Filling a drill index?

[Matt018]

I didnt want hijack a recent thread, but i was curious. I found a Huot drill index on Amazon. And id like to pick up the box because I think it should be good quality. But how would i fill it? It would be quite expensive to buy all the singles i need correct? So is there a full set of drills that can fill that index?

Here is the box.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002FSBKO/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[bob15]

McMaster Carr has drill bits with individual letter, number and fraction sets. I'm sure MSC, grainger, Enco, etc have the same.

One idea is to buy a few bits at a time, say the x/16" bits first. Then save more money and buy the x/32", then the x/64, the letters and the numbers. Honestly, depending on what you're drilling, I would buy the fractions and number bits first.


bob

 

[lilscorpion]

Auctions, eBay, and Craigslist are your friend. Any other way and, you're correct, it's gonna be expensive,

 

[Matt018]

So there is no just master sets of drill bits? without a case?
Any good full indexes i should know about? id like to spend under 200 if possible.

 

[SteelCityYaga]

I agree with bob15

In fact, if you order a set off of McMaster, not only do they come in a Huot drill index it will also be filled with Made in the USA drill bits.

 

[Davefr]

Get a complete set w/index. It'll be cheaper then buying individual bits. Here's an example:

http://www.amazon.com/Precision-Twist-C115COMBP-Conventional-Combination/dp/B001VXW7G0/ref=pd_sbs_indust_2

Don't go cheap on drill bits!! There's nothing worse then no name crappy drill bits!!

 

[Tig Master]

If you want quality bits visit your local welding supply house there you will have many choices for rugged and lasting bits.You won't see any off shore bits there as the welding repair trade are a tough sell.They want something that works not the wall mart specials.

T

 

[RCStocker]

McMaster Carr has drill bits with individual letter, number and fraction sets. I'm sure MSC, grainger, Enco, etc have the same.

One idea is to buy a few bits at a time, say the x/16" bits first. Then save more money and buy the x/32", then the x/64, the letters and the numbers. Honestly, depending on what you're drilling, I would buy the fractions and number bits first.


bob

These 2 companies cahrege 35 % more than everyone else for the same thing. I have an account with both and I get a 30% discount and at times they are still more than others. Any brand of US, German or Japanes drill bits all are good. Buy what you find at the lowest price.

I buy sets all the time for $5 and $10 at the swap meets and yard sales.
I have thousands of drill bits. If you want drill index boxes send me a PM.
You can have them for free. Just pay shipping. I have large drill dispensers full and don't use the little index boxes in the shop. I have them on the service truck but that is all.

That is a free box not free drills. I don't sell drills but I must have 30 extra boxes in fractional, letter and number. Offer only good to the poster. Not everyone else. Sorry. From time to time I fill the boxes and then sell them or give them away. I have index boxes full of drill blanks, reamers, center punches and drills. If you want any I will give you my grandkids e adress and you can buy them form them. They sell all the tools.

 

[Packard V8]

Retail is too expensive to buy it one piece at a time. I'm always gobsmacked when I see the $5 for a single 3/8" drill.

As previously stated, there are lots of partial sets on craigslist/garage/estate sales. I buy all the indexes and loose drills if they're reasonably priced. In the winter when there are feet of snow, I sort through all the detritus, throw away the obvious junk, broken, too short. Then I sharpen the better quality and sort them into the five or so fractional indexes, plus one letter and one number index.

FWIW, you need a good sharpener. Even the generic General/Craftsman will do a decent job if you practice with it and are careful. The more expensive Drill Doctor is excellent for smaller-than-3/8" drills.

jack vines

 

[hifi_hokie]

Do you guys that do a combination of wood and metalworking have to buy two sets of bits - one HSS for wood and cobalt (or other harder material) for metal?

Or is there a choice for both ferrous materials and wood?

 

[Outlawmws]

Hokie, for wood I use HSS brad points, not the usual drills you would use on metal (Unless I need an odd size not usually available in Brad point). But I'm still with HSS for metal unless its an unusual metal for hardness. the difference is in the point, not the drill's material.

 

[Mohawk Dave]

Like others on here, I buy boxes full of dirty nasty drill bits at yard sales and swap meets. 5 to 20 bucks a box usually. First I look through them and make sure they are USA, HSS, or a namebrand or COO that is good. If so, I buy them, bring them home and clean them and then fill my indexs-(which I also buy at yard sales and swap meets).

My buddy works at a machine shop and their drill bit sharpener is about $3,500 and is BA. He told me to go with the DRILL DR. for $130 on Amazon as it works "pretty dang good" and will do most of what I need.

My point is, used Good Bits, plus a Drill Dr, and you can have 10x the drill bits for the price of new.

BTW, anyone have opinions on the Drill Dr? I'll search now on GJ. Thanks.

 

[bob15]

I've has the Drill Dr 750 for close to 10 years now and I love it. They used to come with a video for directions (not sure if they still do), watch it and follow them; and the sharpener will give excellent results.

bob

 

[Packard V8]

The top of the line Drill Doctor is excellent for drills smaller than 3/8". The larger drills take longer and use up the diamond wheel too fast.

jack vines

 

[Matt018]

I have acces to an Optima sharpener at the machine shop i work at. So sharpening is not a problem, this Optima puts any of the drill doctors to shame, it is the best sharpener on the planet.

 

[trexdoink]

Love the boxes of old bits but to fill the gaps, MSC industrial has them all.

 

[Steevo]

For new drill bit sets, check Harry Epsteins:
http://store.harryepstein.com/cp/DrillBitSets/J-29.html

 

[thightower]

Those are nice. Used to work in a shop that had the letter and number drill bits, I was there 12 years, only used them a couple times. The letter and numbers come in handy in machine work and drill and tap situations. I personally wouldn't worry about spending the money on them. I'd spend the money on a good set of fractionals.