ive been needing a set of left handed bits for removing broken damaged screws/bolts forever...havnt seen any locally...so I checked amazon, most of what I seen is neiko? kinda leary as I hear its harbour freights house brand. anyone got any input, these are just for occasional personal garage use, so im not looking to spend a fortune, but If I do break one I'd like to be able to replace it without buying a whole set!
left handed bits
- Thread starter RAMBIN
- Start date
Sorry, I got the impression you were just looking for a few different sizes. McMasters sells sets as well but they're pricey - about $190 for wire gauge set and $350 for 1/16" - 1/2" (by 64ths). I'm not sure what brand they are but the ones I received seemed to be good quality. More info here:
http://www.mcmaster.com/#left-hand-drill-bits/=124el20
I'm sure you can get smaller sets cheaper. Not sure where though...
http://www.mcmaster.com/#left-hand-drill-bits/=124el20
I'm sure you can get smaller sets cheaper. Not sure where though...
RedneckWelder
Well-known member
Harbor Freight and Neiko are not connected as far as I know but they probably sell some of the same stuff.
I can tell you from experience the HF left hand drills (set is like $8) ain't worth ****. They dull immediately.
I have a small set of the Irwins which have been pretty decent for the money. Like $30 for a set of 5 with extractors. I think they make other sets too. Other sets from quality makers aren't cheap- a set to match a 29 piece drill index is very pricey.
ya I cant see the need for a large indexed set, most easy outs are tapered to work with a few common size bits.. a small set say 6 or so would be great, amazon has those irwins but I wasn't sure how great they would be...vice grips are about the only great thing Irwin ever made
BTW, this is the Snap-on extractor set that I have. Covers a pretty wide range of broken screw sizes if that's what you need them for. $81.
https://store.snapon.com/Combination-Extractor-Sets-10-pc-Left-Hand-Extractor-Set-P635425.aspx
https://store.snapon.com/Combination-Extractor-Sets-10-pc-Left-Hand-Extractor-Set-P635425.aspx
neonlazer
Well-known member
Google Norseman BR-10
Quality set!
Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
Quality set!
Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
lmalcomb
Well-known member
Enco sells them individually.
Richard Cranium
Well-known member
back when I was looking for a set, every one jumped on and said that the harbor freight was a great cheap set. I did buy a set, But have never used them.
jakemac
Well-known member
I don't need left bits often, so I cheaped out and bought the 15pc Ironton index from Northern Tool for $20. They've done the job for less than buying a few individual quality bits. And since they're only used rarely, they should last for some time.
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200631741_200631741
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200631741_200631741
Finky198
Well-known member
I have to disagree with this the HF set are small and work Perfectly fine. Maybe not on a grade 8 or 10.9 fastner, but on small fittings and bolts (upto 3/8 and 10mm) I have had excellent success.
ive broken one bit in 3 years of use... all said and done I think yes there are better options but for 8 bucks if they work for small stuff im fine with that and anything larger I can buy bits as the need arises. ( and i do tons of broken bolt repairs)
Last edited:
ChevyEFI
Well-known member
I haven't had any bad luck w/ the HF 13pc LH set, but I've mostly used it to open holes up to size. Not sure how well they would do on bolt removal, without a sharpening. No blatant dulling and no breakage though.
Katodog
Well-known member
I've always been curious about left-handed drill bits for extractors...must be me but I can't see the different in a left-handed hole versus a right-handed one. The extractor doesn't give a **** about which way the hole was drilled either, you tap it in so it bites, then you run the screw out.
The only ting a left-handed drill bit will do is possibly heat and bite the screw, loosening it or removing it, so you won't need an extractor.
There is no logic in left- or right-handed drill bits. Sorry, been doing this **** for over 30 years and have never used a left-handed drill bits with extractors. Don't see the need or the logic, but if anybody wants to educate me, I love to learn new things.
The only ting a left-handed drill bit will do is possibly heat and bite the screw, loosening it or removing it, so you won't need an extractor.
There is no logic in left- or right-handed drill bits. Sorry, been doing this **** for over 30 years and have never used a left-handed drill bits with extractors. Don't see the need or the logic, but if anybody wants to educate me, I love to learn new things.
ritestuff
Well-known member
I think you nailed it yourself. When you use a R/H bit to drill a busted stud, you have a 0% chance of the fastener breaking loose while drilling it, If you use a L/H bit, you have at least a small chance that it will hook up and spin it out, probably .001%. It's basically flingin' **** against the wall and hoping for a piece to stick every once in a while.
They're used to prevent driving a broken screw or bolt further down into a through hole and falling off into something causing a bigger problem. Not really on point but think of a broken spark plug. If you used a right hand bit it could drive the broken part into the cylinder requiring the whole engine to be dismantled to retrieve it. Using a left twist, the worst that could happen is it catches and spins itself out.
Katodog
Well-known member
I guess that makes sense, you don't want to end up drilling the broken screw and driving it deeper.