Who makes a good Uni-Bit?

[mroneeyedboh]

Well, like the title says... Who makes a good bit now days? I used to have a Greenlee but its long lost. Id like to stay USA as always..

 

[hh76]

I used to use a lot of the 1/2" type, and the most economical seemed to be the Harbor freight kind. I don't know if they lasted as long, but they were so much cheaper that it didn't matter.

 

[JML2]

The "original" Irwin Unibit is excellent; the gold TiN surface plating makes them even better. They also have a new Cobalt version, and the latest Unibits have a powerbit shank (the older ones only have 3 narrow flats on the shank). The powerbit shank makes it easy to insert the bit into a screwdriver bit holder for manual deburring.

My Unibits are US-made, but I don't know where the current production comes from. From a web search, it seems some are US-made, others are from Brazil.

Stay away from the Sears copy or any version with two flutes. The two-flute versions chatter and cut poorly. The Sears bits are junk.

The Ruko (from Germany) look interesting. They have a steeper angle on the flute than the Irwins. ChadsToolBox carries them, but I haven't tried one.

 

[Roots]

Personally I have Hilti's set up in a keep full account at work, they are by far my favorite. They last for ages, if used with lubrication and proper speed control. Irwin's Unibit is my second choice, followed by Greenlee. I'm not particularly fond of Greenlee though.

While I've never tried Klein, every other brand I've tried seemed to be pretty poor in comparison. It's really worth it to buy nice ones IME, if used professionally.

Another idea to consider, depending on your application, are Ideals new carbide tipped electrical hole saw kits. They've taken over from unibits in a lot of applications for me. Of course I still keep a drill with a Unibit in the chuck as well... They're just too useful!

 

[DekeT]

Harbor Freight uni-bits will snap using only a cordless drill.

 

[Frank The Plumber]

Irwin. I use them in a hammer drill to drill into cast stacks so I can rod them. They take a real **** kicking.

 

[Dustball]

Harbor Freight uni-bits will snap using only a cordless drill.

Mine have been holding up quite well and I use them primarily for drilling in stainless at work. It is time for me to get a new set but I don't mind spending $11 every six months for them.

 

[NC-Fordguy]

How are the greenlee usa made bits? Local sears has them on clearance.

 

[DanCo]

Irwin makes nice bits, HF if you need one for an hour

 

[JASTECH]

I have a few Uni-Bits, they work out great if you take care of them. Mine are the TiN and Cobalt. I would welcome to test the German made. Will look for them now, lol

 

[JASTECH]

m.ebay.com/Pages/ViewItemPic.aspx?emvAD=200x288&aid=350560451894&emvcc=0

These are a set of 3

 

[mroneeyedboh]

yeah for 169 I couldnt justify that lol

 

[tool_scrounge]

I like Greenlee. But usually the ones I find quickest are a 3 pack from Harbor Freight, which seem to work well. For reference, in general I do not like Harbor Freight.

 

[DHCrocks]

I've had a few brands but the Greenlee single edge seemed to last the longest and gave the cleanest holes.

 

[buick215]

In my opinion the double fluted ones cut better than the single fluted one. The only minus is that they are slightly weaker but if you don't move the bit sideways while cutting you shouldn't have a problem.

 

[Brad54]

The Harbor Freight Uni-bits got a lot of love in the "HF Pass/Fail" thread. I was surprised at how enthusiastic people were of them, so I got a set. I was equally surprised at how well they performed, and how well they've held up.

I recommend them.

-Brad

 

[Full Throttle]

I have a complete set of Lennox uni bits, they are by far the best I have ever used. Have had them for 5 yrs and use them alot.

 

[machine_punk]

If you need USA made, try here at Brown Tool (an aviation tool company I use)...most of theirs are USA or Swiss...

http://www.browntool.com/Default.as...2&Level=a&SortField=ProductName,ProductNumber

M_P

 

[DrunkSmurf]

I have to agree with Brad54's post.
I'm just a home tinkerer but I've abused a HF set for well over a year now and they're still doing well. They may not stand up to daily use in a professional setting, but for home use I'm more than satisfied.

 

[Toolman12]

I have a complete set of Lennox uni bits, they are by far the best I have ever used. Have had them for 5 yrs and use them alot.

Ditto great bits use them all the time always have to drill B pillars when installing dividers in police vehicles sometimes three layers of steel never let me down yet expensive but last a long time

 

[Roots]

I have a complete set of Lennox uni bits, they are by far the best I have ever used. Have had them for 5 yrs and use them alot.

Sheesh, I forgot about them. Those are top notch as well!

