Metric drill bits - where to buy

[HowardH]

Anyone got a good source for metric sized jobber length drill bits?  I recently got some 100mm x 12mm dowels for my DDF40 and I need to be able to deepen the holes a bit for entire dowel can be used. 

 

[RKA]

Lee Valley or Mcmaster.com would be the first two places I would check.  If you have a Mcmaster warehouse near you, you can pick up same day usually.  Otherwise you're looking at a 2-3 wait.  Amazon likely has something as well. 

If you have a 15/32 bit handy, give that a try and see if it will work.  May need to tap the dowel in for softwood.  Hardwood, I'm not sure.  It's about 0.004" smaller than your 12mm, so you have to test. 

 

[Cheese]

My go-to supplier is MSC.
https://www.mscdirect.com/browse/Holemaking/Drilling-Drill-Bits?navid=12106070

I can choose the manufacturer, the drill bit material, the point angle...they have over 46,000 jobber drill bits and most are in inventory.

I believe they arrive within 3 days.

If you're looking for brad point drill bits then I'd try Jamestown Distributors. They handle Fuller drill bits, made in the USA. They make a really nice brad point drill bit.
https://www.jamestowndistributors.com/userportal/show_product.do?pid=1374&familyName=Fuller+Brad+Point+Drills+-+Regular+Length
https://wlfuller.com/html/regular_length_brad.html

 

[HowardH]

I think the 15/32 would be a bit too small.  It converts to 11.90625 mm.  On softwoods it would probably work but it would be really hard to remove them after a test fit. 

 

[Cheese]

Here's a better link.
https://www.mscdirect.com/browse/tn...ngth-Drill-Bits?navid=12106186#navid=12106186+4288231970

 

[rvieceli]

I am very fond of Norseman bits. Made in the USA

If you want a set here's one 1-13mm in .5mm increments
https://bowerstool.com/norseman-25p...m-m7-drill-bit-set-1-13mm-made-in-usa-sp-25m/

Bowers has always treated me right.

Here is a link to Norseman's catalog
http://www.norsemandrill.com/pdf/prd/type170-AG112014.pdf

You'll note that individual bits come in .1mm increments

Hartville carries the 12mm
https://www.hartvillehardware.com/product/sku-91280/Step-Drill-Bits

Ron

 

[HowardH]

The shipping cost is more than the bit itself. 

 

[rvieceli]

here's another at McMaster-Carr
https://www.mcmaster.com/drill-bits/drill-bits/system-of-measurement~metric/size~12millimeters/

Their distribution centers are here:

Atlanta|Chicago|Cleveland|Los Angeles|New Jersey

I'm in Illinois, I get stuff next day if I order before 2 pm or so. Their shipping costs are usually around $6-8

Ron

 

[pixelated]

Two of my local old-fashioned hardware stores carry metric bits. They also usually have a pretty full range of imperial bits, for example one that is the next 1/64’th bigger might work.

If you have a Woodcraft nearby, they may have Festool bits, and perhaps other brands.

 

[DeformedTree]

While lowes and HD have some metric bits, if you live near Menards, they carry a lot of them. 

I would second mcmaster, they will have anything.

Also if you are in a decent size town, find a local machine tool/fastner supply shop, they will have all the metric drills you should need.

Far as the inch bits being a bit small, it will go. You aren't working in steel.  That .004" interference is nothing.  I've drilled with the inch bits and put 8 and 6mm dowels in, they go right in.

 

[Alanbach]

Call WL Fuller in Rhode Island. Not cheap but they make (or can get) just about any kind of drill bit that there is.

 

[Birdhunter]

Would shortening the dowels a bit work?

 

[HowardH]

It could be but I wanted to use the entire length if possible for added lateral strength.

 

[Cheese]

It could be but I wanted to use the entire length if possible for added lateral strength.

If you need an extra long 12 mm drill bit, here are 18 possibilities from MSC in HSS or cobalt.
https://www.mscdirect.com/browse/tn...ngth-Drill-Bits?navid=12106289#navid=12106289+4288208179+4288243942+4288184258

 

[DeformedTree]

Timberwolf also has Mafell Metric Auger bits if you want/need to go a bit extreme.