What drill bits do you use?

[Just F Me]

I'm looking for some better quality drill bits.  The ones I have seem to have more tear out on plywood.  Kinda ugly. 

 

[bionicus]

These: http://www.leevalley.com/US/Wood/page.aspx?p=42247&cat=1,180,42240

American-made Precision twist drills reshaped into brad-points by LV.

 

[wow]

I use Norseman bits for steel and general work. I need to decide on a set of bits for wood.

 

[dltflt]

The Festool brad point bits are very nice. I also have a set of Fischer which are also very nice brad point bits.

 

[Just F Me]

The Festool brad point bits are very nice. I also have a set of Fischer which are also very nice brad point bits.

Agreed...but the possibility of bits breaking and wearing out...I don't know if I could afford Festool bits...lol

 

[dltflt]

The other bits are Fisch. I believe they are German made also.

 

[GregBradley]

Be careful with your supplier on Fische Drill bits. The ones on Amazon and some others are counterfeit and complete garbage. See my review on Amazon. I can't understand why Amazon didn't drop the seller. Amazon's fabulous customer service came through to save me from a sleazy seller.

Colt makes some great bits as do Lee Valley and WL Fuller. Morris is great but tend to be carried mostly by production tool suppliers so may not be found easily.

The Festool bits are great and priced in line with quality. Maybe a bit above the others but easily justifiable if you want Centrotec.

I find good use out of cheap junk from Harbor Freight and great stuff from Festool, WL Fuller, Colt, etc. for different uses. There is no one solution for all. It is easy to get confused when making generalizations by brand. For example most Dewalt bits are junk but their SDS Masonry bits are excellent. Who would have thought? Interesting that they are made in Germany.......

 

[dltflt]

I bought my Fische years ago from Woodcraft.

 

[TelcoRandy]

I use Norseman bits for steel and general work. I need to decide on a set of bits for wood.

At work I drill a lot of steel and so far Norseman molybdenum bits are my favorite. I buy them from Fastenal and they are durable yet they don't shatter like cobalt bits. I just wish Fastenal would sell the ones with the flats ground on the shanks because sometimes I spin them in my drill (even if I reef on the chuck to make it super-tight).

 

[Stephen B]

[size=14pt]
On my CXS I naturally use Festool, but on my Makita and Metabo drills I exclusively use an excellent range of Australian made drill bitts -

http://www.sutton.com.au

Not sure where they are available in Europe or NA but this company does export.

Edit. Head office in US -
USA: 855-788-8277

 

[tbellemare]

If I'm not mistaken, there is a company in Montana that makes a lot of the re-branded drill bits and sets sold here, including in big-box stores.

They have been through various owners and corporate issues in the last few years but I think they actually make pretty good stuff for a lot of others that sell it.

Also, if I'm not mistaken, they sell really high quality industrial tooling.

This is all just hearsay to me but it is one of the most plausible such stories I've been fed in a while... Rocky Mountain Twist.

Tom

 

[wow]

I use Norseman bits for steel and general work. I need to decide on a set of bits for wood.

At work I drill a lot of steel and so far Norseman molybdenum bits are my favorite. I buy them from Fastenal and they are durable yet they don't shatter like cobalt bits. I just wish Fastenal would sell the ones with the flats ground on the shanks because sometimes I spin them in my drill (even if I reef on the chuck to make it super-tight).

I use the Super Magnum bits with the 3 flats. In fact, I used them tonight to drill starter holes and all the way up to 1/2", which was the largest I had. I needed a bigger bit, so ran out to Home Despot and bought the best 5/8" bit they had, which was a Milwaukee.

What a difference - and I don't mean that in a good way for Wilwaukee! Unlike the Super Magnums, which cut steel like butter, the Milwaukee bit barely managed to drill 8 holes in 3/16" mild steel. And that's only going from an already existing 1/2" hole. It will be going back for credit and I'll order a Norseman replacement.

Actually, I'll probably order a small set...

 

[TelcoRandy]

I was standing in Home Depot with some of my coworkers recently and they were tempted to buy a large drill set but I convinced them not to.

I told them unless they get professional grade they will be disappointed. I should check my local Fastenal to see if they sell the ones with the flats ground into the bits because I use the Super Magnums without the flats and I've ruined a few shanks. On top of that my coworkers ruin my drill shanks faster than I do, people get really ignorant when they're using other people's stuff, I got mad at 2 of my coworkers recently for not tightening my drill chuck enough while drilling steel.

