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Drill bit set recommendations

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1967Chevelle

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I'm in the market for a quality set of drill bits, I will be using them to restore my car (broken bolts, sheet metal etc...)


from the little research I did it seems like "Norseman" is a good brand made in USA, Just not sure what type to go with as there are so many to pick from

if anyone can recommend a 29 piece kit

I would apricate it.
 
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BTL-A4

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Get the HSS mechanic length set. They are shorter and less prone to break. Get the set with the shanks that are the same diameter as the bit and have the lobes to prevent spin.

Get a metal punch or step drill bit for sheet metal.

I have a set of Cle-Line metric bits that I really like, if you want to look at alternate brands.
 
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Legion Prime

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lilredex

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Greg85mcss

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I have a norseman magnum set and they’re very nice. I’d say they’re at least as good as my $300+ mac set.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
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CobraRed

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Hyper-Step drill bits are the absolute best, but a pretty penny only worth forking over for if you're using them every day and have a Matco guy visit to replace them
 
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danielbuck

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viking/norsman is good. Chicago Latrobe also seems to be good. That's usually what arrives when I order individual drill bits from Mcmaster. (marked with a CL)

Personally for bringing the bit set to the vehicle, I like this style holder:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00627C8ZU/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I'd also get a few stepped drill bits. They are better for drilling into sheet metal. I start with 1/8" hole with a regular bit, then use a stepped bit to get to my final hole size. I like the longer thinner stepped bits, rather than the shorter fatter ones.

And I don't see any on amazon, but I also like having a "stub" short length drill bit set, great for getting into tight spots when combined with a 90 degree drill head. Occasionally I'll have to sacrifice a drill bit, cut it in half and sharpen it to make a super short drill.

Asside from possibly a spotweld drill bit, I would also keep a few left handed drill bits in a few sizes. They seem to work better at removing broken bolts/screws than most "bolt extractors" do. A higher chance of actually removing the bolt anyway :lol_hitti
 
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S

skernv99

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Compiling a list of quality drill bits, what others to add to the list? I'm always up for trying new things. So far:

Norseman
Viking
Chicago-Latrobe
Cleveland
Matco Hyper-step
Mac Tools
Champion


I have heard of Walter Titex and Triumph. Feel free to add to the list. Thanks.
 
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Legion Prime

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skernv99 said:
Compiling a list of quality drill bits, what others to add to the list? I'm always up for trying new things. So far:

Norseman
Viking
Chicago-Latrobe
Cleveland
Matco Hyper-step
Mac Tools
Champion


I have heard of Walter Titex and Triumph. Feel free to add to the list. Thanks.
Click to expand...

Hanson (apparently an Irwin brand, also made in the US now including Marple oddly enough), KnKut, Atlas, MK Morse, WL Fuller, Cle Line, Hertel, Ohio Drill & Tool, and Midwest Cutting Tools should be able to go on the list as well. Precision Twist unfortunately appears to have moved their manufacturing to Brazil some time ago.
 
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Tallpilot

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BTL-A4 said:
Get the HSS mechanic length set. They are shorter and less prone to break. Get the set with the shanks that are the same diameter as the bit and have the lobes to prevent spin.

Get a metal punch or step drill bit for sheet metal.

I have a set of Cle-Line metric bits that I really like, if you want to look at alternate brands.
Click to expand...

This is the Norseman set. It is fantastic. Feel free to shop around for price. We had a couple great group buys here and HJE did step bits last year.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001C92C04/?tag=atomicindus08-20
 
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Hytekrednek

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I love the KNKUT bits I have been using for a year now. This set is stubby length and goes to 1/4'' I like stubbies for the smaller size bits, but I may get the set that goes to 1/2'' also
 
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msevarino

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M6erfan said:
Are you sure that metric set is made in U.S.A.?
Click to expand...

Actually, I just assumed that all of their bits were made in the US. But I guess you're right that the description does not specifically list it, whereas most of their bits it does say made in the US.

Well, might be returning them. Guess I'll find out when I get them.

Thanks for pointing that out.
 
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M6erfan

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msevarino said:
Actually, I just assumed that all of their bits were made in the US. But I guess you're right that the description does not specifically list it, whereas most of their bits it does say made in the US.

Well, might be returning them. Guess I'll find out when I get them.

Thanks for pointing that out.
Click to expand...


Drillhog has been discussed here before. They're a bit dodgy with their advertising "U.S.A." I emailed DH about that exact set (metric) and all I got in response was chirping crickets. I'm not saying they're not made in U.S.A. but I think it's weird that some products say it and some don't.

Also, warranty. Any phone number or email address for DH? I could find neither.

