Drill Bits

[Dieselinjected]

What do you guys use for mild steel? I have the black oxide drill bits and I find they get dull pretty quick and I'm always sharpening them. I dont mind sharpening bits but mine are getting some short. I also need a larger set cause mine only goes up to 3/8 and I'm missing a few. I see there is a lot of different types of bits available ie: HSS, zirconium nitride, cobalt, titanium coated etc. What type bit works well for you?

 

[Grogan14]

A quality US-made HSS drill will do wonders for you. I use Precision Twist brand. There are others, but I'm not sure which ones have gone overseas, as so many have in the recent past.

 

[Packard V8]

With bits being a commodity, you pretty much get what you pay for. Go into McMaster, MSC, Enco, Travers; any of the big tool suppliers and decide how much goodness you can afford.

jack vines

 

[Stephenw]

Who makes the black oxide bits that you are using?

I like the made in USA set sold by Enco. It goes on sale frequently.

http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRIT?PARTPG=INLMKD&PMPXNO=2618857&PMAKA=300-0027

 

[larry_g]

How are you turning the drill bit? So many times I see people with a hand drill overspeeding the bit and burning it up. I have Precision bits also and good life. Triumph is another good one. I also try to get screw machine (short) bits. If I have enough length to use them. Forgo the coated bits unless your in production or have enough knowledge to know you need them. Most coatings have been developed for specialized drilling in different materials or production environments. Cheap bits with a gold color are marketing wizardy to seperate you from yor money. Stick with a decent HSS bit.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[american lockpicker]

Artu

 

[Krokodil]

I use Alpen or Somta. Technique is much more important for drilling steel, especially larger holes. Drilling larger hole should be a milling (read slow) action rather than a fast action.

 

[JayL]

Who makes the black oxide bits that you are using?

I like the made in USA set sold by Enco. It goes on sale frequently.

http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRIT?PARTPG=INLMKD&PMPXNO=2618857&PMAKA=300-0027

How much do this set usually go when on sale?

Thanks

 

[Stephenw]

How much do this set usually go when on sale?

Thanks

I think they were $129 last time I saw them on sale. I also think they go on sale about every 2 months.

 

[Bulldog13]

Just bought a Dewalt Set...titanium...drilled through my Jeep frame like butter...not bad for a 20 bucks set of bits.

 

[TheDukeofDeere]

Anyone use the Northern Tool bits?

Seems like a reasonable set.....I'm sick of buying the 19 pc. sets from the big box chains.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_579_579

 

[5lima30]

I have had decent luck with Irwin blue type bits. I have set of H/F silver & demming bits that have OK so far. Other than the 3 pc step drill I have not had good luck with other H/F bits. YMMV.

 

[mrpowderkeg]

I usually use Norse or Viking bits

 

[wheats71]

mac tools warrenty their drill bits at least here in canada
i paid @ $200.00 for a set to 1/2" very sharp
seem to stay sharp

 

[Vicegrip]

as said speed and cutting fluid are key. I found regular water works wonders to keep temps down while cutting. A drill bit is a pair of chisels that runs in circles. Overheating the cutting edges or letting them chatter and jump around kills them quick. I have killed good USA and cheap import bits and have drilled many holes with ether as well.

Stainless steel is its own thing. It has a two fold strike against your cutting and drilling tools. It both heat hardens and add to this the heat of cutting or drilling does not spread out as fast as in carbon steel or aluminum. This means drilling or cutting heat builds up fast and high and hardens the metal right where you are trying to cut it. This kills the cutting edge on the bit or saw teeth making even more heat. I always use water or cutting fluid when working stainless. Stainless grinds well. I was cutting some 1/8 last night and used a 7" grinder with cut off wheel to make some clean cuts. i will burn up a $5 cutoff wheel over $20 worth of blades any day.

 

[Case IH]

I have Milwaukee drill bits and they see to have lasted....if you are ever looking for hole saws milwaukee isthe only one that works on steel for fore thatn 5 min before it is dull

 

[klhitman]

i use the irwin bits i bought at lowes
http://www.irwin.com/tools/browse/drill-bits/metal-twist-drill-bits/black-oxide-drill-bit-sets
like everyone else had said speed and oil has a lot to do with it. as a rule of thumb i always say the bigger the bit the slower it needs to go. and as for SS get a **** load of cheap bits and go slow with lots of cutting oil. i hate drilling SS.

 

[Coach James]

I think they were $129 last time I saw them on sale. I also think they go on sale about every 2 months.

For $129, I would get them.

The Northern set TheDuke posted looks like the Enco set.

ARTU has the main office about 2 miles from my gym but do no sales there. I think they are made overseas now.

Coach

 

[asp]

I've got the 29 piece milwaukee HSS set. Cutting fluid, low rpm, gentle feed, super sharp and hard bits = no problem.

For cheap hole saws, check out Heleta's stuff. I've had pretty good luck with them and they're cheaper than anything else I've found.

 

[eyeboltman]

go slow and use oil on the bit. just like the guys said ,,

 

[Dieselinjected]

The black oxide bits I have are just cheap ones I got from somewhere. I also have some bits that are only marked hss Usa on them and they are nice bits. As for over speeding the drill I probably do that sometimes but I usually take my time and run the right speeds. The formula for figuring out the correct speed is pretty easy once you know it. And yes I use oil when drilling but sometimes i am drilling and run out of oil then dont bother to stop and refill the oil squirter.

 

[lalaland]

Whats a drill bit???


A piece of a drill?

 

[Dieselinjected]

So I guess what you guys are saying is that I should get a good set of HSS bits and leave the black oxide,titanium,cobalt,zirconium coated bits at the store?

