Drill bit set recommendations

[msevarino]

^^^Bummer. But not surprised.

I am surprised at the lengths this person seems to be going to to cultivate a brand. They use an aged corporation, may have been one they had that went inactive, or might be one they purchased as an aged shelf corp. Montana LLC created in 2017. The Nevada parent is the aged corp. It was formed in 2013. Doesnt appear to have been anything more than a zombie corp until 2017, same year as formation of Montana LLC, drill corp. Also, in that YouTube video that dude says he contacted them back in 2013 and knows the owners etc. That video is super sketchy in context. The person behind drill hog is very calculated in what they are doing. Seems like there are easier ways to make a buck.

Anyways, if the norseman impact quick release bit holders are any indication then their drill bits will be excellent. They are the best quick release bit holder, impact or otherwise, I have ever used. Bit feels like it is welded in when it is engaged, no wobble, no play, and the quick release is flawlessly smooth when you want to release the bit. (only ones I have seen made in the US, yes USA is stamped on the piece and Norseman is the manufacturer).

I have only seen them on ebay

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Norseman-3...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2648

 

[msevarino]

I am sorry I hijacked your thread OP. You can safely take drill hog out of consideration now though.

 

[msevarino]

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.

So to actually respond to your question, after deciding to cancel the drill hog order, I am going with these:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Norseman-2...t-Set-1-16-1-2-MADE-IN-USA-CT-29/162273916978

Not mechanics length, but other than that, seems very well suited for your application. Can handle high temp applications and metal cutting well, and not titanium aluminum nitrate coated, so don't have to worry about not using them with aluminum. Also, three sided shank.

 

[jeffmoss26]

I have used Drill Hog bits with no complaints, regardless of where they are made.

 

[Legion Prime]

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.

Interesting, I hadn't seen that post from Perens before but it seems to confirm my suspicions about Drillhog. Not that there's anything wrong with being a reseller, I just prefer to stick to ones where I don't have to do all sorts of googling and guesswork to figure out what I'm buying.

I have used Drill Hog bits with no complaints, regardless of where they are made.

I'm glad to hear it, many other people have as well. Drillhog does source some of their products from quality manufacturers. Personally though I just prefer not to roll dice with my money.

 

[Hytekrednek]

I am surprised at the lengths this person seems to be going to to cultivate a brand. They use an aged corporation, may have been one they had that went inactive, or might be one they purchased as an aged shelf corp. Montana LLC created in 2017. The Nevada parent is the aged corp. It was formed in 2013. Doesnt appear to have been anything more than a zombie corp until 2017, same year as formation of Montana LLC, drill corp. Also, in that YouTube video that dude says he contacted them back in 2013 and knows the owners etc. That video is super sketchy in context. The person behind drill hog is very calculated in what they are doing. Seems like there are easier ways to make a buck.

Anyways, if the norseman impact quick release bit holders are any indication then their drill bits will be excellent. They are the best quick release bit holder, impact or otherwise, I have ever used. Bit feels like it is welded in when it is engaged, no wobble, no play, and the quick release is flawlessly smooth when you want to release the bit. (only ones I have seen made in the US, yes USA is stamped on the piece and Norseman is the manufacturer).

I have only seen them on ebay

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Norseman-3...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2648

These look to be the extensions/ bit holders patented and made bt Intsy. Spelling may be off. Bosch and Milwaukee both sell the same Intsy patented holders in several sizes, even 7/16'' hex bit extensions.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/BOSCH-Spad...576072&hash=item46a8c35940:g:spgAAOSwD0deP72D

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Milwaukee-...838210?hash=item216d9ba742:g:gPcAAOSwrSpeiYwI

 

[rshadd]

This Norseman 29-piece set is fantastic...

Then put them in a Hout index...

