drill bits

[coxy]

what are the best ones

[ely]

For wood I like the brad point bits. Idk what brand...I buy the cheep ones and re buy again.

[Magicman]

The ones that are sharp and not broken.  Cobalts stay sharp longer, but are more easily broken.

The kids gave me one of those Drill Doctors but it's kinda like resharpening blades.  I would rather be doing something else.

When I am in a Black & Decker store, I always stock up.

[drobertson]

Not sure on wood bits, but for steel, there is a brand I used for years, "Precision"  whether coated or not, they are good ones, as to the best, not sure,

[jueston]

i am a believer in buying the big packages that have 100 bits in various sizes at the big box store. i think i break them or loose them long before i worry about them dulling...

i don't think i've ever had drill bits last long enough for me to worry about which brand is best.

[jwilly3879]

When I worked in a machine shop all we used were Vermont American but that was 40 years ago, now it is probably Vermont Chinese.

[snowstorm]

i am not really a dewalt fan but santa brought a set of the good dewalt bits. they work real well in steel

[Hilltop366]

I have had good luck with Milwaukee and Walter.  Some of the best ones I've had I bought at a tool discount store in 1985, they just say "made in Italy" on them.

[ScottAR]

Local Ace stocks Irwins that work well.  I think they are the black and gold series? They are gold on the business end.  They also stock fractional, number, and letter bits which is nice. 

[luvmexfood]

Here's one for you if you want to mess with someone at an autoparts or box store. If you buy an easyout it says to use a lefthand drill bit. Another words it drills in reverse. Pickout an easyout and try and get a bit for it. You will leave them scratching their head.

[Al_Smith]

Irwin makes a decent wood bit or at least used to .
Metal bits in my little life I couldn't really say .I have them by the thousands from fractional size to 2.5" all or most from auctions .Cheap!

[coxy]

sorry     metal bits is what I am looking for I had I guy drill some holes in 11/4 thick metal and the bits were funny looking with some sort of a point on them and they made some big shavings   I asked what kind of bits they were and  he would  not tell me   :-\   >:(  I have looked  for them and cant find any like his 

[beenthere]

Dewalt

Google " Dewalt fractional, pilot-point, jobber-length drill bits" for them. May be other brands too.

@ grainger
http://www.grainger.com/category/pilot-point-drill-bits/drilling-accessories/power-tools/ecatalog/N-ak2

[slider]

There is a learning curve on that drill doctor as well.If you don't get enough relief on the back side of the bit it won't cut after you sharpen it.One more tip,if you are drilling stainless go slow.

[ozarkgem]

sorry     metal bits is what I am looking for I had I guy drill some holes in 11/4 thick metal and the bits were funny looking with some sort of a point on them and they made some big shavings   I asked what kind of bits they were and  he would  not tell me   :-\   >:(  I have looked  for them and cant find any like his

Since I have owned a machine for many years I have a little experience in this area. I don't have a specific brand but I buy high quality HSS (high speed steel) American made drill bits. MSC is a big supplier of quality bits and machine shop tooling. Stay a way from High Carbon. too brittle. I have used Solid Carbide but they are expensive and there again stay away from imports. On big bits you need to have the piece clamped good and drill slow speed and use coolant. Best to do in a milling machine. I will try and remember to look at the bits we have and get some brand names for you. On a 1 1/4 drill bit you could expect to pay 50-100 bucks for a good drill bit. If you put these in a 1/2 in chuck you might have problems with it slipping. I use holders that have a set screw to keep them from spinning. Of course not everyone has a mill setting around . I have never tried that big of a drill bit on a drill press. Not that it can't be done the mill is just easier. You get what you pay for in drill bits and end mills. I buy the best. The funny looking drill bit may have been one that uses a carbide insert.

[sprucebunny]

I've made a few things that involved up to one inch holes in half inch steel. The best bits have Cobalt in them and not a 'coating' . Worth paying the extra money for. ( one of my bits cost $46 !! )
The Vermont Amer. are still pretty good. Love the dual/stepped point ones.

Going slow is good advice. Slower than you think you need.

[Dan_Shade]

depending on how thick the metal, and how many holes you need to drill, I've had good luck with "uni-bits", also called step drills.

I also like the dewalts that have the pilot point, I haven't tried to sharpen one of them, but they cut well.

Also, an air drill works really well when drilling metal (they tend to stall rather than break your wrist when the bit grabs when breaking through the back side), but my preference is a drill press with a good vise.  I actually have a cross vise on my drill press, but a mill would be better.

[North River Energy]

Did it look anything like this?


 

[Al_Smith]

If you are going to drill a relitively large diameter hole you're probabley better off to "step drill " it .Meaning using a small bit for the first pass followed by a series of larger diameter .

Sharpening a drill bit is a learning curve just like sharpening a chainsaw chain .Not everybody gets the hang of it so to speak .

A milling machine with an end mill is a good method just not everybody has a Bridgeport laying around . I do plus a 5 HP radial with a number 5 MT spindle and an XY table stationary with a number 4 MT also 5 HP .

[Al_Smith]

Here's another thing .If you ae going to bore a hole don't pussy foot with it .Keep the drill bit in the metal pulling a chip .Playing around with it only dulls the bit and over heats the metal .The chip carries the heat away from the tool .

[ozarkgem]

If you are going to drill a relitively large diameter hole you're probabley better off to "step drill " it .Meaning using a small bit for the first pass followed by a series of larger diameter .

Sharpening a drill bit is a learning curve just like sharpening a chainsaw chain .Not everybody gets the hang of it so to speak .

A milling machine with an end mill is a good method just not everybody has a Bridgeport laying around . I do plus a 5 HP radial with a number 5 MT spindle and an XY table stationary with a number 4 MT also 5 HP .

A nice Radial drill. Sweet. What brand is it?

[coxy]

Did it look anything like this?


 

ya some thing like that had the point and also looked like it had hole saw teeth but not as fine  think I said it right  ;D

[elk42]

IT could be a Hougen Rotabroach® Annular Cutters, Look it up.

[North River Energy]

Coxy,
http://www.gjhalltools.com/tool/titanium-coated-annular-cutters

Retractable pilot pin, 3/4" straight shank with set screw flat.  You can drive these with some mag drills, and of course a milling machine with proper collet.  The bees knees for making big holes in plate stock.

Al, got any pictures of the radial drill-monster?   

[Al_Smith]

It's not really a monster  so to speak for a radial drill .American Hole Wizard 36" arm .I'm surprised it has a #5 MT instead of a # 4 .Where the big spindle came from I have no idea .It's a heavy duty Judy for sure .

Now pictures are another story .Sometimes I can load them sometimes not .Why  the trouble I have no idea . .My patience level is limited to three attempts .No dice this time ,sorry .