Posted: 4/12/2008 6:47:23 PM EDT
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I know this is a DIY forum, but I am looking for more of a professional answer. I hate the way some brands which are top notch in some categories can completely suck in others. For example, Skil is -the- name in worm drive circular saws. On the job they are simply called "Skillsaws" no matter what the brand of the saw actually is. Knowing that, when I picked out a set of drill bits, I was completely disappointed with them, they really suck. Drilling even soft metals made them dull quick, and that was going low speed to keep them cool and even using a little oil. So what I want is a good drill bit index, something that will last. I see a lot pf people on the job using Dewalt drill indexes, but I don't want to buy anything before getting some real world experiences from people who have used them. What do you guys use on a professional level? |
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If you're looking to just punch holes in stuff around the house use the cheap crap you find in the home improvement centers ( Dewalt , Blumol , etc. ). If you use your bits like an animal like most contractors do , stick with cheap crap. They're fine for drilling wood and metal you just want a hole in. If you plan on using the bits for close tollerance work or want something "prefessional" , you may want to try something like what this company ( Champion ) offers. You will get real nice results and less frustration using quality bits. Just remember they're not going to hold up to you using them like an animal and running them as fast as you can without oil and cooking them. Do yourself a favor and get some good quality cutting oil and actually USE it when you dril metal. I've used them and sold them in the past when I worked in a pro tool shop and the bits are incredible. They're finely machined and stay sharp for a long time. Do a search and you'll find them at different suppliers , I even saw Amazon had some listings for Champion. Their Brute line is decent and affordable as far as higher end bits go. I've had a set for over 10 years that is still in service but only used for precision work. Granted , they still break when you do something wrong , but they will last a REAL long time if you care for them. |
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Hanson are good. Cheap drill bits make lousy holes the wrong size, with internal scratches and out of round. If you are drilling in wood find some decent brad point bits. If you buy and use a drill index loosing them should no longer be a problem. Breakage is usually operator error (including using a dull or incorrect bit). |
| I have been drilling a lot of 1/4inch 4x4 angle for a project. Most holes are 3/8 and some 1/2 inch. I have been using the cheap Dewalt bits with cutting oil and have been doing pretty good. The Dewalt bits of that sizie have the piolt type point and are hard to re-sharpen, but when sharp cut much quicker. Dewalt does make a Cobalt bit in the 3/8 and 1/2 size and Lowe's does carry them but at 14 bucks a pop I do not think its worth it, but they do last longer. I found the Hatachi split points cut the cleanist hole but take longer to punch the hole and tend to heat up more. Just do not buy the Harbor freight specials, if you are punching holes in steel, they suck and heat up very fast. |