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Step Bits (Uni Bits), Do You Use Them? If so, please advise.

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uart

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Nov 17, 2011
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Has anyone sharpened the tips with any success

Good question. Just looking at them I can't see why not.

I usually drill a pilot hole that is about the size of the tip on the step bit.

Yes, without the spiral flute of a regular dill these things just don't seem to have the best angles at the tip for starting holes. They start fine into plastic or softwood or plaster etc, but for anything even slightly hard a pilot hole is the way to go.

Overall, these thing are much better at enlarging holes than starting them.
 
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KF5LCH

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Nov 10, 2011
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S.E. Oklahoma
I have the HF 3 pack, got it for $17 IIRC. I was leery about them at first but after a year of regular use they're holding up well.

I've used them on everything from plastic to heavy steel. No complaints.
 
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uart

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Nov 17, 2011
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Many seem to be Titanium nitride coated, so sharpening might not work well.

You'll lose the Ti-N coating on the tip, that's all. I've sharpened Ti-N coated drills before, it's no great loss.

BTW. The Ti-N coating is supposed to reduce galling in some materials. I'm not sure if it does very much, but if it does then it's probably more important on the side edges of a step drill anyway.
 
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