how do you guys see drill bits for at work??

[cheechi]

When I was a mechanic I bought my own drill bits, when I became a fabricator, the shop bought ALL my cutting tools. Keith

The difference is, drill bits are a consumable tool to a mechanic. But for fabrication it's tooling as in, something that needs to be sharp, precise, removed when worn or damaged, but more a piece/part of the production tool than part of a drlll index. Not just any old drill bit would do, whoever designed your manufacturing process should have specified the drill bit to use, down to the brand & model. Just tell them you're missing a specified part for production to continue.

How many different sizes are you using at this point?

 

[mech-tech]

Well, initially I was only using 4 or 5 bits...but as they wear out and get damaged I am having to use other sized bits to drill the pilot holes...which made his set dwindle away sooo fast. Like I said, the shop payed him for the bits, but that doesn't do me much good if the bits were tossed due to damaged beyond use. I would say I could spend $50 and just buy the best of the best for the bits I need...but he already had the best they sell around here...and even with someone spraying cutting fluid on the bit the entire time it was in use, they still would only stay sharp enough for a week of constant use before they were dull...until some idiot burned them up drilling iron plate dry.

I still have a few random bits in the tool room for the shop that I can use...but as you guys already know, a worn out company tool is sometimes just not worth the hassle of fighting with it to work like it should.

 

[jethro29]

drill bits are shop supplies,you provide the drill,they provide the bits.

 

[jimindm]

I think on a tech basis, bits should be provided by the tech. I would not consider a tecks job to be drilling holes all day in a production facility.

If you are drilling holes in the production phase of something, then the bits should be on the employer.

As with most stuff they will buy the cheapest there is. Most facilities buy based on cost and not longevity. I would bet that you could buy packets of single size bits from just about anywhere.

I would maybe try to persuade your employer to look at some of the top of the line bits. They will cost much more than other bits. You will be able to drill hole after hole with them. Having said that sometimes cheap bits work just fine. You just have to figure that they will wear faster, need sharpened more. Sharpening the bits has to be part of the over all cost of the job.

You buy great bits and get a week out of them, drilling many holes. Or you buy very cheap bits and maybe sharpen them a few times and toss them.