 

[PreferrablyWood]

I bought the PDC 18 /4 and took delivery a week ago, I also took delivery of a full compliment of Centrotec bits, that came in cases that fit perfectly into the attic compartment of the PDC's systainer. I breathed a sigh of relief when I realized that most of the time I can leave the big Jacobs chuck in the box, and just switch out between the different bits and drillsbits with one quick movement. Saves my wrists from unecessary stress, my skin from being pinched, saves on batteries and noise. The centrotec bits sit tight deep into the driving mechanism of the tool with no slop, am I going to break my centrotec bits? hardly as the smallest of them the HSS 3mm is still robust enough to not be easily broken. Are they going to wear out fast and need to be replaced? I could see it happening if I was doing lots of drilling in stainless steel or cast iron but this won't be my main usage of the kit, just occasional, the HSS replacement bits that fit into the centrotec shanks are not overly expensive, and for hard usage bits, they come in packs of 10 so getting a few of those for the most used bits isn't cost prohibitive..

So seen in that light I don't see the point of saving on bits for festool drills when you lose some of the most useful things about the system, the organization, the quick change, and high  quality of the bits..
Some point to the lack of choice in the different sizes of bradpoint and zobo bits, after some thought I figure it's my shop I can just work with these limitations and buy compatible hardware, or make my own plugs and dowels to fit the tools... It may even save money by simplifying the choices.. The standard 19 piece HSS set has a fine resolution in the size of bits if needed..

 

[wow]

Two points, PreferrablyWood:

1. AFAIK, the bit set you referenced is NAINA.  [mad]

2. I don't own a Festool drill, so the value of the Centrotec chuck does not exist for me.

Otherwise, I like your arguments!

[not worthy]

 

[waho6o9]

And to keep your drill bits in sharp order may I

suggest a Tormek drill bit sharpening system?
[attachimg=1]

 

[PreferrablyWood]

Two points, PreferrablyWood:

1. AFAIK, the bit set you referenced is NAINA.  [mad]

I'll need specificalls on which bit set you mean?

2. I don't own a Festool drill, so the value of the Centrotec chuck does not exist for me.

Otherwise, I like your arguments!

Well this is a Festool forum so we need your vote, pick up a used C12 if you have to, but get in on the magic of Festool drillssszz you won't regret it..!!!

[not worthy]

 

[TelcoRandy]

And to keep your drill bits in sharp order may I

suggest a Tormek drill bit sharpening system?
[attachimg=1]

I would have to assume that the drill bit in the picture wouldn't drill anymore since the highest point on the drill isn't the cutting edge.

 

[greg mann]

And to keep your drill bits in sharp order may I

suggest a Tormek drill bit sharpening system?
[attachimg=1]

I would have to assume that the drill bit in the picture wouldn't drill anymore since the highest point on the drill isn't the cutting edge.

It does look like the primary land is higher at the back but i suspect it is optical illusion.

 

[greg mann]

I use Norseman bits for steel and general work. I need to decide on a set of bits for wood.

At work I drill a lot of steel and so far Norseman molybdenum bits are my favorite. I buy them from Fastenal and they are durable yet they don't shatter like cobalt bits. I just wish Fastenal would sell the ones with the flats ground on the shanks because sometimes I spin them in my drill (even if I reef on the chuck to make it super-tight).

I use the Super Magnum bits with the 3 flats. In fact, I used them tonight to drill starter holes and all the way up to 1/2", which was the largest I had. I needed a bigger bit, so ran out to Home Despot and bought the best 5/8" bit they had, which was a Milwaukee.

What a difference - and I don't mean that in a good way for Wilwaukee! Unlike the Super Magnums, which cut steel like butter, the Milwaukee bit barely managed to drill 8 holes in 3/16" mild steel. And that's only going from an already existing 1/2" hole. It will be going back for credit and I'll order a Norseman replacement.

Actually, I'll probably order a small set...

It seems from your description that you drilled a 1/2 inch hole and then wanted to enlarge it with a 5/8 drill? That is not a good idea and if that is what you did I am not surprised the drill did not hold up. You should drill a pilot hole at maybe 1/8 inch and then go to the 5/8. The pilot hole should be about the size of the final drill's web thickness but not larger. This way the final drill has a chance to create a full diameter  before it breaks thru. That said, a 5/8 drill in 3/16 material is hard to do handheld. It is more difficult than in thicker material.