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Please recommend a set of drill bits

3K views 9 replies 10 participants last post by  SCOTSMAN 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
My drill bits suck. Really. They're quite atrocious. I don't know where they came from, but they make terrible holes and walk all over the place on start. I need a decent set of drill bits.

Any recommendations? I was hoping not to spend a fortune on a Colt or similar set. Just looking for a reliable set of brad point drill bits for general purpose wood boring. Woodcraft sells a (Woodriver) brad point set that seems fairly inexpensive…any experiences?

Thanks much!
 
#2 ·
Lowes and Home Depot both sell a set of DeWalt Pilot Point drill bits, I believe they are DW1969 for a model #. A friend of mine has them, they are dead on the money size wise, and the pilot point puts them exactly where they are supposed to be… They aren't the cheapest, but they are far from the most expensive too!

I have a non pilot point set of B&D Ti coated bits that has served me really well over the years. but is getting long in the tooth after 20+ years…
 
#4 ·
I would buy the cheap 10$ set of drill bits at home depot. All drill bits walk all over the place when starting holes, unless you use a drill press or make a divot with a punch or something similar.
Use the cheap standard high speed steel bits and use a punch to indent the center section if you have problems wandering.

Not sure what you mean when you say it is a terrible hole. Unless you need a flat bottomed partial hole , then a Forstner is needed.
 
#6 ·
I assume you are talking about drilling into wood. I have and use 4 different sets of bits and I have purchased a number of individual bits that are not part of a set.

For a hole bigger than 1/2" I use Forstner bits from a set of Porter Cable Forstner bits I have. They are very good bits, but you should sharpen them when ever they need it. Sharpening Forstner bits is not hard to do. As an FYI, I would like to get some carbide Forstner bits but they are quite expensive.

For smaller holes in wood I like the brad point bits I got in a set from Rockler.

I also picked up a 115 bit set from Grizzly. It only cost about $60. It has bits in Imperial measurements, metric measurements and it has a complete set of the lettered bits. Why? With this many bits I can almost always find a bit that is just the right size. These are conventional high speed bits. I don't use them much, but it is handy to have these bits for unique size situations.

Finally, a cheap small set of drill bits from 1/32" up to 3/8" is handy to have and if you break or loose one, it's no big deal.
 
#7 ·
I have a set of brad point bits from Rockler … 25 piece HSS. I have been very happy with them.

They replaced a set of Steelex brad point bits … they were junk. Several of the bits in the set weren't straight and wobbled in the drill press. When I use a 5/16" bit, I don't expect a hole that is a little more than 3/8" in diameter.
 
#9 ·
The drill point needs to be sharp to bite into the material. On steel I always use a center punch for critical holes. Wood, it depends on the hardness and the grain. I haven't had trouble with most brands of bits execpt for one cheapie set I got off ebay. Won't drill anything, I use them for set up:))
 
#10 ·
Tip of the day! get yourself a cheap centre drill designed for engineering it will last you forever in woodworking . Drill the start with that, then drill with your el cheapo drills and your drill will no longer wander. Or Buy a middle range set of engineers drills or brad point wood drills no wander with either of those .best wishes Alistair
 
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