Quality set of mini drill bits?

[scottybk]

I'm looking for a good quality set of mini / micro drill bits, like this set for example just not amazon Chinesium ****.

I'd love a high quality cobalt steel set of these mini bits, preferably USA or German made.

Any suggestions welcomed, thanks.

 

[four.cycle]

I cannot make any recommendations, because I do not recognize the names of any of the companies when I open a browser window and go to Google and search minature drill bit manufacturers - looks like there are a bunch of them!

 

[terrific]

KTD01 – Magnum Tip Drill Set #52-74

www.centraltools.com

Made in Rhode Island.
I have this set, but I have never used them in a drill. I do not have a miniature drill press and they're too tiny for anything else but a pin vise. If you don't want the pouch, you can save a few bucks.
They are labeled magnum-tip, which I was not familiar with. Norseman also sells magnum drill bits.
From Norseman:

Magnum will substantially outperform cobalt drills in work hardening stainless steel and other tough drilling applications.

I am not knowledgeable when it comes to drilling. I do not know if they're the same thing. They work well for my purposes, which is cleaning nozzles and making small holes in thin wood/plastic.

 

[KnurledNut]

Look into 61 to 80 number sets.
Viking, Norseman, Chicago Latrobe are all good options.
I went with Champion.

 

[scottybk]

KTD01 – Magnum Tip Drill Set #52-74

www.centraltools.com

Made in Rhode Island.
I have this set, but I have never used them in a drill. I do not have a miniature drill press and they're too tiny for anything else but a pin vise. If you don't want the pouch, you can save a few bucks.
They are labeled magnum-tip, which I was not familiar with. Norseman also sells magnum drill bits.
From Norseman:

I am not knowledgeable when it comes to drilling. I do not know if they're the same thing. They work well for my purposes, which is cleaning nozzles and making small holes in thin wood/plastic.

Thanks, that set looks really nice. Looks like they include a nice pin vise with it.

 

[ToolFanGeoff]

For micro drills, I have used Guhring - made in Germany.

 

[readhead]

Check out Excel tools.

 

[Monte]

Proxxon offers a couple of sizes

PROXXON - Drill bits

www.proxxon.com

 

[RoninB4]

I'm looking for a good quality set of mini / micro drill bits,

-Are these to be used by hand (pin vise) or under power in a drill press?

 

[ecotec]

-Are these to be used by hand (pin vise) or under power in a drill press?

I use them in a pin vise. I gave my kid a couple sets of micro drill bits and a couple pin vises for his models.

I don’t see how they would work in a regular drill press or cordless drill. They would probably break right away.

I have passed up about 20 high speed sensitive drill presses over the last 17ish years at garage/estate sales. These are the drill presses for these tiny bits. Some of the sensitive drill presses have been quite beautiful. Maybe I should have bought one.

The sensitive drill presses are made for people who work on watches and jewelry and such. They look much fancier than a regular drill press.

 

[txvwnut]

KTD01 – Magnum Tip Drill Set #52-74

www.centraltools.com

Made in Rhode Island.
I have this set, but I have never used them in a drill. I do not have a miniature drill press and they're too tiny for anything else but a pin vise. If you don't want the pouch, you can save a few bucks.
They are labeled magnum-tip, which I was not familiar with. Norseman also sells magnum drill bits.
From Norseman:

I am not knowledgeable when it comes to drilling. I do not know if they're the same thing. They work well for my purposes, which is cleaning nozzles and making small holes in thin wood/plastic.

I have a Matco branded set just like that one and have no complaints. I needed to get some smaller drills so I bought 3 pack of import ones off of eBay and those have been good as well. With these micro number drills you will be using them in a pin vise by hand(or should be) so just about any manufacturer would probably get the job done. I say that as that has been the case for me as I mainly use them the re-sizing of carburetor jets.

 

[RoninB4]

I use them in a pin vise. I gave my kid a couple sets of micro drill bits and a couple pin vises for his models.

-Safest method for most home applications

I don’t see how they would work in a regular drill press or cordless drill. They would probably break right away.

