Drills--best bang for the buck

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I'm sick of buying drill bit sets. "Cobalt" can mean anything from the real deal to "cobalt colored coating over drill-shaped plain steel. Ditto for carbide. I've burned up "HSS" drills with ten passes into soft pine from the big box home stores. And I'm not talking about HF drills here, though I did make that mistake once....but only once.Where's a good source for good drills used to remove the remnants of Grade 5 or so broken bolts from engine blocks?ThxQ
Reply:I bought a set of Morse bits from my local tool supply a while back. Real quality bits. Are you using cutting oil when your drilling steel?
Reply:I have a several sets of drill bits, my go to set is Norseman, a 29 piece set is about $130.00;http://www.kmstools.com/norseman-29p...l-bit-set-3805My other set of good bits is Klein not any cheaper same good quality:http://www.amazon.com/Klein-Tools-53.../dp/B0002RI6HAOn my big bits not in sets I have pretty much 15/32 up to 1-1/4 on the Norsemans its taken me years to get all those purchased as the big bits get downright pricey. Last one I bought was like $65.00 for one bit. Lowes/Home Depot don't sell good bits, I do buy 3/32, 1/8, up to 3/16 in those as they get broke a lot, and I usually buy in multiples of 3-4 knowing they are going to break.Funny I was just restocking my Norseman set this morning filling in a couple of small broken smaller bits to have a complete set.
Reply:There are still a number of good quality drill bit manufacturers out there, but you'll end up paying a higher up-front price for their products. The expense quickly turns into a bargain once you experience the longer tool life of the higher grade bits. Just a few to look for...Chicago-Latrobe, Michigan Twist Drill, Precision Twist Drill, Greenfield/Cle-Forge and Nachi. Forget the drill sets unless you absolutely must have the various sizes at hand. The expense of even a middling grade drill set will be more than a good stock of drill bits in the size(s) you need. Run them with the recommended coolant/cutting fluid at the proper feed/speed and they all should last you for a good long time. Take a look at screw machine length bits and see if they will work for your needs. Their shorter overall length will diminish run-out/flex and the resulting breakage when using these bits in most cases.I've never purchased a Harbor Freight drill set, but most Chicom sourced drill bits start to shine once you go above the typical homeowner's 1/2" drill bit size. I have had tool gypsy brand drill bits husk their cutting edge from tip to shank as soon as they touched the metal I was drilling...amazing to watch the two flutes spiral away from the drill shank! Where I once thought of drill bits as a necessary consumable/throwaway, I've learned that for a few dollars more they can/will last if not abused. Attached ImagesLincoln PrecisionTig 275Miller 251Miller DialArc 250Bridgeport millHossfeld bender & diesLogan shaperJet 14 X 40 latheSouth Bend 9" 'C'Hypertherm 900Ellis 3000 band saw21"Royersford ExcelsiorTwo shops, still too many tools.
Reply:" Where I once thought of drill bits as a necessary consumable/throwaway, I've learned that for a few dollars more they can/will last if not abused. "Wise words there. Slowing down your drills and using coolant make a big difference. I do have a couple of reserved for special use small sets but they don't get used often. They also break almost by looking at them and I rarely drill metal and then its usually soft stuff not steel:http://www.advancedmodelrailroad.com...O-DRILL/DetailAnother place to keep an eye open is garage sales, get familair with the USA brands and knowing what your looking at will get you a lot of drills bits cheap. I usually run a couple of batches a year to the sharpening service, as I don't have a decent sharpening grinder, I just throw them into the need to sharpen bin, and take them with the next batch. You would be suprised at what $5.00 at the garage sale can score you.
