Who makes good drill bits?

[brightspark]

i have a few sets for general use and a few sets i just use on the lathe and pedestal drill i keep for best .also loads of diffrent size loose ones i use if the size isnt important. why use full sets and chance knacking one

 

[stuvy]

I've had dormer and presto for years, but believe it or not, Milwaukee thunderweb are better in nearly every way these days

doesn’t surprise me that Milwaukee bits are good

I use the PZ2 bits and they last ages compared to Dewalt ones

 

[keithski122]

I quite like the toolpak cobalt ones from toolstation, I normally tend to use the smaller sizes up to about 5mm.

 

[conor1n]

Hello Conor,

how are you managing to snap drills? I suspect a less than ideal application, I presume with a hand held drill?

A greater explanation of what you are doing and on what meterial would help us help you?

I don't see any need for cobalt ones, I do a lot of stainless steel work and use normal HSS drills kept sharp.

Alec

Hi Alec,

I broke one or two drilling out rivets on my car. Cordless drill. I imagine it was a combination of bad technique and low quality. I broke another one or two popping them back into the blow moulded case they came in.

While I admit technique might be off, the bits are probably not great either. One set came with a stanley drill and the other from some newspaper/tv shopping advert.. and would have been very cheap to buy.

Great shout on buying some run of the mill stuff. I guess my question was more about "good, run of the mill" stuff.. as opposed to Gucci/Rolls Royce bits.

 

[conor1n]

I think I might just go for one of these. I assume hex bits are better? Or perhaps straight ones will slip in the chuck before they simply snap, if the seize?

Milwaukee ThunderWeb Straight Shank Metal Drill Bit 19 Piece Set - Screwfix

Order online at Screwfix.ie. Metal drill bit set. Conical design gets thicker towards the back of the drill bit. Allows for higher feed pressure, reduces breakages and enhances the lifetime of the bit. Open flute form reduces drill drawback when drilling deeper holes. Split point penetrates...

www.screwfix.ie

Milwaukee RedHex Hex Shank Metal Drill Bit Set 19 Piece Set - Screwfix

Order online at Screwfix.ie. Shockwave impact duty titanium drill bits are engineered for impacts and drills. Designed with a variable helix with a 35° cutting edge that ends at 15°. Provides rapid chip removal to limit heat build-up and stay sharper longer. Split point tip delivers a precision...

www.screwfix.ie

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

I use Dormer "for best"...usually I keep an eye out and buy them on ebay when I see them.

For general messing about (eg drilling stuff that doesn't need to be spot on) I use a set I bought on amazon...they are cobalt and have really lasted very well.

They aren't super cheap but they are good enough for general stuff...I've drilled stainless with them and they've handled it very well. But with this sort of stuff it can be pot luck I think depending on the batch.

Anything less than 3mm needs care in a cordless drill I find...above that should be OK to abuse.

Sorry care not car!...edit

https://www.amazon.co.uk/KKmoon-1-5-10mm-Straight-Quality-Drilling/dp/B01MRZL297

 

[conor1n]

I use Dormer "for best"...usually I keep an eye out and buy them on ebay when I see them.

For general messing about (eg drilling stuff that doesn't need to be spot on) I use a set I bought on amazon...they are cobalt and have really lasted very well.

They aren't super cheap but they are good enough for general stuff...I've drilled stainless with them and they've handled it very well. But with this sort of stuff it can be pot luck I think depending on the batch.

Anything less than 3mm needs car in a cordless drill I find...above that should be OK to abuse.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/KKmoon-1-5-10mm-Straight-Quality-Drilling/dp/B01MRZL297

What do you mean by car? Some kind of carrier?

 

[Brad93]

Are you using a pillar drill or a hand drill.
In a hand drill the dewalt/Milwaukee bits last a fair time. Another one that’s good is HMT (Holemaker Technology) but they’re pricey.

in a pillar drill you can’t beat dormer or guhring. OSG, Osborn, Walter also good.

Old presto good. New presto hit and miss.

 

[brightspark]

What do you mean by car? Some kind of carrier?

care

 

[indy4x]

For general use in a hand or pillar drill I've been using these from Screwfix

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

And

Erbauer Straight Shank Metal Drill Bit Trade Pack 150 Pieces - Screwfix

Order online at Screwfix.com. Industrial quality HSS drill bits for metal and plastic. High quality and hardened for superb strength. Fully-ground for fast waste removal. Titanium nitride-coated for even longer life. FREE next day delivery available, free collection in 1 minute.

www.screwfix.com

I wasn't expecting much but quite impressed, way better than the Dewalt set they replaced. Very sharp, hold their edge well and haven't snapped many of them yet. Used them in steel, stainless and wood.

