Drill bits for steel.

[Hood]

WNT have the offer on again for drill sets, they are fairly decent, been using them for a while and although not the best I have ever used they are certainly good enough quality.

1mm t0 5.9mm in 0.1mm increments

6 to 10mm in 0.1mm increments.

Then there is also the tapping drill sets which are very good value.

They don't come up in the search but if you add the number in your basket they are available.

 

[henry Kadzielski]

My two cents worth.
Dorma, I regrind them from new with split point, on a Darex XT3000, after that they are better. Brittle so they don't bend very well, but with a good edge will last. I can put a 19mm drill through 20mm 316 s/s no pilot hole with both even curls of swarf . That is more about the grind than the drill, however the drill is what gives you the amount of holes per sharpen

 

[Munkul]

While we're on the subject...
Why do some twist drills have very defined secondary cutting edges on the flutes? And why does it almost always seem like it's the cheapest nastiest drills that have this:

Normal:

Defined cutting edges

Slowly but surely disposing of all the cheap drills in our workshop, but still have half a set of cheap nasties for quick+dirty use... and these have such exaggerated ground flutes, that you get a step in the point edge.
Needless to say, the popular sizes were replaced with Dormer a while ago, they just about fall apart after one hole.

 

[TechnicAl]

Theres a hell of a lot of science in a drill bit. I remember talking to the guys from Presto, Hydra, Dormer, Osborn etc etc etc . They can match the drill design to specific functions, materials, speeds etc. They also have their standards that compromise certain functions for overall versatility....I guess one mans idea is different to anothers

 

[Hood]

While we're on the subject...
Why do some twist drills have very defined secondary cutting edges on the flutes? And why does it almost always seem like it's the cheapest nastiest drills that have this:

Normal:

Defined cutting edges

Slowly but surely disposing of all the cheap drills in our workshop, but still have half a set of cheap nasties for quick+dirty use... and these have such exaggerated ground flutes, that you get a step in the point edge.
Needless to say, the popular sizes were replaced with Dormer a while ago, they just about fall apart after one hole.

Probably rolled v ground.

 

[Munkul]

Probably rolled v ground.

I think you've maybe got it there

 

[MetalMonkey]

You won't go far wrong with good brands such as Dormer, Titex/Walter, Guhring etc, but the cheapy Kennedy and Cleveland sets from zoro are pretty decent for the money IMO.

 

[Agroshield]

Why do some twist drills have very defined secondary cutting edges on the flutes?

What you show is not a cutting edge. It is the land on the flute, used to keep it centralised in the hole. The only time the land ever cuts is if you have a taper pin drill.

Hence, both drills are identical. One has had the land ground after the black oxide coating has been applied; the other has been ground first and then the oxide applied. You can get the same with Morse drills - some have a black oxide taper, some a bare metal taper.

 

[Munkul]

What you show is not a cutting edge. It is the land on the flute, used to keep it centralised in the hole. The only time the land ever cuts is if you have a taper pin drill.

Hence, both drills are identical. One has had the land ground after the black oxide coating has been applied; the other has been ground first and then the oxide applied. You can get the same with Morse drills - some have a black oxide taper, some a bare metal taper.

Nah, that's not quite what I meant. Those pics were just to highlight the cutting edge/land/whatever you call it. (Some call it a secondary cutting edge, that's what I would call it anyway)

Some drills have more sharply raised lands than others, is what I really meant, and after a bit of looking around I think the difference is whether they were rolled v ground, as Hood says It seems that way anyway.

Or maybe its just bad drill design by cheap companies

 

[daleyd]

Margin?

http://www.ctddrill.com/drillAnatomy.php

 

[fizzy]

https://www.screwfix.com/p/erbauer-straight-shank-hss-drill-bits-25-piece-set/2726v

These are pretty good for the money - certainly better than most at that price range £19.99.

 

[Munkul]

https://www.screwfix.com/p/erbauer-straight-shank-hss-drill-bits-25-piece-set/2726v

These are pretty good for the money - certainly better than most at that price range £19.99.

Your experience has been different to mine!
I came into possession of half a set of these when I bought a load of my uncle's gear, and most of them hadn't even been used... then every one I tried, barely made it through a single 12mm plate without melting the tip! I'll never buy Erbauer on that basis.

 

[willie.macleod]

I have a set of Dorma and Presto (Presta?) bits. Like both but if I want to punch a hole quickly I'll nearly always pull out the Dewalt Extreme 2 bits. Man can those chew through metal, little need for a pilot hole as well as they're self piloting to a degree. Very hard and therefore brittle so there is a knack to using them, particularly when emerging the other side.

Drilled 4 half inch holes through the 12mm (yes 12 not 1.2) of my Defender's rear cross member in less time than it took to write this post!

Interesting to hear about your experiences with Dewalt extreme bits - I had a set given to me from a Dewalt factory store some time ago and found they blunted very quickly so never went back to them. Will maybe try again, not sure I would have bothered taking out a drill for a hole through a rear crossmember, most defenders can have half inch holes poked in them quite effectively with a finger if you aren't too fussy about the location

 

[fizzy]

Your experience has been different to mine!
I came into possession of half a set of these when I bought a load of my uncle's gear, and most of them hadn't even been used... then every one I tried, barely made it through a single 12mm plate without melting the tip! I'll never buy Erbauer on that basis.

I have drilled loads of holes through thick plate up to 15mm no problem. Mind you I do use coolant and take it easy.
I suspect though that stuff like this comes from various suppliers. Erbauer is probably just a name they picked to make people think of "German" quality

 

[Onoff]

You can't beat a genuine 1/4" HsCo Starrett pilot drill for most pilot holes in steel.

 

[Munkul]

I have drilled loads of holes through thick plate up to 15mm no problem. Mind you I do use coolant and take it easy.
I suspect though that stuff like this comes from various suppliers. Erbauer is probably just a name they picked to make people think of "German" quality

I use coolant and proper speeds etc as well, as a time served fitter I'm quite easy on tools. I think you're probably right - a bit of variation in quality. Mind you, the "TiN coating" just looks like a gold coloured passivate...

 

[Ashley Burton]

I definitely think some brands play on their name

Buy brands who are known to be good in their field

 

[fizzy]

I use coolant and proper speeds etc as well, as a time served fitter I'm quite easy on tools. I think you're probably right - a bit of variation in quality. Mind you, the "TiN coating" just looks like a gold coloured passivate...

The coating looks genuine on mine and hasn't worn off at all.
Yes I bet it all depends on the batch you had. I might have been lucky.
I bought a similar looking set from Aldi or Lidl. Very pretty. Snap as soon as you look at them!

 

[Ruffian]

WNT have the offer on again for drill sets, they are fairly decent, been using them for a while and although not the best I have ever used they are certainly good enough quality.

1mm t0 5.9mm in 0.1mm increments


View attachment 237724

6 to 10mm in 0.1mm increments.



View attachment 237725



Then there is also the tapping drill sets which are very good value.

They don't come up in the search but if you add the number in your basket they are available.

View attachment 237726

Your prices are alot different to mine. Ie 5x the difference!!

 

[daleyd]

Your prices are alot different to mine. Ie 5x the difference!!

Mine too !