Reply:I agree with WyoRoy, don't bother with sets, just buy what you need. Look to Mcmaster or MSC for good drill bits. You might be surprised how low their prices are. Usually quite a bit less than your local hardware store or big box store, and much higher quality. If you get a cobalt drill bit from mcmaster it will be a good  USA made drill bit. I prefer the short length bits, they start holes better and break less often.Also, how are you sharpening skills? Even the very best drill bits don't last forever. I do them by hand, but I learned, when I worked at a tool sharpening shop, from a master. A drill sharpening machine may be a good idea.Last edited by fortyonethirty; 09-30-2012 at 11:48 AM.Ian TannerKawasaki KX450 and many other fine tools
Reply:I think you need a drill sharpener, Darex makes a really good one.  For a lot of years I uused a fixture sold by US General Supply Company.  It was not as handy and user friendly  as a Darex, but untill it was broken in a shop accident it was "good enough".I offer three choices: Good, Fast, & Cheap. You may pick two.Hobart AC/DC StikMate LXHarbor Freight AD HoodHarbor Freight Industrial Chop SawDeVilbis 20 Gallon, 5 HP Compressor
Reply:Drill Doctor is a good sharpener for general shop work.  It's made by Darex.  I got the Model 500x, but they make a more robust model that has a few more bells and whistles.  They do various angles, split point and even masonry bits.  Worth every buck I spent for it.  Wish I had bought one years ago.  I gathered up about a cigar box full of dull and broken drill bits and spent a cool, quite afternoon with a beer(s) sharpening them all.  As the afternoon passed, I got a bit duller, but the bits got sharper!!   Went from 1/16" to 1/2".  No carbide ones!  They make a chuck adapter for up to 3/4" bits.  For the broken ones that still had some usable length, I roughed in the angle with the bench grinder, then finished on the Drill Doctor.  Great to have a box full of like-new bits!
Reply:Happy with both my Drill Dr. and the older, much older, Darex M1...both go to 3/4". The Drill Dr. is quick and easy...though at times a bit crude on the set-ups. The Darex is nearly as quick to chuck up a bit, but offers far more options and provides a much faster grinding operation.Lincoln PrecisionTig 275Miller 251Miller DialArc 250Bridgeport millHossfeld bender & diesLogan shaperJet 14 X 40 latheSouth Bend 9" 'C'Hypertherm 900Ellis 3000 band saw21"Royersford ExcelsiorTwo shops, still too many tools.
Reply:I consider drilling a broken bolt out of a cast iron block a last resort.  If they are broken off level or a little lower I set a little larger nut over them and weld it on with the wire welder. While its still hot i hit it with some good penatrant. the heat just sucks it right down the threads. Useualy you can just unscrew it with a wrench.  If that dont work you can always blast them out with a OA cutting torch. it wont cut the cast but will blow all the steel out of a blind hole. Generaly have to clean the hole with a tap. Mac
Reply:Excellent suggestions...especially the garage sales. Grandpa tool sets are the best!Thanks,Q
Reply:I might be lucky but I have Minnesota Twist Drill less than 5mi. from me so I can actually find USA made drills locally. They do sell them to consumers under another name but I cant remember what it is at the moment.
Reply:Originally Posted by ironmangqI might be lucky but I have Minnesota Twist Drill less than 5mi. from me so I can actually find USA made drills locally. They do sell them to consumers under another name but I cant remember what it is at the moment.
Reply:you need an adjustment in what you thingk is a source for usable drills.they do not exist in hardware stores, big box stores, or of course horrible freight.find a tool supplier like Enco who gives free shipping regularly and buy some Triumph drills or somehting of simlar price.   I would say dont pay any LESS than $60 for a 1/16 - 1/2 15 pc set.  or your buying junk. http://www.use-enco.com/1/1/4819-099...-bit-sets.htmlfor instance this is total crap.http://www.lowes.com/pd_296663-353-T...ductId=3203989you can tell by the utter bull**** advertising.  (the speed helix penetrates 3x faster)    no, it give a much more acute and thus fragile cutting edge.News Flash, drills are consumable.    but you often use up just a few sizes.  a real tool supplier sell individual drills cheaply enough to replace the used up individuals.Last edited by dsergison; 10-05-2012 at 03:28 PM.
Reply:Originally Posted by q240zI'm sick of buying drill bit sets. "Cobalt" can mean anything from the real deal to "cobalt colored coating over drill-shaped plain steel. Ditto for carbide. I've burned up "HSS" drills with ten passes into soft pine from the big box home stores. And I'm not talking about HF drills here, though I did make that mistake once....but only once.Where's a good source for good drills used to remove the remnants of Grade 5 or so broken bolts from engine blocks?ThxQ