Please identify these Austrian drill bits

[Recordus]

I picked up some fine tools at an estate sale last weekend. The owner is 93 and still pretty spry, but was a bit of a hoarder. I don't know when her husband died but there were a fair number of tools there, including this drill bit set.

- Any idea who made these? All the large bits are stamped "Austria" and the size, but i can't find any additional markings. All of the bits larger than 1/4" are original as are a few of the smaller ones. The rest are replacements (some of which are marked HSS), so I assume the small bits got most of the use.

- Is there a way to tell if these are high speed steel if they aren't marked as such? Or is the lack of markings info enough to know that they are NOT HSS?

Thanks,
Brian

 

[Teenager with old tools]

I picked up some fine tools at an estate sale last weekend. The owner is 93 and still pretty spry, but was a bit of a hoarder. I don't know when her husband died but there were a fair number of tools there, including this drill bit set.

- Any idea who made these? All the large bits are stamped "Austria" and the size, but i can't find any additional markings. All of the bits larger than 1/4" are original as are a few of the smaller ones. The rest are replacements (some of which are marked HSS), so I assume the small bits got most of the use.

- Is there a way to tell if these are high speed steel if they aren't marked as such? Or is the lack of markings info enough to know that they are NOT HSS?

Thanks,
Brian

None of my 29 piece sets have the small bits they get broken or lost a lot. I would guess they are high speed I don't think I've seen high carbon steel bits that were coated. It can be hard to know for sure though

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[MShaw]

The best way to be sure it they are HSS is to spark test them on a grinding wheel. Go here: www.weldingwire.com/Images/Interior/documentlibrary/metal id.pdf

For a chart showing the spark patterns and colors for various steels including HSS. There are cheap sets that are made from carbon steel and blackening them to look like more expensive drills is relatively cheap.

 

[leg17]

Often HSS is marked.
The flutes have that cheap look.
If you can hand sharpen a drill bit, try one.
Try one that you know is HSS.
You can get a clue from the sparks.

 

[Fretters]

Just use them. You'll soon find out whether they're any good or not.

 

[Teenager with old tools]

Some of them look like they really need sharpening especially top left row in second pic

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