Drill Bits

[Roky]

Mostly a sharpness issue. I guess I just don't feel like a bit should need to be sharpened after drilling a single hole in 1/4" steel. 20 years ago any bit you bought would last years.

Welcome to the disposable world we live in....

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[cjaama]

This is what I've been using
https://www.harborfreight.com/titanium-m2-high-speed-steel-drill-bit-set-115-pc-61543.html
Not impressed. Obviously you get what you pay for.

Too bad they don't have the lifetime warranty like Pittsburgh, not that they're good quality either.
When I first started working on anything metal I had no clue to drill slow and use oil. Sacrificed a lot of bits that way.

 

[Gee-pah]

You probably need to slow WAY down on your drill speed. You can burn up even the best drill bits if you heat them up too much.

Not only do I agree, but this runs IMHO "part in parcel" with bit tip sharpness. Impatience can get the best of us just as sure as a dull dill bit challenges that patience. We sometimes compensate with more pressure or speed when "sharp, lubed, and slow," on metals at least, is the way to go.

(Cue the innuendos on "drilling" having multiple meanings!!!)

 

[word302]

You probably need to slow WAY down on your drill speed. You can burn up even the best drill bits if you heat them up too much.

Yeah unfortunately speed doesn't seem to make a difference. They start to heat up on low speed as well?

 

[word302]

Too bad they don't have the lifetime warranty like Pittsburgh, not that they're good quality either.
When I first started working on anything metal I had no clue to drill slow and use oil. Sacrificed a lot of bits that way.

I honestly don't care about warranty, it's not worth my time to deal with. I want quality bits that I can depend on. Not that I was expecting much from HF.

 

[Gee-pah]

Yeah unfortunately speed doesn't seem to make a difference. They start to heat up on low speed as well?

Here's where taking the advice of many, many of my lovers, (as if!) nicknamed the "human tripod" (not) comes to play.....

"more lube!"

 

[word302]

Might be your cutting speed. Steel *generally* likes slow speeds for drilling.

I like your quotes. It seems like I always have to ruin a bit figuring out what speed the material "likes".

 

[word302]

Guys I appreciate all the replies. I almost always cut metal slow. The one-off bits I buy at the steel fab shop for specialty work always cut much better and last longer, though you pay out the ass for them. I'm looking for a index I can count on, which is why I directed this towards machinist/fab guys. @Sean K. What do you use?

 

[Jo's Jeep]

I went this route...

 

[word302]

Not nearly as much.....

Are you using a 2 speed or variable speed drill?

2-speed battery powered. I might have to dig out my old electric variable speed if I can find it. Lol.

 

[word302]

You're not going to like my answer....I have two of the HF drill indexes that are several years old...and generally speaking they work well for me. When I drill by hand, I usually use a variable speed and "pulse" the trigger....so it doesn't build too much heat and while the bit starts out spinning really fast, as it slows from pulsing the trigger....it slows and generally cuts pretty well. Sometimes I'll use cutting oil...often times not b/c I know I'm going to be welding something and don't want to have to clean the oil off.

All that said, HFs tools over the last 3-5 years have seemed to degrade even further in quality. Their old step drill bits (the 3 piece set) used to be really good for $9.99....now they're $13.99 and I've had them shatter (from being too brittle) or dull (too soft) on the very first hole they've cut.

I honestly don't know what you should get for good quality.

I have the big Drill Doctor bit sharpener....and I've had relatively poor luck getting them to resharpen dulled or broken bits.

I'd shop around on price and find a complete index set for relatively good prices. Most tools are made in China now regardless....not sure paying double or triple for USA made is any better, but the only way you'll know is to try both. I know, not what you want to hear.

I've thought about a sharpener but I've never heard anybody with first-hand experience say anything good about them. I might have to give the smaller HF cobalt index a whirl. I was just so unimpressed with the titanium-coated bits that I haven't even tried. I don't buy much in the way of tools there, but some of their stuff is hard to beat.

 

[word302]

You're not going to like my answer....I have two of the HF drill indexes that are several years old...and generally speaking they work well for me. When I drill by hand, I usually use a variable speed and "pulse" the trigger....so it doesn't build too much heat and while the bit starts out spinning really fast, as it slows from pulsing the trigger....it slows and generally cuts pretty well. Sometimes I'll use cutting oil...often times not b/c I know I'm going to be welding something and don't want to have to clean the oil off.

All that said, HFs tools over the last 3-5 years have seemed to degrade even further in quality. Their old step drill bits (the 3 piece set) used to be really good for $9.99....now they're $13.99 and I've had them shatter (from being too brittle) or dull (too soft) on the very first hole they've cut.

I honestly don't know what you should get for good quality.

I have the big Drill Doctor bit sharpener....and I've had relatively poor luck getting them to resharpen dulled or broken bits.

I'd shop around on price and find a complete index set for relatively good prices. Most tools are made in China now regardless....not sure paying double or triple for USA made is any better, but the only way you'll know is to try both. I know, not what you want to hear.

I'm also maybe being a bit greedy when I step up. Yesterday I was drilling up to 1/2" in 1/4" steel. I was stepping up about an 1/8" at a time. Maybe I should be patient and go in smaller increments?

 

[fat_head]

Another thing. If you do much drilling, even a couple times a year, a benchtop drill press for drilling steel will save you a ton of money in beer consumed, curse words used, and hair loss. You will wonder how you ever lived without a drill press for drilling steel once you've used one.

Of course your use case may not apply.

 

[word302]

Another thing. If you do much drilling, even a couple times a year, a benchtop drill press for drilling steel will save you a ton of money in beer consumed, curse words used, and hair loss. You will wonder how you ever lived without a drill press for drilling steel once you've used one.

Of course your use case may not apply.

Yeah I've got a drill press. I was drilling on the frame yesterday so hand-held was my only choice. I always use a drill press when I can.

 

[word302]

I'd honestly try Amazon (as much as I hate the monopoly Amazon is trying to create) for a good index set, read the reviews...if their mostly positive, it might be worth a try. I'm pretty leery of anything from HF now that needs a heat treat. It seems like they just can't get that right.

You're probably right. I just found a 20% off coupon for HF though so what do I have to lose? Lol. At that price they're almost disposable, which takes me back to why I started this thread. What's the definition of insanity again?

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