What drill bits/step drills?

[MillerMav]

I bought a bit set a while back from a local Ace. They seem okay but I have already broke a couple and I see that they are China made as well. They did come in a nice case though so I am just going to replace them as I brake/dull them.
I mainly use them on mild steel in a drill press and occasionally with a hand held drill.
What is a good brand to look for when replacing individual bits? Something that can hold up and be sharpened to extend life.
On that note; same thing with step drill bits. I would like to get a set to go along with these bits.

Should I just get replacements from McMaster or something?

 

[PeteMoore]

Dormer are my personal go-to brand for Dill Bits.

I have a few cone/step drills too which I love, but I rarely use them on steel - anything above a 20mm hole and my drills struggle with a lack of speed to stop the cone from snagging the material when using on steel.

With normal HSS drill bits, providing they are used correctly, the brand or make shouldn't really matter, it's much of a much-ness and I find one of the large sets (0.5mm-13mm(in 0.5mm steps) x10 of each) for £40 works out a lot more value for money than a dormer set coming in at £80 for 10 bits

 

[cyato]

I purchase replacement drill bits from McMaster or MSC. The cobalt bits from McMaster are good quality. I don't typically check brands with them because their products are almost always top quality. As far as step drill bits, I like the Lennox and Greenlee for the high end. The Harbor Freight set is hard to beat for the price but they don't last that long.

 

[ken w.]

I just purchased a Klein #9 step drill bit. It worked awesome. It was on sale for $25.00 at a local hardware store.

 

[Burgerkong]

Find the older USA-made Irwin Unibits.

 

[thinmac]

McMaster is a good option for reasons already mentioned. I've bought a number of drill bits from them and have always been happy (and I'm a real stickler on drill bits). It's also worth checking local hardware stores. The Ace I usually frequent happens to sell really good individual cobalt bits between 1/16th" and 1/2" in 64ths.

The difference in price between drill bits tends to be related to the quality of the steel and the precision of the machining. High speed steel and Cobalt steel are made up of certain percentages of metals, but the quality of those metals isn't specified in the standard. Mixing cobalt or nickel into **** steel does not make high quality steel. The biggest machining issue with cheaper bits is an off-center point. If the point is off center than the bit is more likely to wander, you'll get more vibration, and the hole will end up being too large.

All of that said, buying a good quality bit is paying twice as much for 10% better performance. For most things the hole being 1/128th too large doesn't matter, and the slightly longer life of an expensive bit doesn't justify the extra expense. If everything must be perfect, or if you're making 300 of something, buy expensive. If you're drilling a hole every so often and putting a bolt through, don't bother.

 

[awdblazer]

I have both, Irwin and greenlee both good

 

[jeffmoss26]

Irwin for me.

 

[Ign]

Step drills, HF. Can't beat the price. I do feel quality has gone down in the past few yeas, but still a good value. If one step goes dull you can't sharpen them anyhow. I feel like the Warriors are not as good as the Drill Masters, but don't have enough experience/data to be confident in that.

Individual bits, Enco or MSC. Go thru the Hot Deals sale mag at use-enco.com (don't try to use their website). I feel McMaster's a Bermuda Triangle when it comes to bits, you don't know what you're getting and prices are high IME. McMaster is not a machine tool or cutting supplier, they're just an industry supplier so they happen to carry "some" bits.

 

[JJThrasher]

I use the HF step bits. They've been good to me so far. I've also heard a few people I trust recommend the HF drill bits. However I have no experience with them.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

 

[crewchief888]

irwin for step drills
one of my customers gave me a bunch of them

for the most part, i'm still using the drill bits i had when i left the machine shop in '83. i'm gonna say they are probably norse

i replace quite a few 1/8" bits , i grab them at a big box store.

i dont buy the cheapest, or the most expensive...

 

[jerryd68]

Partsmaster cryobits!

 

[malibu101]

Partsmaster cryobits!

A Partsmaster salesman comes by my place of work. He always sings the praises of their cryogenically treated cutting tools.
I have used all the big name blades and bits out there and at first thought he was just slinging more snake oil, but I must say that is something about it because they really do work and last very well.

I have yet to bite on any of his non-USA tools. Some seem fair but some seem like gimmicks to solve problems I've never had, or have other ways of solving.

 

[Scout Driver]

For drill bits, I've been using the same set of Norseman for years. Not cheap, but I've never had one break and they have stayed sharp.

Scott

 

[jerryd68]

A Partsmaster salesman comes by my place of work. He always sings the praises of their cryogenically treated cutting tools.
I have used all the big name blades and bits out there and at first thought he was just slinging more snake oil, but I must say that is something about it because they really do work and last very well.

I have yet to bite on any of his non-USA tools. Some seem fair but some seem like gimmicks to solve problems I've never had, or have other ways of solving.

I agree with the tool, some of them are okay, I have tried there gear wrenches, and there sockets, but a lot of it is pretty hokie, there drill bits are pretty good on carbon steel, we mainly work with stainless they work good on it as long as you have a good cutting fluid, if you overheat the bit then they work harden and will not cut at all.

 

[j-guenth]

Buy American "MADE". I've purchased some McMaster -Carr and Bowman Barnes.

 

[malibu101]

I agree with the tool, some of them are okay, I have tried there gear wrenches, and there sockets, but a lot of it is pretty hokie, there drill bits are pretty good on carbon steel, we mainly work with stainless they work good on it as long as you have a good cutting fluid, if you overheat the bit then they work harden and will not cut at all.

I have 2 Partsmaster step bits that I've rode hard and they still work very good.
I have only drilled "thin" stainless with their holesaws, again with fine results.

I got a full set of left hand drill bits as he was one of the only people I saw offer a full 29 piecce set, and I was sure I would like them.
http://pass.partsmaster.com/WEBIMAGES/2007/CUTTOOLS/16.PDF

Disclaimer- Honestly, I do work for or any any involvement with the above company. I'm just a happy user, although I'm sure "Harry Homeowner" might have hard time buying from them.

On topic- There are quite a few good ones (names) out there like have been mentioned.
As often the case, good tools are expensive and cheap tools are false economy.

 

[jerryd68]

I have 2 Partsmaster step bits that I've rode hard and they still work very good.
I have only drilled "thin" stainless with their holesaws, again with fine results.

I got a full set of left hand drill bits as he was one of the only people I saw offer a full 29 piecce set, and I was sure I would like them.
http://pass.partsmaster.com/WEBIMAGES/2007/CUTTOOLS/16.PDF

Disclaimer- Honestly, I do work for or any any involvement with the above company. I'm just a happy user, although I'm sure "Harry Homeowner" might have hard time buying from them.

On topic- There are quite a few good ones (names) out there like have been mentioned.
As often the case, good tools are expensive and cheap tools are false economy.

I agree that most people probably dont have exposure to there tools, I also have the left handed set and the step drills, also we use there band saw blades for our metal saw they have been pretty good as long as you break the blade in after it is installed.

 

[cheechi]

For step bits what are your choices? Irwin, HF, Greenlee, Klien, maybe some other brand commonly available but its basically these 4.

I have a set of Irwin USA made. They work, and work well. I decided to pick up both the stepped & smooth HF ones, they also work & work well. I really don't see much difference in the quality of the hole using either of these two.

I've looked at the Klien & Greenlee both, but for the price, I'd still choose either Irwin or HF, depending whether or not you can afford the Irwin.