Drill Bits
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Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 6,305
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From: Boulder Creek, Ca
Drill Bits
Done with 'drill bit kits' currently shopping for individual bits. I used them as projects come up, primarily for metal work, I learned to drill at slow speeds and use a lubricant. Yesterday stopped at a few local hardware and large home improvement outlets and found the choices is either store brand, or Dewalt, and not that impressed with Dewalt.
Decided to do my shopping online, been looking at Irwin, Bosch, and a brand aint never heard of Roku?, and thought I would check with member's more familiar with the various types of bits, quality of the various brands, and source; my understanding is I should be looking for a HS cobalt bit that has a Titanium coat? Suggestions appreciated!
Just for comparison in types, not necessarily for brand:
215801 | Drill Bit: 1/16 inch, jobber-length, HSS-Co5, 10/pk
228801 | Drill Bit: 1/16 inch, jobber-length, black & gold, 10/pk
Decided to do my shopping online, been looking at Irwin, Bosch, and a brand aint never heard of Roku?, and thought I would check with member's more familiar with the various types of bits, quality of the various brands, and source; my understanding is I should be looking for a HS cobalt bit that has a Titanium coat? Suggestions appreciated!
Just for comparison in types, not necessarily for brand:
215801 | Drill Bit: 1/16 inch, jobber-length, HSS-Co5, 10/pk
228801 | Drill Bit: 1/16 inch, jobber-length, black & gold, 10/pk
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Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 6,305
Likes: 18
From: Boulder Creek, Ca
Came across a video comparing Cobalt drill bits: Champion, Irwin, Milwaukee, and Dewalt and came to the conclusion if I purchase low grade drill bits then expect minimal life expectancy and low quality. Decided to give the 6pc Champion Platinum drill bits kit, and the Dewalt 'cobalt' drill kit a try?
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Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 6,305
Likes: 18
From: Boulder Creek, Ca
Tend to go thru the smaller bits sooner; 1/8th" thru 1/32nd"; which I assume is to be expected, amount to around 6-8 individual bit? There are an abundance of the larger bits, unused, rolling around in my tool box. Put the bits mentioned in the shopping chart but have not pulled the purchase trigger yet, still debating whether to go with sets, or buy them individually??
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 7,047
Likes: 2
From: North west La
I buy the sizes I use a lot in large quantity when on sale. I use a Drill Doctor to sharpen my bigger sizes & spade bits. I drill lots of hardwoods & some metal. My metal drilling is usually 1/16 to 1/4. I use a slow speed on metal with oil. My wood bits are run slower the bigger they are. I use fosner bits for cabinet hinges & other holes with a smooth bottom. I have several sets of hole saw bits used mainly on wood & metal doors. All of them are bimetal sets. I build cabinets & furnature so I use lots of bits.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 898
Likes: 3
From: Chillicothe, IA
well, I would just buy bulk, if your using small bits. In my old business, we drilled alot of metal using 1/8 or 3/16. We found a place to buy double sided bits in bulk for dirt cheap. If you get a bit hard enough to have longevity in drilling metal, then they become more brittle. This is ok with larger bits, but leads to alot of breaking with smaller bits. I would just buy them in bulk for as cheap as I can and throw them away. Last time I needed to fill drill indexes I bought a bulk assortment from Menards. They are decent and the price is right.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 6,305
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From: Boulder Creek, Ca
Not familiar with Fosner, during 'home remodel' Irwin was the only wood working bits locally available and seemed to hold up fairly well. Drill Doctor is another discussion, now that I have pretty much done with the major wood and metal projects not sure how much use the Drill Doctor would be of any use??
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Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Boulder Creek, Ca
[QUOTE=4x4slik;16117933]well, I would just buy bulk, if your using small bits. In my old business, we drilled alot of metal using 1/8 or 3/16. We found a place to buy double sided bits in bulk for dirt cheap. If you get a bit hard enough to have longevity in drilling metal, then they become more brittle. This is ok with larger bits, but leads to alot of breaking with smaller bits. I would just buy them in bulk for as cheap as I can and throw them away. Last time I needed to fill drill indexes I bought a bulk assortment from Menards. They are decent and the price is right.
Bookmarked the site, quick peek and aware it's a simplification in comparing Cobalt to other HS drill bits but with regard to pricing, 50 cents per bit, as opposed to $11 per bit: having said that, I am also aware one can purchase low quality items; HF, as an example, where the life expectancy of a drill bit is about as long as it takes to cook a 3 min. egg, need to research further.
Appreciated U' all input, greatly appreciated!!.
Bookmarked the site, quick peek and aware it's a simplification in comparing Cobalt to other HS drill bits but with regard to pricing, 50 cents per bit, as opposed to $11 per bit: having said that, I am also aware one can purchase low quality items; HF, as an example, where the life expectancy of a drill bit is about as long as it takes to cook a 3 min. egg, need to research further.
Appreciated U' all input, greatly appreciated!!.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Boulder Creek, Ca
If understand correctly, the Fosner bit is primarily used in wood working applications, more specifically, cabinetry type use. seem to recall we used a similar bottom type bit in installing the door hinges on the kitchen cabinets??
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 18,488
Likes: 22
From: The Big, Oregon
I grabbed a Champion cobalt bit on closeout and have been happy with it. I just wrapped up a project that involved a lot of holes drilled in flame cut steel, so HSS bits didn't last at all, pretty much every bit in my HF index is dull now. The Champion is still sharp after the last half dozen or so holes.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2010
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From: Reynoldsburg, Ohio
I grabbed a Champion cobalt bit on closeout and have been happy with it. I just wrapped up a project that involved a lot of holes drilled in flame cut steel, so HSS bits didn't last at all, pretty much every bit in my HF index is dull now. The Champion is still sharp after the last half dozen or so holes.
They're fairly priced and work like crazy before they need to be discarded.
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2015
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+1 on the Champion bits. Everyone has their go-to brand but if cost is a big factor, I would look into the Drill Hog bits. They are very high quality HSS bits made in the USA and are a fraction of the cost of the premium drill bits offered by Norseman, Champion, Cleveland, ect. They also have Cobalt bits.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,463
Likes: 103
From: Staten Island, NY
Definitely go with a cobalt bit. The cobalt is added to the HSS at the mill and greatly improves the hot hardness of the bit. The crap "cobalt" bits sold by Harbor Freight and a number of other online retailers are just that - crap. You can't buy some 135 piece set of cobalt bits for $49.95 and actually expect them to be good for much except drilling wood. Maybe not even that! I buy only cobalt bits from McMaster-Carr and a couple of good quality 1/4" bits will cost as much as one of those Harbor Freight sets.
As far as the various coatings go, they do work well to extend drill life BUT only when using flood coolant. They are only a couple of tenths thick and once you wear through them or re-sharpen the bit they are gone. For home use they are a waste of money.
One other thing, learn to sharpen drill bits. Its not that hard. Some I sharpen by hand on a grinder and when I'm lazy I'll use my Drill Doctor. You can re-sharpen bits bigger than 1/8" a dozen times or more saving a bundle of $$$. Smaller than 1/8" - I usually toss them since I buy small bits in quantity.
As far as the various coatings go, they do work well to extend drill life BUT only when using flood coolant. They are only a couple of tenths thick and once you wear through them or re-sharpen the bit they are gone. For home use they are a waste of money.
One other thing, learn to sharpen drill bits. Its not that hard. Some I sharpen by hand on a grinder and when I'm lazy I'll use my Drill Doctor. You can re-sharpen bits bigger than 1/8" a dozen times or more saving a bundle of $$$. Smaller than 1/8" - I usually toss them since I buy small bits in quantity.