good drill bits for metal?

[funcrew]

I need to get some better drill bits for cutting through good German steel. Can someone recommend a basic set of bits available by mail order? 3/8" shank maximum for my handheld drill, and I need up to 1/2" bit size.

[s14pwd]

McMaster Carr will be your best friend

[mrsleeve]

Any good High speed steel bit will work well for you. Just remember when drilling though metals GO SLOW, with the rotational speed and just enough pressure to keep the ribbons coming up, keep the lube poured to it as well. A cool bit is a sharp bit.

Northern tool used to have decent HSS bit set for about a 100 bucks that had every size you could want.

Seems pricing has gone up a little bit, as this is the set I have.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_579_579

But this set would prolly do for most of your practical applications and give you a little better service life out of them

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_7899_7899

[LJ851]

Buy some cobalt bits, american made if possible. i cant imagine using anything else anymore.

[James]

GO SLOW

This times about 11ty billion and buy a set that isn't dirt cheap but doesn't cost the earth and you'll be happy.

[dirty30]

Go to an estate sale/ tool auction/ flea market and find the oldest most complete USA, Austrian, German etc. made set of HSS bits there. They truly do not make them like they used to. Practically anything you buy in Lowes or Home Depot or any big box store now will be made in China. I just bought an entire large drill bit index of Austrian made HSS bits for $30 at an estate sale. They cut better and faster than my brand new Wurth HSS bits.

[Pantless Spency]

Buy some cobalt bits, american made if possible. i cant imagine using anything else anymore.

dis.


even though it wouldn't drill through a snapped off easy out, its still verrrry very good.

[george graves]

with the rotational speed and just enough pressure to keep the ribbons coming up,

keep the ribbons coming up

Bingo - mrsleeve hit the nail on the head. The microscopic front cutting face of the tool needs to be constantly removing material. If not, you're dulling the tool, cause too much friction.

That leads to heat build up. And not - "oh no!!! the bit is hot when I took it out!!!!!" - the temp of the tool steel in general isn't the issue. That's not the problem. Tool steel can get really, really hot before any of it's properties change. People think that steal changes it properties at like 200-300 degrees. No so at all.

What's the problem is the tiny, tiny cutting edge of the bit. Locally, on that microscopic edge, it can get so hot the cutting edge melts - and you'll end up with a dull tool, and a poor cut. It's a "Force=pressure x area" thing.

This video is all about milling - admittedly kinda over kill for this thread (Not trying to be a know-it-all, I'm not) - but it's good general knowledge - and it's helped me a lot recently. Weather you're milling or drilling, it's kinda the same deal.



And for even more over-kill engineering porn....

[MattAvino]

What sort of cutting oil do you guys use?
I usually hit it with WD40

[Ryan Stewart]

What sort of cutting oil do you guys use?
I usually hit it with WD40

Shit soap would be better than that. WD40 isnt a lubricant, its a solvent. Just get some water soluable cutting/drilling oil from your local hardware box.

And like said, a cool bit is a sharp bit. Most people ruin bits in 30 seconds by putting it on high speed, not lubricating and holding the trigger.

[kway]

The best tips ever taught to me regarding drilling metal: SLOW speed as already mentioned, and annealing the metal beforehand. I do the latter by heating with a plumber's torch. Not cherry red, but hotter than you would want to touch. Takes a bit of experimentation.

Not always possible depending on location, and obviously not a necessity, but I get the best results after applying just the right amount of heat.

[funcrew]

Wow, lots of good information here. What about this set:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/29-Piece-3-8-Reduced-Shank-High-Speed-Steel-Drill-Bit-Set-HAN60148-BRAND-NEW-/231010453058?pt=Motors_Automotive_Tools&hash=item35c94bc642&vxp=mtr

[dougie30]

diamond tip drill bits

[Northern]

Browntool.com under cutting tools for anything your heart desires.


There's nothing worse than a shitty drill bit.

[eds325ix]

There's nothing worse than a shitty drill bit.

THIS


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