Metric Drill Bits

[Adriel]

Bought a set, some bits work great, but many have dulled in short order and several have broken. So now looking for a quality set and having trouble finding one. Any recommendations?

Thank you so very much in advance for any help!

[vstech]

For quality bits, I go to a tool supply outlet. Lowes etc would be ok for standard bit sets, but metric sizes aren't as common. Tool supply distributors would be good.

[Adriel]

Originally Posted by vstech

For quality bits, I go to a tool supply outlet. Lowes etc would be ok for standard bit sets, but metric sizes aren't as common. Tool supply distributors would be good.

John, thank you so very much for the reply!

Odd, never found made in USA bits in any box stores.

What is a tool distributor? Do go to a business that only sells tools, but haven't seen metric.

[Stretch]

I don't know if they have gotten as far as the US of A but the brand "Heller" make better lasting drills and bits

Frontpage | Heller Tools GmbH

Alternatively perhaps a company like DeWalt might have better lasting products.

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The key to all drill exercises is heat and swarf control.

Use cutting oil such as "Rapid Tap"

Relton Corporation - Home

(Looks like they make nice drills too)


Even ****ty quality drills last longer with decent cutting oil and some careful use.


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Colbalt drills are also nice - but you must remember to make sure you drive them at a reduced speed - if they get too hot the coating doesn't work any more - yet again the way to control that is through speed and lubrication

[Blazemaster]

Norseman, Chicago Latrobe, Cleveland and Brubaker all make nice drills.

[Dan Stokes]

Industrial Tool and Supply in Michigan is one such place. Many towns have them. They may need to order metric as most of us get by with inch sizes but I know they can get them.

Here in NC there is Fensel Supply. They supply Parker fittings but also have some machine tool supplies including drill bits, taps and dies, etc. They carry several brands from cheap Asian imports to The Good Stuff so you can get as fine a set as you can afford. I think Fensel covers much of the SE US but I really haven't gone looking.

Not sure of a vendor in your part of the world but I'm sure there is someone vending this kind of stuff. Look for a vendor of machine tools (Bridgeport, Jet - that sort of thing) and they're likely to be your guys.

Dan

[Diesel911]

All Drill Bits get dull eventually. I bought a Drill Doctor and it works fine.

The Drill Doctor is extrmely handy when you have only one size of a Drill Bit and it gets dull and you want to complete the job you are doing right now instead of getting in you Car and going to a Store to get another.

However, if you are sharpening a whole box of drill bits you will be suprised that at the time it takes to do all of them.

I bought mine new but there is quite a few used ones sold on eBay.

[pj67coll]

Originally Posted by Adriel

Bought a set, some bits work great, but many have dulled in short order and several have broken. So now looking for a quality set and having trouble finding one. Any recommendations?

Thank you so very much in advance for any help!

You doubtless bought something made in China. It's almost impossible to find stuff in a big box store here that's not these days.

While it's true that drills will wear out eventually the stuff from china is in my experience disgustingly bad. So my suggestion is go online to a place like "Chadstoolbox.com" They sell only German products. They are more expensive of course. But I believe they are vastly superior to the garbage you get from china. And yes, I know some of the chinese stuff isn't complete junk, but so much of it is, and it's become such an aggravation to me having to deal with it that I'm now making an effort to avoid it at all costs. I'll buy only quality American made stuff, if I can find it, or German from the online suppliers such as the one I mentioned.

It's not just that these are superior products, it's also the fact that while there are still quality manufacturers out there (US as well as German) I'd rather support them than join the lemming like rush for cheap chinese crap.

- Peter.

[Dan Stokes]

Methods Machine Tools in Tempe sounds likely (wonders of the Interwebs). There were some other possibles in Tempe but after a quick look I didn't find anything in Mesa but there may be.

Also, remember McMaster-Carr (they are the real-life Acme company that Wile E. Coyote uses) and Grainger. Their shipping is AMAZING and they have EVERYTHING - anvils to zebras (well, maybe not zebras but it's the first "z" thing that came to mind).

Dan

[Diesel911]

Originally Posted by Dan Stokes

Methods Machine Tools in Tempe sounds likely (wonders of the Interwebs). There were some other possibles in Tempe but after a quick look I didn't find anything in Mesa but there may be.

Also, remember McMaster-Carr (they are the real-life Acme company that While E. Coyote uses) and Grainger. Their shipping is AMAZING and they have EVERYTHING - anvils to zebras (well, maybe not zebras but it's the first "z" thing that came to mind).

Dan

Depending on where you live both companies might have an actual Store you can go to to pick up the items.

[Eskimo]

MSC Industrial Supply - lots of metalworking stuff.

I think they have a branch location in your area.

Depending on what one is buying, web specials can offer substantial savings.

I don't know if they still publish their "Big Book" as a printed book, but if they do, it's cool to see just how mind-bogglingly big it is.

[Dan Stokes]

Thanks Eskimo - I couldn't pull that up. I had a little time to kill in Salt Lake City as I waited for a plane and found one of their offices. Don't remember what I bought but it was something they had and no one here locally did. Must not have been sharp 'cause I went thru the TSA line OK.

Anyhow - that's a GREAT place and it was fun to drool on the Bridgeports and such. I'd be VERY surprised if they didn't have your bits.

Dan

[Charlie Foxtrot]

Remember that vendors like McMaster, MSC, Fastenal, and Grainger sell varying levels of quality, so buy what you need. Also, the material you are drilling should be matched to the bit material & angle of the bit as well as rate of feed. A tool steel bit that easily cuts through bronze will have issues hardened material. Another issue is the need to cool the bit & clear the chips. A really nice feature of McMaster's web catalog (as well as the big yellow book) is the instructional panel at the beginning of a section.

[whunter]

Here is my favorite tool supply for precision equipment.
They have all levels.
Production Tool Supply

.

[Dan Stokes]

Production Tool is excellent, too. So X2 for them.

Dan