-When the drills get below a certain diameter it's absurdly easy to break them off from misalignment or excessive pressure. A cordless drill is just asking for trouble. If/when they break off you now have the distinct possibility of the broken segment being imbedded in the material further complicating what to do next. The quill of an average drill press or Bridgeport doesn't offer enough sensitivity/feedback to know when you're at the point of breaking them. Small drills are surprisingly fragile.

have passed up about 20 high speed sensitive drill presses over the last 17ish years at garage/estate sales. These are the drill presses for these tiny bits. Some of the sensitive drill presses have been quite beautiful. Maybe I should have bought one.

-The sensitive DP's are quite nice if in good working condition, small/micro drilling is what they're made for.

The sensitive drill presses are made for people who work on watches and jewelry and such.

-True but not exclusively. Injection molds, some stamping dies, vacuum actuated devices, and other tooling can all require tiny hole passages drilled for various purposes. There's even surgical/dental components I've seen that required drilling and sometimes for wire EDM start holes. I've drilled holes to about #80 (IIRC) a handful of times in components but that's usually outside the domain of the average homeowner. Depending upon the material being drilled and the depth (depth x diameter of drill) it can be an anxious operation.

They look much fancier than a regular drill press.

-They are. There should be a depth stop collar for the quill. Some have a spindle load meter and a pressure sensor to let you know when the drill is getting dull and needing a new one or to indicate you're approaching a load that will break the drill.

-There is another, less expensive option than a sensitive drill press. There's a micro drill chuck that I purchased decades ago after breaking two tiny drills on a job. The micro drill is a small chuck with a ball bearing knurled collar that's mounted in a hollow, spring loaded shank. You put the shank in a regular drill chuck or a collet (better) and you grip the knurled (ball bearing) collar while it's at spindle speed. Feeding the drill is accomplished by hand, two fingers is all I ever use. The chuck mount inside the hollow shank slides in/out for drilling, the spring return allows retraction. I use mine in a "peck cycle" to clear chips and re-lube. You learn to feel whether the drill is cutting or not, Runout is a matter of how well it's made and whether all components are hardened or not. There's many more of them made now than decades ago so they're not hard to find. An example is below.

 

[no704]

I would just get a set from McMaster. You will not know what brand they are until you get them, but they all was carry quality items.

 

[NoahG]

I recently filled my wire gauge index all the way down to 60. We were doing a salesman sample model project and I needed sizes under 1/16”.

I know the gun on our hardcoat machine also needs some tiny wire sizes for maintenance to clear the mixing jets.

 

[scottybk]

Thanks all. I tiink I'm going with this KTD set, it just looks nice, is made in USA, and I like the pouch.

KTD01 – Magnum Tip Drill Set #52-74

www.centraltools.com

 

[tripplejl]

KTD01 – Magnum Tip Drill Set #52-74

www.centraltools.com

Made in Rhode Island.
I have this set, but I have never used them in a drill. I do not have a miniature drill press and they're too tiny for anything else but a pin vise. If you don't want the pouch, you can save a few bucks.
They are labeled magnum-tip, which I was not familiar with. Norseman also sells magnum drill bits.
From Norseman:

I am not knowledgeable when it comes to drilling. I do not know if they're the same thing. They work well for my purposes, which is cleaning nozzles and making small holes in thin wood/plastic.

I have a set from Cornwell, part # CEC13D, identical to these. They must supply Cornwell. No complaints.

 

[bonneyman]

I don't know about the COO but MicroMart has some miniature drill bits.

Micro Drill Bit Sets | Metric Hobby Drill Bits | Micro-Mark

Find micro drill bit sets offering both metric and non-metric hobby drill bits, including pin vises for precise hand drilling in plastic, wood, and soft metals.

micromark.com

 

[Toold_up]

I bought Norseman 60-80 number drills (made in USA) and would put the drill in a pin vise then put the pin vise in a collet in the milling machine.

 

[T444e]

I would just get a set from McMaster. You will not know what brand they are until you get them, but they all was carry quality items.

You can call and ask, they will tell you the manufacturer they have in stock. I've never had an issue with quality on a anything I've purchased from them.

 

[mikey03]

I got a pin vise after learning about it on the forum but honestly never bought any small drill bits and never used it yet. Figuring I’m never going to drill metal with it just wood and plastic. I’m thinking honestly a less hard drill bit would be less brittle and less likely to snap in half and don’t need something super hard for wood and plastic right?

 

[RoninB4]

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