 

[msevarino]

These look to be the extensions/ bit holders patented and made bt Intsy. Spelling may be off. Bosch and Milwaukee both sell the same Intsy patented holders in several sizes, even 7/16'' hex bit extensions.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/BOSCH-Spad...576072&hash=item46a8c35940:g:spgAAOSwD0deP72D

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Milwaukee-...838210?hash=item216d9ba742:g:gPcAAOSwrSpeiYwI

I agree they look like the quick release offerings from milwaukee and Bosch etc. (The intsy page doesnt have anything that resembles these), but it is of a wholly higher quality. I have the milwaukee and have had the Bosch before. Also, these norseman pieces are made in the USA. Milwaukee, Bosch, etc are made in china.

 

[msevarino]

I'm glad to hear it, many other people have as well. Drillhog does source some of their products from quality manufacturers. Personally though I just prefer not to roll dice with my money.[/QUOTE]


Yes, I am sure they are fine bits and they honor the warrantee. But tools are one place where people pay a premium for tools made in certain markets and by certain manufacturers. Drill hog is presenting themselves as if they are a manufacturer, i.e. they are an alternative, wholly unique product from norseman or any other brand, when in fact they are not.

Also, they are clearly going out of there way to cultivate an image of being a "made in the usa" brand while tiptoeing up to the line of fraud. On closer inspection, it looks like they market, for example, a 115pc set, and source it from norseman, some house brand, and maybe some import. Same "product" but would explain why some ads in amazon have made in usa for products that dont have made in USA on the website.

I wouldn the surprised if all the traction they get in made in the usa forums etc, isn't just astroturfing my their marketing team. I admit, in hind site the signs are obvious enough, but the fact that many have the same impression I did is evidence of their intentions. They offer products in the norseman and champion price range, while not offering the same product. They are clearly trying to dupe a pretty specific market. If they are great bits, and they honor the warrantee, why not just be up front about where the bits are made and if you make them yourself or not?

The totality of their strategy, through social media, message boards, "reviews", YouTube videos, and their website, is smoke and mirrors. We shouldn't reward that, even if it isn't illegal.

 

[Hytekrednek]

I agree they look like the quick release offerings from milwaukee and Bosch etc. (The intsy page doesnt have anything that resembles these), but it is of a wholly higher quality. I have the milwaukee and have had the Bosch before. Also, these norseman pieces are made in the USA. Milwaukee, Bosch, etc are made in china.

They have the same Intsy patent, so the must be making their own under licence. I need to get a couple longer extensions to have on hand. It is a very popular design for sure.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0195V2AAM/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[msevarino]

Now that I look at the extensions, they aren't rebadged, they are insty bit. They have insty bit stamped on the quick release. Not sure why the ebay vendor is selling them as norseman, maybe they are, but there aren't any norseman markings on them. They may not be norseman at all, since I have never seen them in the norseman catalog.

In any case, they appear to be made in the USA, and like I said, best QR bithodler I have ever used.

Does the insty bit manufactured by insty have a patent number followed by USA stamped on the black fixed part of the head at the bottom? Would this mean its a US partent or does it mean its made in the US. The only indication I have this is norseman or made in the US is the advertisement by the seller.

https://bowerstool.com/norseman-3-6-12-x-1-4-quick-change-chuck-hex-shank-bit-extension-set-usa/

I am going to develop a reputation on Garage journal as a mark....

 

[Hytekrednek]

I am not sure if US made, or just US patent. Probably US made. Intsy makes lots of US made items, at least they used to.

Check this vid out...

another...

 

[Handyandy23]

Are the Chicago Latrobe (by Greenfield) US-made? Or sums US-made and some not? They don't do a very good job of marketing themselves it seems.

Lots of offerings on Amazon for decent prices, but no COO listed. A few reviews called them US-made. Googling their own website doesn't specify COO, which just dumbfounds me. But a couple other sites like Grainger list USA as COO.

Is this just the inverse of Drillhog and they are actually US-made but fail to properly market that? Or just a Chinese rebrand?