Edit: Some info on Drillhog...
https://perens.com/2018/05/05/drill-hog-drills/
 
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M

msevarino

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M6erfan said:
Drillhog has been discussed here before. They're a bit dodgy with their advertising "U.S.A." I emailed DH about that exact set (metric) and all I got in response was chirping crickets. I'm not saying they're not made in U.S.A. but I think it's weird that some products say it and some don't.

Also, warranty. Any phone number or email address for DH? I could find neither.
Click to expand...


Yea it is unclear to me whether they are just careless or manufacture some bits abroad and some in the US. Their website does not have "made in the USA" for this set, but it says it is made in the USA on amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B010UVA4OU/?tag=atomicindus08-20

https://drillhog.com/collections/hi...letter-number-molybdenum-m7-lifetime-warranty


And there is this:


I ordered some impact nutdreivers from them, they came with that warranty card.
 
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msevarino

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If you want amateur sketchy, check out that wintercitydrillbits.com.

Its unclear what their product line is or how to place an order.
 
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Legion Prime

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msevarino said:
Yea it is unclear to me whether they are just careless or manufacture some bits abroad and some in the US. Their website does not have "made in the USA" for this set, but it says it is made in the USA on amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B010UVA4OU/?tag=atomicindus08-20

https://drillhog.com/collections/hi...letter-number-molybdenum-m7-lifetime-warranty


And there is this:


I ordered some impact nutdreivers from them, they came with that warranty card.
Click to expand...

From what I've been able to gather about DrillHog is that they are a reseller not a manufacturer. They say USA this and USA that but I never seem to see "Made in the USA" anywhere. They seem to just get drills wherever they can source them, slap their sticker on an index and out they go. Some people seem to have good luck with them and find drills marked USA, others not so much. Personally I prefer not to gamble and would rather go with companies I know make a quality product and don't get dodgy about COO.

I think my favorite part about that wintersdrillbitcity.com is their little ad for "USA Fluid"
Frees Frozen Bolts
Why Twist Them Off?
Click to expand...
Why twist them off indeed, is that not how threaded fasteners work? :lol_hitti
 
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msevarino

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Legion Prime said:
From what I've been able to gather about DrillHog is that they are a reseller not a manufacturer. They say USA this and USA that but I never seem to see "Made in the USA" anywhere. They seem to just get drills wherever they can source them, slap their sticker on an index and out they go. Some people seem to have good luck with them and find drills marked USA, others not so much. Personally I prefer not to gamble and would rather go with companies I know make a quality product and don't get dodgy about COO.

I think my favorite part about that wintersdrillbitcity.com is their little ad for "USA Fluid"

Why twist them off indeed, is that not how threaded fasteners work? :lol_hitti
Click to expand...

If this is the case, it is fraud. They hold themselves out as a made in the us brand. Why do you say they source their bits? They claim to make them all in Sunburst, MT.

https://drillhog.com/pages/about-us

I'm not disputing any of this. Just would like to know. I mean they explicitly hold themselves out as a manufacturer, who makes their bits in the US, with their equipment. Indeed, the opposite of what you seem to be saying. That they are a manufacturer first, business people second. If they are a distributor they are committing criminal fraud pretty blatantly. They use the internet, mail fraud. Federal. Big deal. People go to jail for this.
 
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Legion Prime

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msevarino said:
If this is the case, it is fraud. They hold themselves out as a made in the us brand. Why do you say they source their bits? They claim to make them all in Sunburst, MT.

https://drillhog.com/pages/about-us

I'm not disputing any of this. Just would like to know.
Click to expand...

About Us
Drill Hog is a professional cutting tool manufacturer & distributor for many industries including farm equipment, tractor repair, diesel and truck repair, automotive, aviation, metalwork, fabrication, machining, construction, and woodworking.

Drill Hog specializes in manufacturing professional grade cutting tools, which include HI-Molybdenum M7, Cobalt M42, and Niobium NB41. Drill Bits, Screw Extractors, Carbide Tipped Hole Cutters, Hacksaw Blades, Hole Saws, Carbide Tipped Drill Bits, Cut Off Wheels, Grinding Wheels, and more.

Drill Hog utilizes state of the art equipment to produce only professional grade products.

Drill Hog includes a lifetime warranty for as long as you own your drills.

Drill Hog was founded on old fashioned customer service. We will take care of you!
Click to expand...

I don't see anything in there about Montana or anything being made in the US. If they did don't you think it would say so somewhere? If they have "USA" all over their website but nowhere does anything say "Made in the USA" you gotta wonder why not.
 
