets) or you can go to eBay and find singles that are new surplus. Cleveland, Precision, Guhring, etc... I find them at yard sales and estate sales. Pay a buckor two each time for big drills...they are usually in their cardboard tube case.

 

[bulletpruf]

You're correct, brain fart at 4 am, I was thinking of the Carbide tipped and Tungsten coated bits as not being able to be sharpened. Cobalt bits are actually made from a steel alloy with 5 to 8 percent cobalt. I still recommend the Winters drill bits though.

Checked out the Winters website. Sounds like good stuff, but no prices posted.

Thanks

Scott

 

[bulletpruf]

a great drill, IMO, is Norseman. GJ is talking about a group buy here...http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=239330

Might want to get in on that if it happens. I am.

Here's a great all around set...http://store.harryepstein.com/cp/DrillBitSets/J-115.html

EDIT: and when you need to buy bigger than 1/2", (you can buy large sets) or you can go to eBay and find singles that are new surplus. Cleveland, Precision, Guhring, etc... I find them at yard sales and estate sales. Pay a buckor two each time for big drills...they are usually in their cardboard tube case.

Norseman stuff looks pretty nice and reasonably priced.

Like your signature -- I spent a few years in the 82d Airborne - 2001-2003.

Scott

 

[Mohawk Dave]

Norseman stuff looks pretty nice and reasonably priced.

Like your signature -- I spent a few years in the 82d Airborne - 2001-2003.

Scott

I knew that when you were talking about Ft. Hot As Hell. All American.

 

[jeffmoss26]

I believe Winters are just rebranded Norseman...

 

[uart]

Does anyone know what the composition of those "Norseman Hi Molybdenum" drills are.

I'm just interested in compostion, they mention "Hi Molybdenum" a lot in their marketing material but don't give any specifics.

By way of comparison, common M2 grade is 6% W, 5% Mo, 4% Cr and 2% V. Some cheap Chinese "HSS" drill bits are as low as 4% W, 2% Mo, 4% Cr, 1% V.

W = Tungsten. Mo = Molybdenum, Cr = Chromium, V = Vanadium.

 

[Jim C.]

I recently bought a 1 - 60 wire set of bits from Norseman in a Huot index. I'm very satisfied with the bits and the index. Both the bit set and the index were made in Minnesota.

Jim C.

 

[bulletpruf]

Thanks, fellas. Lots of Norseman on eBay and Harry Epstein has a few nice sets, too.

Scott

 

[bulletpruf]

Figured out that I have a 29 piece fractional Dewalt set - gold ferrous oxide. They appear to have the wrong angle/degree - not 135 and not 117. Smaller numerically than that, and from what I can tell, that's not good for drilling harder materials. Was thinking I could just get a larger set of Norseman stuff for now, but now I think I need the larger Norseman set.

I like the 115 piece cobalt set - http://www.fastenal.com/web/product...pcode=&filterByStore=&filterByVendingMachine=

Maybe something like this for the larger stuff? http://www.fastenal.com/web/product...pcode=&filterByStore=&filterByVendingMachine=

Thanks,

Scott

 

[d.mcfarland]

There's a group buy going on right now in the HOT DEALS section for drill bits. Check it out and save some cash brother!

 

[bulletpruf]

There's a group buy going on right now in the HOT DEALS section for drill bits. Check it out and save some cash brother!

Thanks, I e mailed the point of contact for a price check.

Scott

 

[Shadowdog500]

I bought the HF $99 Cobalt drill bit set Last June and it kicks **** on metal.

I also have the $39 HF drill set and it is OK for most stuff. I also bought a case with multiple replacements for all of the fractional sizes for around $30 AT costco. I wish they had the same for number sizes. These work ok on most stuff.

If that drill press has a morse taper(and I bet it does), you may want to look for morse taper bits for the larger sizes.

Hope the Mexican **** Spam that precedes this post is gone soon. ( those girls look rough)

Chris

 

[uart]

Figured out that I have a 29 piece fractional Dewalt set - gold ferrous oxide.

The ones with a "black oxide" coating are ferrous oxide. If yours are a gold color then it's much more likely that they have a Titanium Nitride (Ti-N) coating.

They appear to have the wrong angle/degree - not 135 and not 117. Smaller numerically than that, and from what I can tell, that's not good for drilling harder materials.

You mean that they're sharpened to something less than (pointier than) 118 degrees. Unless they've been resharpened that would be unusual for a common off the shelf brand like DeWalt. Are you sure they're not just pilot points like these ones.

 

[bulletpruf]

I bought the HF $99 Cobalt drill bit set Last June and it kicks **** on metal.

I also have the $39 HF drill set and it is OK for most stuff. I also bought a case with multiple replacements for all of the fractional sizes for around $30 AT costco. I wish they had the same for number sizes. These work ok on most stuff.

If that drill press has a morse taper(and I bet it does), you may want to look for morse taper bits for the larger sizes.

Hope the Mexican **** Spam that precedes this post is gone soon. ( those girls look rough)

Chris

**** spam still there. Wife was sitting next to me when I pulled up the post; wondering what the he11 I was looking at...

Ok, I don't know what a morse taper is. Will have to do a Google search. Also need to see if I can find more pictures of it.

Thanks

Scott

 

[bulletpruf]

The ones with a "black oxide" coating are ferrous oxide. If yours are a gold color then it's much more likely that they have a Titanium Nitride (Ti-N) coating.


