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Can anybody point me to a supplier or source of decent drill bits? Not looking for a huge set. Something as small as 1/8 to 3/8 in 1/16 increments would be fine.
Source for decent drill bits
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Are you interested in just a one-time buy of a small set of bits for occasional use in wood and metal? Your stipulation is wanting to buy buy a set of 5 bits, total - 1/8, 3/16, 1/4, 5/16, and 3/8. Or, are you a frequent user of drill bits who will need to replace bits often as you wear them out? I'm assuming you don't sharpen bits. And if all you need are 5 drill bits, I'd say just go to Lowes and pick up a 5 piece set of Irwin bits.
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Artu makes good bits, especially if you are drilling hardened or old metal. Also Irwin/Hanson still makes some decent bits. The step point bits (not sure the technical name) work well. Both have small index sets. Hard to find a decent drill index now a days, they all come in sets with a bunch of useless #3 Phillips or something.
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People buy drill bits? I get some of my bits, taps and saw blades from my employer. It’s kinda weird. They send “ consumables “ out to most jobs , and when the job is done that stuff is free for us to take, as they claim it’s cheaper to throw it out than to send it back for restocking.
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Some employers are looser with this than others. In my Navy days, we had to turn in dull drill bits to the supply office Chief in order to be issued a new one. And sometimes the Chief would eyeball the old bit and tell you it was still good enough to keep using.
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I have a couple of small projects on the drawing boards and need to drill about half dozen holes in 1/4 aluminum plate and a couple in 3/4 steel. My cheapie set was having trouble with the steel. I'm looking for something that is worth hanging onto after I'm done.
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Milwaukee Cobalt Red Helix Drill Bit Set for Drill Drivers (15-Piece)-48-89-2331 - The Home Depot
The MILWAUKEE 15 piece Cobalt RED HELIX Drill Bit Kit is engineered for extreme durability and long life in hard metal applications. The drill bits are designed with Variable Helix featuring an aggressive
www.homedepot.com
I have had decent luck with these. Most of the usage has been drilling out 7075 aluminum in my mill and occasional use to make pilot holes in wood projects. I even used a 3/8" to hog out some holes in 3/16" angle iron. I haven't broken one or thought any of them have gotten dull yet. I used to just get the cheapo sets from harborfreight. Those never lasted very long.Milwaukee Cobalt Red Helix Drill Bit Set for Drill Drivers (15-Piece)-48-89-2331 - The Home Depot
The MILWAUKEE 15 piece Cobalt RED HELIX Drill Bit Kit is engineered for extreme durability and long life in hard metal applications. The drill bits are designed with Variable Helix featuring an aggressivewww.homedepot.com
Best,
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I have bought several sets of Milwaukee on sale at Home Depot w/my veterans discount added for cheap money and they have worked for me, I am not always nice to my drill bits. I invested in a drill doctor a long time ago and it has saved me many many times on completing a job and not having to run out and buy some new, highly recommend
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I found this bit comparison helpful:
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I was at Lowe's today and picked up this set. Made in USA from foreign material...
That was before I saw the two votes for the Milwaukee sets from HD. What do you all think? Take them back and get the Milwaukee set?
![D00A27AB-7BDC-42C6-B045-7A79E1586FE8.jpeg]()
![D00A27AB-7BDC-42C6-B045-7A79E1586FE8.jpeg]()
That was before I saw the two votes for the Milwaukee sets from HD. What do you all think? Take them back and get the Milwaukee set?
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I think Milwaukee is not like it was 40-50 years ago when I started buying them and certainly not all made in America anymore. I often wonder if 85-90% of things aren't made in the same factory with different colored packaging before they get crated for the long boat ride.
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I suggested the set above because they are Cobalt and rated for stainless steel use. I don't actually have any experience with them but I've been wanting a basic set of Cobalt bits so I ordered that set for myself. I also ordered a 5/8" Drills America Cobalt bit.
I have a 1/2" Bosch Cobalt bit and it has been great so far.
I often find myself drilling bed frame angle iron and if you have tried it you know how fast it will dull a bit. It's some hard steel!
I have a 1/2" Bosch Cobalt bit and it has been great so far.
I often find myself drilling bed frame angle iron and if you have tried it you know how fast it will dull a bit. It's some hard steel!
I have had my Huot boxes and Chicago-Latrobe HSS drill bits for near 30 years, buying them as an apprentice tool and die maker. The price hurt at the time.. and hurt bad.... Many of the bits have been replaced, by C-L units, but most often they get sharpened and used until they are stubs and the center web is too narrow to spade thru material. I learned early on that there is a time and place to spend money... if you know you will be using it once, or for a very specific job... buy the least expensive tool to perform the job. If you know that that tool will be used for many projects or jobs... buy the absolute best you can afford.
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Heck no, don't take them back. If you are like me, you will misplace the size bit you need for an urgent task, and spares will come in handy even if they aren't top of the line.
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