Favorite drill bits?

[Blue Collar Steel]

So I just burnt through yet another drill bit working on a knife blank. It has honestly been pretty frustrating because the bits seem to last between 50-75 holes. Im using the Dewalt carbide bits that I pick up at Lowes. Out of the package they work great, but like I said I am only getting about 50-75 holes. Im using oil on them and going nice and slow so they don't get too hot. All my drilling is done prior to heat treat. Does anyone have any recommendations on which drill bits seem to work the best? Should I step up to one of those tungsten bits or find a better quality carbide bit? The other option I was thinking was getting a drill bit sharpener but I know nothing about those. A little advice would be awesome. Thanks yall

 

[Drew Riley]

Nothing cuts forever, especially when drilling steel.

Personally, I primarily use regular HSS and touch them up when they start to dull. Cutting fluid will get a few more holes between sharpening.

I reserve the carbide for hardened steel.

 

[E.Carlson]

I mostly use 1/8 inch pins and use these #30 bits, the price is right, and you get plenty of them. You definitely want cobalt bits.

Neiko Pro 10220B #30 Double Ended Cobalt M35 Drill Bit Set (10 Pack) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0054E80M2/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_YIxwxbDCMVY2G

 

[Erin Burke]

These days, I almost exclusively buy Precision Twist screw-machine length cobalt drills. They used to be USA-made... but from what I hear, they're now coming from Brazil. I haven't seen any significant change in quality, so I'll stick with them for awhile. Plus -- since MSC only sells them a dozen at a time -- I have enough of most sizes to last me for quite some time. I've never had good luck with any drills bought at a Lowes or Home Depot, including anything from Dewalt.
If, for some reason, I need to make a hole in hardened steel, I keep a few generic (Enco or Ebay) carbide drills around in common sizes.

I do have a Drill Doctor, but don't find it of much use for the small drills that I use when knifemaking... maybe occasionally for #14 or larger.

 

[LARRYZ10]

Blue Collar, You may want to go online and find Drill Bit City and then click on their link lo Drill Bit City II where you can buy 5 and 10 packs of reground tungsten carbide drills in either fractional, number, letter, or metric sizes. These drills are only about 1/2 inch long and very brittle so you will break some once in a while but they are such a good deal that I keep about 20 10 packs of common sizes for pin holes. I use mostly numbered bits like # 12 and # 30 which are a couple thousandths larger than standard pin stock sizes. Of course use a letter "F" drill for 1/4" tang holes. Try a few of these. I drill some holes in tangs after heat treat if I change my mind about installing bolsters on a blade. Just a suggestion. Larry

 

[Blue Collar Steel]

Hey thanks for all the advice. I will check all those places out and figure out which rout I want to go. I figured there were better bits out there then I was using I just was a little over whelmed at the number of different bits out there. Thanks again!

 

[JG Custom Metal Works]

I got a drill doctor for $10 at an estate sale a while back and haven't had to buy a new drill bit in forever. Even a super cheap chicom drill bit will drill good after being freshly sharpened. Of course cheap bits won't stay sharp as long. I'd just get a Drill Doctor and a good set of HSS or cobalt bits and you should be set for a long long time.