Frustrated With Drill Bits

rservices

I drill in a lot of stainless, and cinder block, can any one recomend a brand of bit that holds up.
I've tried most brands, milwakee, dewalt, and even fastenals. some are better than others but what your feed back
thanks john

Aceinstaller

I keep seeing some kind of sharpener on TV lately. bout ready to give them a call and bust out the 5 gallon bucket of spent bits that I've been collecting.

If it works half as good as they say it does, I'm sittin on a gold mine!

mdshunk

For drilling in steel and stainless, I prefer any titanium nitride coated bit. You can distinguish these by their gold outer appearance, and possibly the "TiN" markings on the bit. Key to drilling stainless is to controll the drilling speed. Get a little trigger happy, and you'll burn the bit blue on the first hole or two. A drop of Tap Magic or similar tapping fluid or gel goes a long way towards extending bit life.

For drilling masonry, I've never had any particular issues with any bits. Key again, matching drill motor RPM's to bit diameter, just like when running a milling machine or lathe, to extend tooling life. I mostly use Milwaukee and Fastenal masonry bits, and get good service from both. Some guys swear by Bosch's line of Blue Granite masonry bits, but I have yet to try one. My rotary hammer is spline drive, and the only Bosch bits sold local to me are SDS.

Eric K

Have you tried cobalt bits for drilling ss and other metals. Thats all I use for that. I just tryed out the RIDGID brand drill bits and they worked great. I also used to get them when we worked on trailers from a local supply store that just sold them in brown bags. Never knew what brand it was but those ones where the best I've ever used. Those Bosch bits are the best I've found also for masonary.

rservices

I bought a drill doctor, but either I did it wrong or it's just the wrong cut for metal bits, I'm sure they will work fine in wood, but on metal they just spin

Nick H

If yout drilling into metals you must keep the speed down and keep the bit cool, its the heat which kills the bit. I had to drill a load of bolt holes in steel angle and turned up with a whole load of bits thinking i'd need them all, well an "older" guy with very greasy hands "talked" me through it, low speed and keep the bit cool by constanly dipping it in water, no oil, and I did the whole job, some 40 12mm holes, with one bit. The other interesting thing was that I was going to drill a 5mm pilot first but he told me not to as that would kill the 12mm bit quicker, the cutting flutes on the larger bit running around the edge of the smaller hole creates a hot spot that kills the edge.
How come older guys know this stuff ?

Rapture

I've used the Bosch Blue Granite line of Drill bits to install anchors in a movie theater. I've use it several times and hasn't failed me yet. I bought three of them thinking I would go through them quickly (same concern as the topic), but I like their performance and they last. My experience only of course. Good luck. (blue guy for Blue Granite)

Teetorbilt

For the best bits, contact a tool supply company. Harbor Tool Supply is a good one (not to be confused with Harbor Freight). DoAll is another. Most machine shops will tell you where they buy their tools, maybe even order for you.

IMHO, Ridgid is the best 'off the rack' for metals. I've drilled through some Grade 9 and 11 bolts with them.

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JustaFramer

As said before low rpms and cutting fluid. I always knock the speed down on the drill press when I am drilling hardened steel. Go light on the pressure also.

jproffer

Used to be a machinist and some of the old timers used to use milk to cool their drills when cutting SS. Didn't think to ask if it was skim, 2% or whole though .

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Jim P.

Teetorbilt

A lot of the old guys swear by spit on SS too. The main thing with SS is to not let it get hot, it work hardens easily and then you really have a problem. You want to keep a low rotational speed and fairly high feed rate, this will keep the heat in the chip.

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You can't solve you're problems with the same level of thinking that created the problems.

Albert Einstein

Spectatorz

I worked as a machinist back when too. Feeds and Speeds are Critical.

The best drill bits I have found are from these guys : http://www.baddogtools.com/drillbits.htm

We all need to use and or buy these anyway, Why not get a Lifetime Guarantee ?

My personal set has done well for me so far, had them for a little over a year now.

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RobertCDF

Bosch blue granite are the best for masonry drilling IMO as well. Not to be confused with the Bosch SDS bits those are not nearly as good.

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Robert Shaw
Colorado Springs Custom Decks
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