Good quality drill bit sets for domestic use

[cheb]

Are Dormer still good? If not then who else? Presto is another name I recognise. Where do they sit on the quality scale?

I've decided to shift on all the random part sets and start afresh so supplier names are welcome too. I want branded ones not diy shed specials.

And is there a market for assorted drills by weight?

 

[Rannsachair]

I have been buying these Cleveland sets https://www.zoro.co.uk/shop/tools-a...pce-select-a-drill-set-1-10-00mm/p/ZT1132702X when on offer. Think it was a recommendation from @doubleboost

 

[123hotchef]

MSC have a special on a few different drill sets ATM

 

[sako243]

Dormer and Presto are good. Dad bought me a few years ago a set from I think RDG Tools which came in two cases from 0.5ish to 10mm in 0.1 increments - they were Presto and been good.

RS also do decent sets. Not sure who makes them but they're also decent quality.

 

[JOEPRO]

I have had these for a couple of months now. Very good drills very sharp & German made. About £50 a set on ebay delivered for this size.

 

[not done it yet]

Likely old Dormer, etc drills are still good. Most are far better quality than cheap carp bought these days. But, they may need sharpening.

Being proficient at sharpening (larger) drills avoids the user being parted from their money just because the drill cutting edges have been chipped/dulled.

I wonder how many, out there, waste about 90% of their jobber drills’ length? My usual wastage (of larger drills) is breakage - usually because the drills were inferior in the first place. I sometimes replace tiny drills because they are cheap.

 

[h-dom]

Likely old Dormer, etc drills are still good. Most are far better quality than cheap carp bought these days. But, they may need sharpening.

Being proficient at sharpening (larger) drills avoids the user being parted from their money just because the drill cutting edges have been chipped/dulled.

I wonder how many, out there, waste about 90% of their jobber drills’ length? My usual wastage (of larger drills) is breakage - usually because the drills were inferior in the first place. I sometimes replace tiny drills because they are cheap.

I keep saying this, drills should all be sold as stub drills and full length should be an exception. 99% of people using drills don't and won't sharpen them. If I didn't sharpen my drills I'd end up buying a new set three times a week.

 

[cheb]

Any views on cobalt drills, a significant portion of what I drill is stainless steel.

 

[Munkul]

Milwaukee thunderwebs are good for most jobs, and they have an aggressive cutting angle on them which works well for stainless IME.
Dormer, presto are good, i still use my dormer set for everyday use, they'll be over 10 years old now.

Never had any luck with cobalts so i steer clear. I use carbide drills in the mill, if the job suits.

 

[Migmac]

I have been buying these Cleveland sets https://www.zoro.co.uk/shop/tools-a...pce-select-a-drill-set-1-10-00mm/p/ZT1132702X when on offer. Think it was a recommendation from @doubleboost

Yep doubleboost uses these.

 

[ukracer]

Any views on cobalt drills, a significant portion of what I drill is stainless steel.

I was surprised at the way some 4.5mm drills from UK drills just kept cutting holes in steel cage clips I was doing a while back.

Changing to a new one did not seem to be any sharper or quicker to drill.
I was drilling around 500 holes at a time.

Cobalt Drill Bits (Metric)

Fully ground, high performance cobalt steel drill bit, manufactured with 5% cobalt. For use on alloy & hardened steel and cast iron. For drilling aluminium, we recommend our cobalt stub drill bits. For stainless steel, we recommend our TCT drill bits.

www.ukdrills.com

They do recommend tct drills for stainless.

 

[cheb]

Thanks all, very helpful.

 

[Kram]

Be aware presto etc also sell cheap import rubbish under their brand to make more money so you need their proper set, which are expensive.

These are excellent

Pardon our interruption...

If your drilling a lot of stainless it may be worth getting an m42 cobalt set but for general use m35 works well.

Also be aware of HSS G and HSS R. G means ground, which is normally the standard so not usually specified on the packet, R means Rolled, usually they will be the cheapest rubbish but sold by brands like Bosch for a premium.

 

[fizzy]

Believe it or not these drills are excellent for the money. Very sharp and a good range of sizes. Use on the lathe and mill all the time.
The only time I get trouble with them is in battery drills where they can slip and gouge the shank.
But for precision drilling excellent.
Not bad for around £30.

Erbauer Straight Shank Metal Drill Bits 25 Piece Set - Screwfix

Order online at Screwfix.com. HSS drill bit set containing M2 fully-ground, titanium nitride-coated, high speed steel drill bits with 135° split point for precision drilling. Compatible with most drill drivers. FREE next day delivery available, free collection in 1 minute.

www.screwfix.com

 

[MetalMonkey]

Dormer are now made in Brazil IIRC - they are OK, but they are not what they once were IMO.
Presto I think are entirely imported now and they have two distinct quality tiers.

I think the Sherwood from Zoro (Zoros/Graingers own brand) and the Cleveland drills are actually pretty decent for the money - they are still going to be imports, but at least the price is reasonably.
Probably not as long lasting in an industrial environment, but I'm more likely to burn up or break one before I notice a loss in performance.

I've had good luck with the heller and erbauer ones also mentioned.
Id only buy the proper ground bits, rolled ones are rubbish in my experience.

I'd suggest Guhring, Walter Titex are probably a "step up" in quality, but price reflects this.

 

[Rrobson]

Any views on cobalt drills, a significant portion of what I drill is stainless steel.

Cobalts are excellent at drilling stainless. My absolute go to if I’ve got something particularly hard to put a hole in.
Slightly harder than hss thanks to the sprinkling of cobalt but they chip easier and aren’t as tough as standard hss (again, thanks to the cobalt)

My personal favourites at the moment are guhring, they make a nice drill. Especially their 135 degree hsco parabolic drills, they’re the puppies for stainless!

 

[cheb]

I've decided after many hours squinting though a lighted magnifier at used drills there's another sifting criterion.

How easy are the size markings to read after the bit has been used a few times and possibly spun in the chuck?

Guhring look to win that one.

 

[brightspark]

a metric and imperial drill gauge sorts that

 

[brightspark]

guhring dormer and cleveland . cant complain at any of them

 

[cheb]

But what about number and letter sizes? And then there's the ones for BSW, BSP and the rest. That's a lot of drill gauges.