Drill Bits

[rngrnewbie]

I just want to know what you would recommend as for a good set of metal drilling drill bits. I am sick of breaking bits or having them dull after one use, I buy cheap ones, thats why, but I am looking to buy a good set that I can have for a while. Any suggested brands or specific sets is appreciated!

Thanks,
Chris

 

[adsm08]

I usually used B&D.

 

[kimcrwbr1]

Any high speed bit is good what destroys them is running them at low rpm. use high speed and firm pressure and cutting oil never hurts.

 

[mini274]

any kobalt bit is good

 

[SMTGREG]

Get a good drill bit sharpener. Since I havepurchased the Drill Dr 350I would never be with out it. As with any set of drills speed and lubrication is critical for good cutting.

http://www.drilldoctor.com/product.asp?specific=106

 

[99RangerKrazy]

I only use Rigid drill bits that I buy from Home Depot...they last forever. They're a bit on the spendy side though.

 

[Will]

Any high speed bit is good what destroys them is running them at low rpm. use high speed and firm pressure and cutting oil never hurts.

The thing that kills drill bits is heat--going fast is heat. You want an expensive drill bit made for steel, oil to keep it cool and lubed, and to take it easy and let the bit do the work. Colbalt is the best because the whole bit is made of it. The titanium bits are coated so if you sharpen them they no longer have the coating on the cutting edge.

 

[caser876]

I dont know what brand they are but the drill bits that the maintence guys use at a local hospital are by far the best ive ever used. We wont go into how i have a set but lets just say i know the right people......

 

[ozziemo27]

Slow and steady is how i go, lube er up so it doesn't get too hot. like Will said, heat is a drill bit's worse enemy. I just drilled out 8 half inch rivets on my truck with no problems going slow and using lubrication on the bit. I only find luck with rather expensive drill bits. You really get what you pay for in a bit, i have a good $20 1/2 inch bit that tears through anything i want to drill.

 

[strvger]

x2 on the Cobalt bits. going to buy a set today. i think there are about a dozen or so in the set i'm getting and they are $50. not cheap, but i'm tired of breaking the weaker M2 (hi-speed steel) bits myself.

 

[kunar]

go slow...recommended speed for a 1/2" bit in soft steel is only about 600 rpm. smaller bits can handle higher speed, but too fast and you will burn them up quickly. the harder the material, the slower you should be spinning the drill.

in addition, learn to regrind them yourself. i can resharpen a twist drill on a bench grinder in about 30 seconds. its one of the most useful things i learned in high school. being able to resharpen after every hole or every other hole makes cheaper drill bits last 100 times longer than an expensive one that you dont ever sharpen.

 

[AllanD]

Generally speaking avoid drill bits made in China.

Avoid the "Titanium" (actually "TiN" aka Titanium Nitride)
coated drill bits.

Simply coating a POS drill bit made in China or Pakistan
with Titanium Nitride doesn't magically turn it into a good drill bit.

That is not to say that Chinese or Pakistani workers and factories
can't make good drill bits (I have two 3/8" TiN coated bits that seem
almost bulletproof) what I'm saying is that you can't be sure...

My personal preference in drill bits is Cobalt-Alloy drillbits which
are a distinctive brownish color, And NOT to be confused with
Lowe's "Kobalt" brand tools

UNLIKE TiN coating the Cobalt is all the way through the drill bit.
and they seem to hold an edge better especially against tough materials
like Stainless steel or abrasive materials like aluminum.

Most people don't realize that while aluminum is fairly soft it's somewhat
more critical material to drill though or machine because of what aluminum
oxide really is....,

the other thing is few people with experience realize that ANY drilling job
goes better with lubrication and the specific lubricant that works best
varies depending on the material you are making a hole in...

But that is fodder for an entirely seperate discussion...

AD
As for the recommendations

 

[01_ranger_4x4]

we use precision twist drill brand at work and they hold up well, we use them for everything from hand drills to our CNC machine centers. use coolant/ cutting oil to help keep the heat down.

 

[rl_139]

I only use Rigid drill bits that I buy from Home Depot...they last forever. They're a bit on the spendy side though.

x2 i love the cold fire stuff

 

[Shran]

I have had good luck with Craftsman and Ace Hardware bits. The gold ones, not the black ones. Vermont American is not bad either, I have a 3/8 bit that I swear will just not dull.

The coated bits work OK if you run them SLOW and keep them lubed really well. If you get them hot, it will burn the coating off and they become worthless. Really, a person should be running any bit slow when you're drilling holes in metal.