 

[brianpgriset]

That's what I would say. As already mentioned, the best way to keep a twist drill sharp is to use proper cutting speeds and lubricants. I use the cheap Enco jobber drill sets and have never had any problems and have cut many many holes in steel upto 1/2" thick.

 

[asp]

I think something that a lot of you guys are confusing is that black oxide and titanium nitrate are only coatings. You can get black oxide HSS or TiNi HSS bits. The underlying metal is what's important.

 

[klhitman]

a buddy brought his trailer by last night and wanted some eye bolts put on so i busted out the irwin set. we didn't use any oil but drilled a pilot hole then the 1/2 hole in the 1/4 steel, worked like a charm.

 

[RbrtAWhyt]

Whats a drill bit???


A piece of a drill?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drill_bit

 

[psyduck731]

get cobalt steel drill bits the cobalt in them dissipates heat which prolongs drill bit life

 

[OldToolMan]

the cobolt is also a bit easier to brake . if you need sets or singles i have lots of both.any drills i sharpen i inspect first if i can't tell where it is from or it says CHINA it does in the trash...I have a nice older Darex Tool.works great

 

[Gregg33]

Not a big fan of off-shore stuff, but I've had good luck with the Dewalt gold colored bits. They are a bit more $ than some of the cheaper store brands, but well worth it imo. Nice center point, reduces "walking" especially for those of us that don't center punch regularly. Like it's been alluded to, overheating a bit kills it, take your time, use the right speed and if possible use oil, the Dewalts though seem to be more forgiving than other cheaper brands I used.

 

[lalaland]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drill_bit

Those look like drills to me, you know the things you put in drill motors so you can drill holes in things.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

Those look like drills to me, you know the things you put in drill motors so you can drill holes in things.

I'm going to make this very clear for you.

Drill:

Drill Bit:

This is non-negotiable. There are no two ways about it.

Why do i have the feeling you're arkangel06 under a new username?

 

[alex71]

technically lalaland is right. The yellow thing in MLT's post is a drill motor, the skinny metal thing is a twist drill, or drill. Drill for the yellow thing and drill bit for the other thing are layman's terms for these items, while drill motor and drill are industry/machinist's terms.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

technically lalaland is right. The yellow thing in MLT's post is a drill motor, the skinny metal thing is a twist drill, or drill. Drill for the yellow thing and drill bit for the other thing are layman's terms for these items, while drill motor and drill are industry/machinist's terms.

Not where i come from. No-one says "drill motor" in this part of the world, regardless of industry.

 

[Dieselinjected]

Not where i come from. No-one says "drill motor" in this part of the world, regardless of industry.

You tell em moose. I was a little puzzled by lalaland's comment but I just shrugged it off as a joke. Now I'm not sure what top think.

 

[alex71]

aren't you in the U.K.? I would venture to guess that most GJ members from the U.S., especially those age 40 and older are familiar with the term "drill motor", and certainly all machinists are familiar with the term "twist drill". I any case everyone understands what is meant by "drill bit". And now everyone understands what is meant by "twist drill" and "drill motor", and everyone knows that "drill motor" is not a common term in the U.K.

Anyone got a ***?

 

[A_Pmech]

Stephen Morse invented the twist drill and had the right to name it. The 1912 Morse Twist Drill & Machine Company catalog makes no reference to "drill bits". In the catalog they are called "twist drills" or simply "drills".

This is just more proof that our language is not fixed. 100 years ago if you asked for a 1/2" "drill bit" the hardware merchant would likely give you a funny look and pull out a "bit stock" drill with a square tapered shank. Such a drill is designed for a hand brace and is not the straight shank twist drill we commonly (but incorrectly in reference to the historical perspective) call a "drill bit" today.

Similarly, if one asked for a "drill" in 1940, the merchant would ask "what size?" Asking for a "drill motor" would elicit a different response.

 

[RbrtAWhyt]

aren't you in the U.K.? I would venture to guess that most GJ members from the U.S., especially those age 40 and older are familiar with the term "drill motor", and certainly all machinists are familiar with the term "twist drill". I any case everyone understands what is meant by "drill bit". And now everyone understands what is meant by "twist drill" and "drill motor", and everyone knows that "drill motor" is not a common term in the U.K.

Anyone got a ***?

If you google image "drill bit" you get pages and pages of photos of drill bits and no "drill motors" (first 23 pages anyway).

If you google image "***" you sure as hell don't get any photos of cigarettes...

 

[Skin]

Not a big fan of off-shore stuff, but I've had good luck with the Dewalt gold colored bits. They are a bit more $ than some of the cheaper store brands, but well worth it imo. Nice center point, reduces "walking" especially for those of us that don't center punch regularly. Like it's been alluded to, overheating a bit kills it, take your time, use the right speed and if possible use oil, the Dewalts though seem to be more forgiving than other cheaper brands I used.

In my experience cheap [comparative to US sets] gold [titanium] coated bits dont last. They also cant be sharpened.

 

[Gregg33]

In my experience cheap [comparative to US sets] gold [titanium] coated bits dont last. They also cant be sharpened.

No doubt you do get what you pay for and I prefer to buy U.S./ Canadian products when possible. However I've had good luck with the DeWalt ones, including drilling hardened steel which turned store brand titanium bits blue and deformed the tip from heat, but the DeWalt was no worse for the wear. Other name brand offshore bits like Makita don't work as well imo. Sadly in Canada I'm not sure you can even get domestic made bits without going to a specialty supplier. I was able to find Swiss jigsaw blades the other day but I had to go to 2 different stores.