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msevarino

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Legion Prime said:
I don't see anything in there about Montana or anything being made in the US. If they did don't you think it would say so somewhere? If they have "USA" all over their website but nowhere does anything say "Made in the USA" you gotta wonder why not.
Click to expand...

It does say made in the USA on some of the products, and not on others, which I agree is conspicuous. Strangely though on amazon, it says made in the USA for some products that it doesnt say made in the USA on on their website.

I can return the bits, which I may if the weight of the evidence doesn't convince me they are a US manufacturer, so its not like I am trying to defend this purchase or something, I am indifferent either way. But what you suggest they are doing is no different than if they did just stamp made in the USA on bits made in china. There is no legal difference in terms of the fraud they would be committing.

I am not saying you are incorrect, but I think its a pretty big accusation, with nothing but, "dont you think they would if they were" logic. Well yes, I do think that, but I also think Occam's razor says that they are manufacturers first and business people second, as opposed to risking going to jail or being bankrupted by a federal prosecution for mail fraud, which eventually they would for what they are doing in time.

The site doesn't say anything about sunburt Montana, the dude in the YouTube video I posted in an earlier video about the drill hog warrantee provides this information.

Whether they make them in Montana or wherever, at a minimum the site is pretty clear that they are saying they make all their own bits somewhere in the us with in house tooling. If that isn't the case, I am going to file a consumer complaint with the Montana AG and a fraud claim with the FTC. They should have been shut down and prosecuted long ago. I can't imagine they are taking that risk though. I think they are just sloppy with their marketing, like having COO on the amazon description, but not the Shopify description. Bad copy and paste.
 
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M6erfan

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Legion Prime said:
I don't see anything in there about Montana or anything being made in the US. If they did don't you think it would say so somewhere? If they have "USA" all over their website but nowhere does anything say "Made in the USA" you gotta wonder why not.
Click to expand...

Some of their product pages do say "made in USA". But other product pages don't.
 
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M6erfan

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msevarino said:
If this is the case, it is fraud. They hold themselves out as a made in the us brand. Why do you say they source their bits? They claim to make them all in Sunburst, MT.

https://drillhog.com/pages/about-us

I'm not disputing any of this. Just would like to know. I mean they explicitly hold themselves out as a manufacturer, who makes their bits in the US, with their equipment. Indeed, the opposite of what you seem to be saying. That they are a manufacturer first, business people second. If they are a distributor they are committing criminal fraud pretty blatantly. They use the internet, mail fraud. Federal. Big deal. People go to jail for this.
Click to expand...

On their 'about us' page they make no mention of "U.S.", U.S.A", "made in America" or anything along those lines.

They very well might be the lousiest marketers on the planet :dunno:

At any rate, do us a favor and let us know what you think after you receive your bits. I've been curious about drillhog for a while :beer:
 
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msevarino

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M6erfan said:
On their 'about us' page they make no mention of "U.S.", U.S.A", "made in America" or anything along those lines.

They very well might be the lousiest marketers on the planet :dunno:

At any rate, do us a favor and let us know what you think after you receive your bits. I've been curious about drillhog for a while :beer:
Click to expand...

In my quest to try and drill down actual evidence one way or the other this place looks like a total scam shop.

You're right I didn't read it as carefully as I should have. It also does throw in that they are a manufacturer AND distributor. It then goes on to talk about how THEY are specialists in manufacturing and how THEY utilize state of the art machinery, not their suppliers or partners.

Well as it turns out, with a little sleuthing, it looks like they aren't a manufacturer at all, let alone a US based one. It looks like even the US made stuff is rebrand norseman and rocky mountain twists. The Rocky Mountain twists: made in sunburst Montana. Drill hog on the other hand is a UPS box in Rancho Cucomunga, CA.

https://perens.com/2018/05/05/drill-hog-drills/


And the YouTube video I posted earlier, appears to be an affiliated shill.

I am going to return my bits and stay away from drill hog in the future, simply because of the deception.

I contacted snap on about which bits they make and which bits zephyr makes, and not only did they not equivocate about who makes which bits, but they told me which snap on manufacturing plant the non out sourced bits are made in. This is what drill hog should be doing, and they aren't, and it seems they are being intentionally deceptive. The guy mentioned in the first link who is apparently behind drill hog has had two businesses before. Drill hog is not a manufacturer at all it appears.

Re the snap on bits:

Power bits made by Zephyr
1" Insert Bits with SDM part numbers made by Snap on in milwaukee plant.
SDM10/SDM11 bit holders Zephyr.
Robertson 1" Insert Bits Zephyr

The more you know.

Thanks again for pointing this out to me. I'll be looking at norseman, champion, knkut and others.
 
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