Only criticism is the shank where it clamps in the chuck is quite soft, if they snag and spin in the chuck then the chuck will mark the shank, quick buzz with a file and they are sorted

 

[doubleboost]

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

The Erbauer were the general purpose drills I was using before switching to the cobalt...they're a good drill on most things but then I started doing more stainless and I think they're just a bit too soft for stainless work (stainless is really hard on drills!). Great for mild steel/wood/plastics etc and I used those for many years before I switched.

 

[Turbo]

I like the Dormer A002 bits & I generally buy them to replace any broken bits in my drill box.

But based on @doubleboost review above I bought a set of the Chinese cobalt bits from Banggood. I got them just to try them out but they are now the first box I lift, ahead of the other boxes full of Dormer, Presto & other premium brands. They are really good at eating through metal & they hold their edge, still not had to sharpen one.

I've just finished a project which meant drilling probably 100 holes in 2" steel tube. One 4.5mm Chinese cobalt drill bit cut all 100 holes using a cordless drill without breaking & the edge is still perfect on the bit!

I did break one but that was my fault not the bits.

The set I got didn't come in a box but when I saw how good they are I emptied the branded bits out of a spare box & filled it with the cobalt ones.

 

[Munkul]

I like the Dormer A002 bits & I generally buy them to replace any broken bits in my drill box.

But based on @doubleboost review above I bought a set of the Chinese cobalt bits from Banggood. I got them just to try them out but they are now the first box I lift, ahead of the other boxes full of Dormer, Presto & other premium brands. They are really good at eating through metal & they hold their edge, still not had to sharpen one.

I've just finished a project which meant drilling probably 100 holes in 2" steel tube. One 4.5mm Chinese cobalt drill bit cut all 100 holes using a cordless drill without breaking & the edge is still perfect on the bit!

I did break one but that was my fault not the bits.

The set I got didn't come in a box but when I saw how good they are I emptied the branded bits out of a spare box & filled it with the cobalt ones.

Nice to know.

I've never had a good experience with cobalt bits - not unless using a heavy drill press with no movement or chatter. I've got a full set of Presto cobalts that barely see use, as well as a number of various brands I bought to try. They just chip the cutting edges in minutes when using a hand drill.

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

The set I got didn't come in a box but when I saw how good they are I emptied the branded bits out of a spare box & filled it with the cobalt ones.

Thats exactly what I did too with the cobalt bits from amazon..

 

[MCKDAVID]

Dormer for me, when I can get them, there is plenty of junk out there. Cheap drills are more hassle than they're worth, especially if the snap off, then you have to spend the next week trying to get the buggr out. buy decent grade, and keep them sharp...

I bought a job lot once, different sizes and makes, to say they were made of the finest cheese would be an understatement. Absolute junk, who knows where they came from, or what make (some german ones too which I found strange....). after trying them all, and seeing how bad they were, I tried bending them at 90° just for curiosity to see how good the steel was, easily done without them breaking, as for for holding an edge, not even a remote hope... finished by throwing the whole lot out.... best place for them - nearest skip.

false economy...

 

[mike os]

Nice to know.

I've never had a good experience with cobalt bits - not unless using a heavy drill press with no movement or chatter. I've got a full set of Presto cobalts that barely see use, as well as a number of various brands I bought to try. They just chip the cutting edges in minutes when using a hand drill.

Don't know why, my first cobalt set was bought to drill stainless on site and lasted till the last hole when I got interrupted and work hardened

 

[ukracer]

I've had dormer and presto for years, but believe it or not, Milwaukee thunderweb are better in nearly every way these days

These are listed as HSS. What if you need to cut hardened material?

 

[Munkul]

Don't know why, my first cobalt set was bought to drill stainless on site and lasted till the last hole when I got interrupted and work hardened

I bought mine for stainless too, I was bitterly disappointed. I prefer sharp HSS for stainless now, at least all I need to do is tickle them sharp again every now and again, rather than taking 5-10mm off to get back to unchipped cobalt.

These are listed as HSS. What if you need to cut hardened material?

I rarely need to drill hardened material. It's been years since I did, and IIRC it was Dormer HSS, and I had to use one hole, one drill But yeah, that's where the cobalts would come into their own.

 

[ukracer]

I bought mine for stainless too, I was bitterly disappointed. I prefer sharp HSS for stainless now, at least all I need to do is tickle them sharp again every now and again, rather than taking 5-10mm off to get back to unchipped cobalt.

I rarely need to drill hardened material. It's been years since I did, and IIRC it was Dormer HSS, and I had to use one hole, one drill But yeah, that's where the cobalts would come into their own.

So cobalt for hardened steel. Cheers.