Are these even worth buying?

D

Dixieblade57

Joined
Jun 20, 2007
Messages
1,361
I seem to go thru drill bits like you wouldn't believe, especially the smaller diameter ones. (Maybe that says something about the bits I have been using or how I am using them)! :eek:
So rather than go out and purchasing a bunch of new individual bits to replace the smaller ones I have broken in the past year. I am thinking of buying one of these.

http://www.grizzly.com/products/Titanium-Drill-115-pc-Bit-Set/G3658

So are these even worth buying?

I know the old saying you get what you pay for and I usually opt for the better of the tools but drill bits seem to go on the expendable list around my shop!
 
How about learning to re-sharpen them? Takes a bit of practice but it's possible and easier if you have a variable speed grinder or disc sander.

Edited: Sorry I didn't see the broken part, I thought they were just dull.
 
Heck, I can sharpen even broken bits down to 1/16" with care and a little luck. If you have a belt grinder, just use a 220 or 400 belt, set your left hand up like a jig at an angle to the belt, eyeball the angle, and spin the bit with your right hand while applying it to the belt with your left. Or you can chuck it in an electric drill, keep water at hand and don't overheat it. After you get the face of the bevels, just nick off a little bit of a trailing angle behind the cutting edge at both sides. Heck, practice is free, you have nothing to lose with a good stash of already broken and dulled bits. I've certainly got a few.
 
If you're not interested in sharpening them, you can buy the smaller sizes in bulk. I have a bag of 1/8" double ended bits I paid only about $2 for at HF.
 
I have sharpened some with mixed success, however when the break off at the shaft or shatter in a deep cut there is not alot to work with!:eek:

The set froom Grizzly seems to have a large amount of bits. What I really wanted to know, (is there any quality to those bits)?
 
Import bits are usually no good.

I use 'made in USA' cobalt bits, screw machine length (short), 135 deg. from MSC.
 
When I buy drill bits, I always buy American. Not to steer this thread in another direction, I feel that (without real proof of course) the American toolmaker is taking a beating by those bags of import drill bits for $2.

Now if I could only afford American machinery that was not older than my father!
 
I drill a lot of 1/8" holes. I've used HF bits (bad), DeWalt cobalt bits from Lowes (decent) and Rigid cobalt bits from Home Depot (better). Finally, I read some posts by Shawn "Balibalistic" Greacen where he gave glowing reviews to Chicago-Latrobe bits. Now, they're all I use if I can help it.

I wait until MSC has one of their 40% sales on drills, and buy screw-machine lengths. With the sale discount, these fine American-made drills end up being cheaper than the HD and Lowes bits, and seem to cut/last much better.

Chicago-Latrobe 135-degree bright screw-machine bits. :thumbup::thumbup:
 
OK OK I get it!!!!!!!!!!:o I kind of figured they were JUNK!
I am now a new member of MSC and will be waiting for their next SALE. In the meantime I guess I will prefect my skills at screwing up :eek: I mean sharpening my broken and dull bits!!!!
 
Try using a center drill first. On really small drills a #0 or #00 would work.
 
Dixieblade57 said:
I seem to go thru drill bits like you wouldn't believe, especially the smaller diameter ones. (Maybe that says something about the bits I have been using or how I am using them)! :eek:
So rather than go out and purchasing a bunch of new individual bits to replace the smaller ones I have broken in the past year. I am thinking of buying one of these.

http://www.grizzly.com/products/Titanium-Drill-115-pc-Bit-Set/G3658

So are these even worth buying?

I know the old saying you get what you pay for and I usually opt for the better of the tools but drill bits seem to go on the expendable list around my shop!
Click to expand...

Use good quality bits, turn them slowly, use lots of oil and when possible don't try to drill steel that's already hardened

-Page
 
If you are breaking that many bits, consider that your drill is not turning them straight.

Maybe a new chuck is in order too.

I have several new handrills that have a monster built in wobble...PITA
 
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