Good quality drill bit sets for domestic use

[armalites]

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

I've got a set of Heller Cobalt I bought from Toolstation I think, I've been very happy with them. The only disappointing thing is they stopped stocking all of the individual sizes although they can be bought online in case you need to replace one

 

[not done it yet]

Dormer A002 are hard to beat. Enough carbide in them

Not much carbide in those, for sure. Here is how they are advertised:

Dormer A002 HSS Tin Coated Jobber Drills - High Speed Steel Twist Bits

(my underlining of ’high speed steel’)

 

[Robertthegreat]

It's this one

View attachment 408035

It's a copy of a drill Doctor basically.

I have used it for about a dozen bits so far. Makes then razor sharp I have had no issues. I do follow the instructions and it's quite easy to use. I think some people go wrong by skipping steps and not reading the destructions IMO.

It works 100% I recommend it. Also has a split point sharpening feature which I use.

Only caveat is that it won't sharpen bits below about 3mm. But for me that's OK.

I have one of these sealey sharpeners best thing I've bought. Being left handed I have never got the hang of manually sharpenering drill bits.

 

[Turbo]

Not much carbide in those, for sure. Here is how they are advertised:

Dormer A002 HSS Tin Coated Jobber Drills - High Speed Steel Twist Bits

(my underlining of ’high speed steel’)

Didn't know that! I thought they had a bit of carbide in them, they certainly hold their edge better than most hss bits, even after sharpening.

 

[not done it yet]

better than most hss bits,

That may be because they are not run-of-the-mill cheap chinese tat? If one pays extra, one often receives a better quality product. I expect these drills at least conform to a specification.

Most chinese tat doesn’t even have a specification beyond size and claimed material (both of which are often questionable). “Chinesium’, as a useful specification, comes to mind.

 

[Keithmac]

These are excellent, my go to drill box for most things.

Can't remember where I bought them from though as I'd like another set.

 

[DAPPH]

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.

A cheap digital caliper that does imperial or metric is the cheap answer you do need a fractions to decimals imperial chart if you don't know them off by heart or get a second hand engineers pocket book with them in.

 

[DAPPH]

I have a tea cup in the top of my toolbox for blunt/damaged drill bits, when I have time/can be arsed I get sharpening.

Even sharpened drill bits on site with an angle grinder.

I have a cheap belt sander / grindstone " Lidl ,Parkside £24 ish.. years ago ) with an aluminium oxide belt of medium grit . found it ideal for sharpening drill bits also found a face plate sanding disc ( Velcro on to the back plate) are good for doing all sizes of drill ..much easier than the round wheel grindstone & the drill bits don't set so hot due to the slower cutting speed .

 

[JOEPRO]

Don't forget this smoo

 

[cheb]

I've got a digital caliper, a rather lovely Mitutoyo one I bought from someone on here, and a Zeus book. The squinting was mostly to see if the drill was a branded one or not.

 

[not done it yet]

These are excellent, my go to drill box for most things.

Can't remember where I bought them from though as I'd like another set.

View attachment 408505

Toolstation, among others? That likely means they are not particularly exceptional - but if they are good enough for you, who else cares.

 

[MattF]

How easy are the size markings to read

On a tangent, taps & dies pee me off on that front. It's a black art trying to read those which are etched rather than stamped.

 

[MattF]

8% cobalt from Horley drill services are my go to. Drilled 110 holes, 2mm dia 46mm deep into 316ss and the drill survived.Admittedly in the Cnc lathe with loads of coolant and loads of pecks, but sublime performance.

Please tell me you didn't just use the word sublime, in regard to drill bits.

 

[Smallfry]

I use cobalt drill bits of several different (cheap) makes. I find they cut better than anything else, but smaller sizes can snap on "break though" when used in a hand held drill. In a pillar drill or mill with more control, they will last a long time. Even more so with coolant.

 

[Johnnybravo]

Please tell me you didn't just use the word sublime, in regard to drill bits.

No, in relation to Cnc drilling

 

[Agroshield]

Please tell me you didn't just use the word sublime, in regard to drill bits.

Cheap ones are more likely to sublime rather than be sublime. Just saying.