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Step Drill
- Thread starter jim
- Start date
tonyciambrone
Well-known member
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Viking-703-1-4-3-4-Step-Drill-USA-/391346782350?hash=item5b1e16008e
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Klein-Tool...ill-Bit-USA-/333327146059?hash=item4d9bd89c4b
Either or should be fine. Bet you will use it more than you think. Step drills are awesome for thinner material.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Klein-Tool...ill-Bit-USA-/333327146059?hash=item4d9bd89c4b
Either or should be fine. Bet you will use it more than you think. Step drills are awesome for thinner material.
Ohmthis
Well-known member
Wow! That Klein tools but is great at that price. I have used and abused Greenlee step bits for years buildings panels and they last, but are 3 to 4 times that. I have a set of three of the HF drill master branded step drills. For the money, they aren’t bad. I don’t know if the quality is ok now or not as I bought them 10-15 years ago.
bwringer
Well-known member
If you just want to experiment with the concept, the step drill sets at Harbor Freight work quite well for the money.
If you're cutting things like sheet metal and plastic, they'll pretty much last forever. And the sets let you make nice round holes in a wide range of all sorts of oddball sizes like 13/16" etc.
If you're cutting things like sheet metal and plastic, they'll pretty much last forever. And the sets let you make nice round holes in a wide range of all sorts of oddball sizes like 13/16" etc.
sberry
Banned
I have top dollar ones, I have hf. Can't tell them apart. 3 pc hf set was 15$ or so.
cderalow
Well-known member
I’ve got a couple of Irwin’s that have lasted me 10+ years.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
PelicanPines
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I have top dollar ones, I have hf. Can't tell them apart. 3 pc hf set was 15$ or so.
Ditto... HF all day long...
rlitman
Well-known member
If you just want to experiment with the concept, the step drill sets at Harbor Freight work quite well for the money.
If you're cutting things like sheet metal and plastic, they'll pretty much last forever. And the sets let you make nice round holes in a wide range of all sorts of oddball sizes like 13/16" etc.
Step drills really shine in sheet metal and plastic. They give you a truly round hole in sheet metal when other drills do not, and they're less likely to crack plastic. I can't say I use my step drills for much else.
Currently, I own several HF step drills, and they have been fantastic for my purposes.
dr_clyde
Well-known member
Lenox Vari-bit has served me well. Avoid the single flute design, two flutes stay sharp longer.
dodge610
Well-known member
HF all the way mine have performed very well just like the other posts.
38 Dodge Coupe
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I inherited all of my Dad’s hole saw that he used as an HVAC tech. However I recently bought the HF step bits and find they make a much more accurate and cleaner hole in most applications.
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Sent from my iPad using Garage Journal
Greeny
Well-known member
Bought a set from HF years ago, and they worked fine. But I thought I was missing out on something and bought a pair of Klein step bits a couple years ago. For the sporadic light duty drilling I do, I can't tell a difference. Should have saved some $$$ and just went on using my old HF bits.
jeffmoss26
Well-known member
Drill hog from ebay.
619DioFan
Well-known member
I have the sets from HF. work just fine.
We use Swiss ones at work, very pricey but they drill hundreds or thousands of big holes in 16g steel. I have used the HF before but I'm willing to bet they wouldn't last long at work. We don't use cutting oil or take our time since speed counts. When they burn up we get another, but I've also had good use with the German made Dewalts as well
tool_scrounge
Well-known member
Surprisingly I have found the Harbor Freight ones work quite well
PugetDude
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I have at least a dozen Greenlee, Irwin, and Klein step drills in various sizes, bought them for about a buck each at a retired electrician's estate sale. They'll outlast me.
I've found that these kinds of items usually get underpriced at most garage/estate sales, (small, not exciting, seem insignificant to the people pricing stuff) while a cordless HF drill or a Craftsman ratchet will be priced at or above new.
I've found that these kinds of items usually get underpriced at most garage/estate sales, (small, not exciting, seem insignificant to the people pricing stuff) while a cordless HF drill or a Craftsman ratchet will be priced at or above new.
Malaworkerbee
Well-known member
I have a set from the early 2000's from HF. They work great on wood/plastic and ok on steel if you get a pilot hole. I bought a set of chinese "cobalt" ones. I drilled through 1/2" hot rolled plate steel with it.
Sure the tip ***** now but they're still cutting.
Sure the tip ***** now but they're still cutting.
upper_tanker
Well-known member
I have 4 step bits that I got from the Snap-On truck (Bluepoint? I forgot) (The kit with 3, and then I got the bigger one). I recently needed a larger hole than the SO ones would drill, so I got this kit. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0177PN6SI/?tag=atomicindus08-20
I have hundreds of holes drilled with the ones from SO and they're still plenty sharp for my needs. I have drilled maybe 20 holes with the ones from Amazon, and cannot tell a difference yet.
The material that I drill ranges from sheet metal all the way to 3/16". I love step bits.
I have hundreds of holes drilled with the ones from SO and they're still plenty sharp for my needs. I have drilled maybe 20 holes with the ones from Amazon, and cannot tell a difference yet.
The material that I drill ranges from sheet metal all the way to 3/16". I love step bits.