You mean that they're sharpened to something less than (pointier than) 118 degrees. Unless they've been resharpened that would be unusual for a common off the shelf brand like DeWalt. Are you sure they're not just pilot points like these ones.

That's what I have - Dewalt 29 piece, pilot points. Gold in color. Are these worth a darn for use in my drill press to drill metal?

Thanks

Scott

 

[Mohawk Dave]

That's what I have - Dewalt 29 piece, pilot points. Gold in color. Are these worth a darn for use in my drill press to drill metal?

Thanks

Scott

Yes, they are worth a darn. Not a Guhring or anything, but don't overheat and use some type of fluid. Magic Tap etc...at least WD40 if nothing else. And obviously not 1" thick metal.

There are drills that cost way more, and I have them. That being said, I carry this same DeWalt set in my "handyman-mom needs help around her house-go bag". They are the best drills I (personnaly) have found from the big box stores. And cheap enough that if you damage you can cheaply/easily replace.

In fact, when I'm doing rivets in the field, I buy the 4-pack? of the DeWalt 3/16 pilot points to drill through the sheet metal and square tube. They hold up "pretty dang good" in a hand drill. In a DP they'd hold up even better.

 

[Shadowdog500]

**** spam still there. Wife was sitting next to me when I pulled up the post; wondering what the he11 I was looking at...

Ok, I don't know what a morse taper is. Will have to do a Google search. Also need to see if I can find more pictures of it.

Thanks

Scott

I just lost a long post I was typing with photos (ugh!!)

Here us a video.

Chris

 

[bulletpruf]

I just lost a long post I was typing with photos (ugh!!)

Here us a video.

Chris

Thanks for the link, Chris. It's just a regular drill chuck as far as I can tell.

Scott

 

[uart]

That's what I have - Dewalt 29 piece, pilot points. Gold in color. Are these worth a darn for use in my drill press to drill metal.

Yeah, they should work fine. The idea of the pilot point is to pre-drill to approximately the web thickness of the main drill section, the same effect as drilling a separate pilot hole.

If you want them to last ok drilling steel, then use a cutting fluid and go easy on the pressure at the start (while it's only pilot that's drilling).

The only thing I hate about pilot points is that you can't easily resharpen them on a grinder.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I looked around for a decent set of bits but didn't want to dish out a huge chunk of money for bits all at once, not know what I was going to get. I decided to build my own set. The first thing I needed was a case. Apparently, I was looking in the wrong place and wanted hands on before buying. I finally found a decent case at Menards for a decent price, IMHO.

http://www.menards.com/main/tools-h...l-bits/drill-index-case/p-1476863-c-10079.htm

Then I started to fill it. I had some luck with the bits I bought locally at True Value, which were made in the USA. I started picking a up a few bits a week or as I went to the hardware store. I was buying their Master Mechanic TiN bits, which unfortunately about half way through my got replaced with some China made bits. Attached pic is stolen off Ebay as areference of what I bought.

If I had to do it over, I'd probably find a nice big set with a good recommendation here, buy once and be done.

 

[bulletpruf]

Yes, they are worth a darn. Not a Guhring or anything, but don't overheat and use some type of fluid. Magic Tap etc...at least WD40 if nothing else. And obviously not 1" thick metal.

There are drills that cost way more, and I have them. That being said, I carry this same DeWalt set in my "handyman-mom needs help around her house-go bag". They are the best drills I (personnaly) have found from the big box stores. And cheap enough that if you damage you can cheaply/easily replace.

In fact, when I'm doing rivets in the field, I buy the 4-pack? of the DeWalt 3/16 pilot points to drill through the sheet metal and square tube. They hold up "pretty dang good" in a hand drill. In a DP they'd hold up even better.

That's good to hear. I did a little bit (no pun intended) of research before purchasing them, so glad to hear I didn't waste my $.

I'll probably go with the 115 piece Norseman set and do like you did -- keep the Dewalt set in my household box or my truck.

Thanks,

Scott

 

[bulletpruf]

Yeah, they should work fine. The idea of the pilot point is to pre-drill to approximately the web thickness of the main drill section, the same effect as drilling a separate pilot hole.

If you want them to last ok drilling steel, then use a cutting fluid and go easy on the pressure at the start (while it's only pilot that's drilling).

The only thing I hate about pilot points is that you can't easily resharpen them on a grinder.

I toasted a few of them already using w/o cutting fluid; should be easy enough to sharpen (Drill Dr. is on my wish list) or replace. Will have to order some cutting fluid, too.

Thanks,

Scott

 

[bulletpruf]

I looked around for a decent set of bits but didn't want to dish out a huge chunk of money for bits all at once, not know what I was going to get. I decided to build my own set. The first thing I needed was a case. Apparently, I was looking in the wrong place and wanted hands on before buying. I finally found a decent case at Menards for a decent price, IMHO.

http://www.menards.com/main/tools-h...l-bits/drill-index-case/p-1476863-c-10079.htm

Then I started to fill it. I had some luck with the bits I bought locally at True Value, which were made in the USA. I started picking a up a few bits a week or as I went to the hardware store. I was buying their Master Mechanic TiN bits, which unfortunately about half way through my got replaced with some China made bits. Attached pic is stolen off Ebay as areference of what I bought.

If I had to do it over, I'd probably find a nice big set with a good recommendation here, buy once and be done.

Thanks for the input. Going to go with the big Norseman set and be done with it.

Scott