identifying drill bit

[stove39]

When my grandfather passed away, i got my hands on a lot of his old tools. I have a loaded huot drill index full of drll bits marked with a "M" on them. My question is who makes these, every bit has M then USA under them. I just wanna know how good or bad of a set i have on my hands. I would guess they're good because he tried to stay away from cheap tools. Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[ericg]

When my grandfather passed away, i got my hands on a lot of his old tools. I have a loaded huot drill index full of drll bits marked with a "M" on them. My question is who makes these, every bit has M then USA under them. I just wanna know how good or bad of a set i have on my hands. I would guess they're good because he tried to stay away from cheap tools. Any help is greatly appreciated.

The "M" is utilized to denote Cobalt drill bits. These bits are usually used on harder metals like stainless steel.

Eric

 

[AZ_Catskinner]

IIRC, the "M" was used historically to designate that the bits are for use in machine applications (ie, lathes), they are somewhat shorter than jobber bits of an equivalent diameter.

 

[Outlawmws]

Pics would help but it could also be the Trademark for "Morse" who made both drills and taps. So now you have three theories to chose from...

BTW if they are Morse, those are excellent drills.

 

[Cougar]

Pics would held but it could also be the Trademark for "Morse" who made both drills and taps. So now you have three theories to chose from...

BTW if they are Morse, those are excellent drills.

I go along with the Morse trademark.
Cobalt drills are marked HSCO.

 

[ericg]

I go along with the Morse trademark.
Cobalt drills are marked HSCO.

I guess it could mean many things. I have a set of Irwin cobalt bits and they are stamped with an M on them and the coo of USA.

 

[Cougar]

I guess it could mean many things. I have a set of Irwin cobalt bits and they are stamped with an M on them and the coo of USA.

You are correct.
I've used some Morse bits, iirc they had an M on them.
Looked at a Precision Twist cobalt drill, it was marked HSCO.

 

[ericg]

You are correct.
I've used some Morse bits, iirc they had an M on them.
Looked at a Precision Twist cobalt drill, it was marked HSCO.

Clarification: I did some research and found this link:
http://www.shopfloortalk.com/forums/archive/index.php?t-15132.html
Cobalt bits are marked with the letter "M" followed by a number which represents the percentage of cobalt in the bit. I looked at the markings again on my bits and after using a magnifying glass, there is the number 42 after the "M" on the drill bits. This thread has shown me that I need glasses. The numbers were stamped so lightly, it was hard to see them.

 

[Cougar]

Clarification: I did some research and found this link:
http://www.shopfloortalk.com/forums/archive/index.php?t-15132.html
Cobalt bits are marked with the letter "M" followed by a number which represents the percentage of cobalt in the bit. I looked at the markings again on my bits and after using a magnifying glass, there is the number 42 after the "M" on the drill bits. This thread has shown me that I need glasses. The numbers were stamped so lightly, it was hard to see them.

Right again, M-42 cobalt.
I've used plenty of M-42 cobalt hog mills.
I should do some research before answering a question.

I found I needed glasses when I was one turn off on a micrometer.

 

[Outlawmws]

I look at any markings under a magnifier these days any time I want to really read it, and there is often tiny lightly marked info I discover that way.

 

[Outlawmws]

And we still don't know what the answer is for the OP!

 

[Cougar]

Does the M look like this.