Let's see your vintage drill bit indices

[Outlawmws]

There are three "SAE" drill standards: Fractional, Numbered in smaller sizes (to fill needed size gaps) and Lettered in larger sizes, again to fill gaps. This leaves out "custom" drill sizes (rare as the three standards fill 99.99% of all needs.)

Metric is - Metric...

 

[paulm12]

thanks Outlaw. I had heard a few different stories on this and looked it up a while ago, just as Outlaw described.

Example link at https://www.carbidedepot.com/formulas-drillsize.htm

 

[MShaw]

Here's mine. My father had it on the bench with his drill press. It was not new when I first remember it around 1952.

 

[Fordguy1964]

I have an entire tool box dedicated to drill bits. Wood bits have their own drawer, bits for a bit brace in another, a drawer for bits that have morse tapers on them, a drawer for specialty bits, and I even included a drawer for mill bits and dremel bits. I recently found a nice Cleveland index that had fallen off the bench in my father's garage and slid under the bench. Good to have it back in the light of day again!

I wonder how old these are.

 

[Kevin54]

Wow!!!! All of those drill indexes are too cool, especially the wooden cabinets. I never knew so many existed. I know what I'll be on the lookout for now when I go to the flea market or pawn shop.

 

[don long]

Here are a couple I have picked up, and a round one I have cleaned up, but don't have pics of. Any one know the maker?

I have the same round index and it says ALEMITE is the manufacturer

 

[1badbird]

My collection.

 

[Tarnished]

I have the same round index and it says ALEMITE is the manufacturer

Thanks Don, can you tell me where you found the mark? I will take a look.

BadBird, Nice collection.
The 3 sided ones seem to be the easiest to find around here.

 

[Blue Frog]

Just picked this one today - all but three bits present, and I have those three already.








Blue

 

[nine4gmc]

That's awesome Blue!


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[Mark914]

Picked up this one today at a garage sale for a couple dollars. along with some other stuff. came with drills which i took out to clean and oil.

 

[DuroChrome]

Here are mine...I inherited the bench top units from my grandfather.

 

[DuroChrome]

The smaller one.

 

[DuroChrome]

An NOS Huot drill index in the original box.

 

[DuroChrome]

Probably the coolest drill related thing I own.

 

[markbugno]

Probably the coolest drill related thing I own.

:: ::want::


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[Davefr]

A couple additions:

 

[crguy]

New guy on this forum, but have collected old tools for years. Have about a dozen old drill indexes, and this is one of my favorites. It hold taps also.

 

[skunkape1]

There are some awesome pieces in this thread. My only index is a Craftsman made of Bakelite. I don't believe this one has been posted yet but I've seen a couple other Cman pieces i must now have.

 

[1badbird]

Crguy that is a very cool index, never seen one that holds taps also.

 

[ecotec]

Davefr, the Whitman and Barnes and Detroit Twist Drill indices are terrific.

 

[d42jeep]

I finally got around to taking a picture of mine that I inherited from Grandpa Al.
-Don

 

[hondacivic247]

What's everyone's take on the old drill bits them shelfs. I've herd people say the best bits are hss made in the USA from the 60's-70 been hunting ebay to try a set over my champion brute platinum bits

 

[MShaw]

The best bits from that era were made by Pratt & Whitney West Hartford, Ct. (not Pratt & Whitney Aircraft)

All the other standard bits were made from M-2 high speed steel but P & W used M-3 Type 2.

 

[1930]

I enjoy this thread very much, I think others might enjoy it later, am I just ignorant or shouldnt the title say indexes instead of indices? Doing a google search wouldnt show this informative and interesting thread.
Cant a mod fix this?

 

[Outlawmws]

1930, it will still be found and while it's indices in the title, every variant of "index", including some misspellings I'm sure, are represented...

 

[r_olson_06]

I am not an English major but I think indexes doesn't sound right.

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[crguy]

I would prefer indexes.

 

[LesserSon]

Indices = indexes. How you spell it reflects what you've been reading.

 

[LesserSon]

The inside.

 

[LesserSon]

This one is much prettier.

 

[LesserSon]

"The English way of making plurals" is a lot more complex than the quote suggests. Mans, womans, childs, oxes, deers, sheeps, etc. don't really work, do they? Different rules applied at different times and regional dialects.
Before William Caxton, there WAS no standard spelling of English.

 

[d42jeep]

I found a matching Radnor index to the one I inherited with bits at an estate sale on Saturday for $10.00. Got out the Drill Doctor and sharpened and refilled both indices.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

I found a Fulton at an estate sale today. Came complete with sawdust.
-Don

 

[Tarnished]

^ Nice Fulton. Had not seen the small set before.

 

[Dennis Leigh Henry]

Really cool thread... something else to put on my "watch for" shopping list....

 

[don long]

I just collected a few drill presses and they came with drills and indexes
Here is what I have now

 

[d42jeep]

Don,
You win the drill bit contest, for sure! I've managed to find a couple more but mine pale by comparison.
-Don

 

[Outlawmws]

I REALLY want a set of those drill bit drawers. I have plenty of stock for them...

The I would just need a suitable something for the > 1/2" bits...

 

[johninct]

The best bits from that era were made by Pratt & Whitney West Hartford, Ct. (not Pratt & Whitney Aircraft)

All the other standard bits were made from M-2 high speed steel but P & W used M-3 Type 2.

My father worked there in the 1950's.