To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

What does "Jobber Length" mean?

BJ42LX

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 29, 2010
Messages
2,811
Location
WNY
Title says it all. I've always wondered what "jobber length" means WRT drill bits.
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

Outlawmws

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 9, 2011
Messages
39,137
Location
The Badlands
They are shorter than the std drill sets so are less likely to get broke off; good for hand drills and holes in thin material or shallow holes.
 

slipjointed

Well-known member
Joined
May 31, 2011
Messages
665
Title says it all. I've always wondered what "jobber length" means WRT drill bits.

Jobber refers to a general purpose length bit. From what I've been told it refers to the fact that they can handle most jobs.

You also have long length, and short, or mechanic's/machinist's length bits. Another bit type is Aircraft, which gives you the length of Jobbers, but with only the tip ground to a spiral. This allows you to have rigidity but still have reach, but with a reduced drilling depth, which is perfect for work in aircraft fastening structural members to the skin, etc.

The bit length allows you to drill through thicker workpieces, but it also severly reduces the rigidity of the bit.

The Jobbers length has been settled on as the best compromise between length and rigidity.

For most hand drilling, I prefer short length if possible, as they don't flex as much and therefore are much less likely to break.

Short drills are also far superior for precision work clamped to a drill press table or on a milling machine, as you can drill accurate holes without having to centerpunch or drill the hole first.
 
Last edited:

DrkMtnDew

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 24, 2010
Messages
1,465
this is very interesting. didn't know anything about jobber, or mechanic length. usually if i see a shorter bit i think it is because it's been broke and resharpened.
 

diesel research

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 12, 2010
Messages
5,440
Location
gulf coast, TEXAS
There is an even shorter one called "screw machine" and a long air craft version that might be up to 12" or more in length and maybe only 1/4" diameter.
 

slipjointed

Well-known member
Joined
May 31, 2011
Messages
665
There is an even shorter one called "screw machine" and a long air craft version that might be up to 12" or more in length and maybe only 1/4" diameter.

The really short machine drills are used in machine shops, you can chuck them up in precision chucks and just go to town drilling without having to worry about pre-drilling to prevent the bit from walking on you.

You can't use normal bits in precision applications (>.001" tolerance) because the length will make them walk every time, no matter how good the drill, and how ridgid the fixture is.

Something that everyone should have, but I rarely see people carrying, is an automatic center punch. It takes fabrication work to a whole new level as far as quality. I can't even count the amount of times I've had to struggle because someone was trying to just start a hole with a bit and managed to walk it all over the place.

The aircraft drills are often similar to jobber's length, but they only have spiral near the very end, the rest is just unground shank, as mentioned above they are used for aircraft because you usually have to get into tight spots, but are normally drilling through thin structural members and sheet metal, so you don't need very much spiral to exhaust the chips.
 
Last edited:

diesel research

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 12, 2010
Messages
5,440
Location
gulf coast, TEXAS
71AG8t9fE5L._AA1500_.jpg



68199.jpg
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

firworks

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 29, 2015
Messages
4,079
Location
IL
A jobber bit is a drill bit who is routinely billed to lose matches to other drill bits. It's part of the kayfabe world of drillbits.

Lose too many drill bit shoot outs and people will start calling that bit a jobber.

:pimpflash
 

AndrewDouglasBird

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 15, 2013
Messages
217
Location
Vancouver, WA
Short drills, or "machinist" drills as some have called them, are known as stub drills. They are used for precisely drilling a hole as they are more rigid and less likely to wander.

Silver and deming drills are drills with a reduced shank, generally above 1/2" diameter (with a 1/2" shank). These drills got their name from a company, much like how circular saws are often referred to as skill saws.
 

383 240z

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 4, 2006
Messages
4,295
Location
Findley Twp. Allegheny Co.
There is an even shorter one called "screw machine" and a long air craft version that might be up to 12" or more in length and maybe only 1/4" diameter.

Yes they are, I've run screw machines, and have never used that style of drill! When I set up the machine I use a drill only a bit longer than the main tool cam. Keith
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
Top Bottom