Drills......Would Like to Hear Opinions

[OBJ]

I'm in the market for a good drill index. Was wondering what opinions would be on what type to buy and material the dirll is made from. I'm basically looking for drills that won't dull out as soon as they are used against ferrous metals.<br /><br />I have a short drill index right now made from titanium. Seem to work good and don't dull out quickly.<br /><br />And one more question......is there a tool on the market that can be used to find the center of a broke off bolt or stud. Seems I've heard of such a gadget but can't remember where.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Drills......Would Like to Hear Opinions

I found a set like this for less than $50......The Ti. coated 1s....<br />The Cobalt 1s are about Twice that much,.... HS Steel is about 1/2 as much....<br /><br />They stay reasonably Sharp for awhile,+ are sharpenable......<br /><br />If I break 1,..... Who Cares,.... They were Dirt Cheap..........<br />

<br /><br />These are a set of Transfer Punches like the 1s I use........<br />

 

[tommays]

Re: Drills......Would Like to Hear Opinions

A "GOOD" index could cost 300 dollars that being said places like MSC have sets in all prices ranges and they have a good return policy <br /><br />One of the best small sets i ever had was a brand X chinese one <br /><br />At work were it needs to be good all the time i stick with the name brand American sets and we buy 12 packs of all the sizes we use a lot<br /><br />i can get an american #21 drill for 65 cents why go cheep<br /><br /><br />As far as good driling i find a 135 deg split point to give good results and the standard black oxide coating holds up fine at the right speeds (I work in stainless about 95% percent of the time)<br /><br /><br />I try to stay away from cobalt with hand drills there just to easy to pop unless you just have to have it<br /><br /><br />tommays

 

[Paul Moir]

Re: Drills......Would Like to Hear Opinions

And one more question......is there a tool on the market that can be used to find the center of a broke off bolt or stud.

I wonder why you would ever need a tool like that? Have a look at rodbolt's post:<br /> http://forums.iboats.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=30;t=006684;p=1#000033 <br /><br />I haven't seen one for sale anywhere, but it's not hard to make. If you don't have a milling machine, it's pretty easy to cut the slot with a mini-grinder and a little file work.

 

[one more cast]

Re: Drills......Would Like to Hear Opinions

Edit: I missread the post.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Drills......Would Like to Hear Opinions

I also work with stainless. The best bits for the buck I have found are the black DeWalt ones. Fairly cheap and cuts decent. Just don't use a whole lot of speed. Overspeed and lack of cutting oil shortens the life expectancy.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Drills......Would Like to Hear Opinions

I swear by the cobalt bits (eat stainless w/o problems too) but only buy the size I need. <br /><br />Actually we do not need drill bits at all..... we need holes!<br /><br />

 

[OBJ]

Re: Drills......Would Like to Hear Opinions

Thanks everyone! I really appreciate all the good info received. I've got a couple feelers out to a couple tool companies to see what they have to offer....one is $nap-On (you know.....large dollars for tools company) and NAPA....got some of their tools and have been happy with them so I thought I's give them a whirl. One thing for sure, I want something made in the USA....least I can be somewhat assured of a quality set of bits.<br /><br />What we really need are unbreakable studs and bolts......

 

[dtherrien]

Re: Drills......Would Like to Hear Opinions

All coatings on drill bits are just that...coatings. Dont waste your money on them......learn to sharpen your own drill bits.And i dont mean with a drill sharpening gadget.Use a belt grinder or a disk grinder.The benefit of sharpening your own is you can change the cutting angle to the material you are drilling.

 

[eurolarva]

Re: Drills......Would Like to Hear Opinions

I bought a drill doctor at home depot for 50 bucks. I figured this was a gimick tool however I was suprised. I have a 100 peice index and about 90 of them were so dull they would not cut anything. Spent an hour and sharpened all of them with the drill doctor and wow. If you buy an index get one of these sharpeners.

 

[Limited-Time]

Re: Drills......Would Like to Hear Opinions

Some names to look for, Cleveland Twist, Precision twist, or Chicago-Latrobe, to name a few. Cobalt is a PLUS for hard or tough materials.<br /><br /> Key note: Speed (RPM) kills! The heat generated by excessive RPM is the #1 killer of most bits.<br /><br /> Rule Of Thumb for Drilling:<br /> The smaller the drill bit diameter, the faster the speed (RPM) the slower the Feed rate (Lighter Cutting pressure) <br /><br /> The Larger the drill bit, the slower the speed (RPM) the faster the feed rate (More Cutting Pressure)<br /><br />Keep your drill bits happy and sharp, KEEP THEM COOL!!<br />

 

[jimr]

Re: Drills......Would Like to Hear Opinions

I also bought a drill dr. http://www.genext.drilldoctor.com/ and had my boss buy one at work. not everyone(especially me) can sharpen a drill bit on a grinder. it works great. We have a mix of bits at work but get most at fastenal http://www.fastenal.com/web/home.ex

 

[ob]

Re: Drills......Would Like to Hear Opinions

Recently bought a set of Hanson cobalts from local industrial tool supply house.Real nice set.Steel box,not plastic.1/16" to 1/2" in 1/64" incriments.29 bits total for around $60.Now that you are totally confused with all of the suggestions I'll bow out.

 

[OBJ]

Re: Drills......Would Like to Hear Opinions

I dunno........maybe I just should go back to drilling holes with a 10penny spike and hammer like I did as a kid.......

 

[ob]

Re: Drills......Would Like to Hear Opinions

Originally posted by OBJ:<br /> I dunno........maybe I just should go back to drilling holes with a 10penny spike and hammer like I did as a kid.......

What?? And miss out on grinning from ear to ear when you drill the first hole with one of those virgin cobalt bits?Now why in the world

 

[Link]

Re: Drills......Would Like to Hear Opinions

Originally posted by Bondo:<br /> I found a set like this for less than $50......The Ti. coated 1s....<br />The Cobalt 1s are about Twice that much,.... HS Steel is about 1/2 as much....<br /><br />They stay reasonably Sharp for awhile,+ are sharpenable......<br /><br />If I break 1,..... Who Cares,.... They were Dirt Cheap..........<br /><br /><br />

<br /><br />These are a set of Transfer Punches like the 1s I use........<br />

Yup I have two sets of the cheapy sets also.<br />One I only use on wood in the shop. They work great.<br /><br />The other set goes on job sites and for $39,99 from harbor freight who cares when one breaks. <br /><br />The expensive set I own is made by Rodman & Company but drill through everything from glass, cement, bricks to hardend steel. complete set comes from 1/8 thru 3/4 came with a sharpner (sp) for about $120.00 @ a Boat Show Ofcourse <br /><br />1-800-228-1806<br />Try a google search

 

[byacey]

Re: Drills......Would Like to Hear Opinions

I would recommend cobalt steel, these aren't a coating that wears off like the titanium nitride bits. The split point bits start real nice without skidding, but once they are dull, it's very difficult to resharpen them properly like a conventional twist drill point

 

[NOSLEEP]

Re: Drills......Would Like to Hear Opinions

That tool you are looking for that helps you<br />find the center of a bolt or stud. The best one<br />I have come across is called a Punch.

 

[surlyjoe]

Re: Drills......Would Like to Hear Opinions

if you buy them off the Mac truck, they are gauranteed sharp, so they just give you a new one...