What Drill Bits To Get???

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mopowers

mopowers

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I'm in the market for a new drill bit set for drill steel. What do you folks use? I'm partial to the cobalt bits, but am wondering where the place to get a large set would be. Are Harbor Freight's bits garbage?
 
mopowers said:
I'm in the market for a new drill bit set for drill steel. What do you folks use? I'm partial to the cobalt bits, but am wondering where the place to get a large set would be. Are Harbor Freight's bits garbage?
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WTtool good prices on USA made drill bits in singles or sets.
 
HSS (high speed steel) is a good general purpose bit for drilling mild steel, aluminum and sheet metal. If you are drilling stainless, forged, or hardened steels or repetitive drilling you should get cobalt drills. They cost more but are tougher for hard steels. They are actually high speed steel bits with a cobalt coating. There is titanium nitride and other types but un necessary for general purpose drilling. tmm
 
toolmanmike said:
HSS (high speed steel) is a good general purpose bit for drilling mild steel, aluminum and sheet metal. If you are drilling stainless, forged, or hardened steels or repetitive drilling you should get cobalt drills. They cost more but are tougher for hard steels. They are actually high speed steel bits with a cobalt coating. There is titanium nitride and other types but un necessary for general purpose drilling. tmm
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If the cobalt bits only have a cobalt coating, Does that mean they can't be sharpened and still keep the integrity of the bit? Where do you recommend buying them?
 
mopowers said:
If the cobalt bits only have a cobalt coating, Does that mean they can't be sharpened and still keep the integrity of the bit? Where do you recommend buying them?
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They can be sharpened. They won't work as well as they did new. Do you have a industrial supply or fastener store nearby? Check out the tool department at a farm store also. I don't pay much attention to tools and where to buy them. I get enough of that 60+ hours a week. LOL
 
The drills Toolmanmike speaks of can be re-sharpened (all drills can be re-sharpened), but I doubt you will find anywhere to re-sharpen them at a reasonable cost (vs buying a new drill). Unless you have a machine to drill on (lathe, mill or drill press), I wouldn't bother with the M42 cobalt tool steel drills, as they are very brittle, and are more than likely to break off in the part you are drilling with a hand drill.
 
smlveightis said:
The drills Toolmanmike speaks of can be re-sharpened (all drills can be re-sharpened), but I doubt you will find anywhere to re-sharpen them at a reasonable cost (vs buying a new drill). Unless you have a machine to drill on (lathe, mill or drill press), I wouldn't bother with the M42 cobalt tool steel drills, as they are very brittle, and are more than likely to break off in the part you are drilling with a hand drill.
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what about old fashioned bench grinder?
thats where i sharpen my drill bits on
 
diymirage said:
what about old fashioned bench grinder?
thats where i sharpen my drill bits on
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Most of the stones are too coarse but they do work.. I prefer using the valve grinder stone. The Drill Doctors use a diamond coated wheel.
 
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