 

[jdcompman]

Another vote for the HF ones here! I have Irwin ones as well.

 

[ZRX61]

Irwin makes nice bits, HF if you need one for an hour

Some of my HF ones have been used weekly for about 2 years...

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Unibit ®(no hyphen, no capital B) is the registered trademark of Irwin®......... Therefore, only one company makes Unibit's, and thats Irwin.

I think you are referring to "step drill bits", and yes, lots of companies make them.

Charles

 

[Provincial]

I put up a steel building over the last year. The purlins and girts are made of some sort of tempered steel that makes blue chips with even a 1/8" drill bit. I bought a set of Harbor Freight step drill bits to get the largest one that would make a hole large enough to pass a 3/4" PVC conduit. I drilled lots of holes with this bit and also lots of smaller ones about 5/8" diameter with this bit and other smaller ones.

I'm still using these bits and they cut like new. I can't believe that they have held up so well. The first time I used one and saw the blue chips, I thought it was a "goner." This material has eaten dozens of 1/4" and smaller HSS bits of various manufacturers, so it is a real torture test for drill bits.

I use a Milwaukee Magnum 1/2" drill and keep the speed down. I also use regular thread cutting oil to help keep the bits alive.

The only complaint I have about the Harbor Freight bits is that they need a 1/8" to 3/16" pilot hole to get started. You can get them to start on their own, but it pays off to drill a pilot hole.

 

[Zephyr]

I borrowed an Irwin from my uncle to mount up my O2 sensor bung. It was a 1/2" one with the three flat faces for the chuck to grab on to I believe it had 9 a laser engraved into it. It worked really nice once you get a good pilot hole. It didn't bind up on me at all I was contemplating getting one but when I saw they can run about $30-50 I decided against it since I didn't see myself ever really needing it again at least not in the near future. I'm pretty sure I was supposed to use cutting oil on it so I didn't foul it up but I wasn't thinking and its still sharp as it was the day I borrowed it so in my opinion its a great bit.

 

[jhelrey]

Irwin as well... bought off of Ebay for much cheaper than Lowes.

 

[Full Throttle]

Unibit ®(no hyphen, no capital B) is the registered trademark of Irwin®......... Therefore, only one company makes Unibit's, and thats Irwin.

I think you are referring to "step drill bits", and yes, lots of companies make them.

Charles

well, if you wanna get technical most call them Vari-Bit (hyphen,capital V and B)

 

[Muffduster]

What's the opinion on Bosch? Cripes has a few that aren't priced too bad.

 

[5lima30]

Mine have been holding up quite well and I use them primarily for drilling in stainless at work. It is time for me to get a new set but I don't mind spending $11 every six months for them.

+1! The ones I got at HF were Drillmaster. I have had very good luck with them.

 

[braincrater]

I have the Norseman set of step bits and they are great!

 

[Capt Chrysler]

Hard to think Irwin's are still US made, when the bought the Vise-Grip company they closed the plant in Nerbaska. And moved it to CHINA!

Capt, Chrysler

 

[2manytoyz]

Yup, Irwin. I use a set at work, another set at home, most everyday.

Last for years before wearing out. Use mine on wood, plastic, aluminum, mild steel.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Unibit ®(no hyphen, no capital B) is the registered trademark of Irwin®......... Therefore, only one company makes Unibit's, and thats Irwin.

I think you are referring to "step drill bits", and yes, lots of companies make them.

Charles

well, if you wanna get technical most call them Vari-Bit (hyphen,capital V and B)

No, thats just as bad as calling them a Unibit since VARI-BIT® is a registered trademark of Lennox®, which is, interestingly enough, also a division of Newell Rubbermaid®, the same company that owns Irwin.

I do not have any connection with any of these companies. I do realize that companies protect their trademarks and some go to great lengths to do so.

Xerox used to (and may still) have their lawyers send a letter out to anyone who used the Xerox name in a generic manner, "Here, take this form down the hall and Xerox it for me..." as that used to be common to see in print, the use of the Xerox name as a substitution for "copy" or "photocopy". Xerox would remind you that their name is trademarked and that companies who failed to defend their name have actually lost the use of it as a trademark, and they don't intend to let that happen.

Charles

 

[Muffduster]

What's the opinion on Bosch? Cripes has a few that aren't priced too bad.

Hello?

 

[Muffduster]

Hell-oh?

 

[BD1]

I have a complete set of Lennox uni bits, they are by far the best I have ever used. Have had them for 5 yrs and use them alot.

Ditto, that's all we use now. They get abused constantly and have been holding up well.