Where and how does one get a QUALITY drill bit set now days?

[Red Squirrel]

I just want a proper drill bit set (for making holes but for driving would be good too) , where the bits are actually long enough (most are too short) and that they won't break the minute they run into a knot. Trying to drill a simple hole through a door, but none of my bits for that thickness are long enough. They make them too short now. I have this old set where the bits are much longer, but due to age they are starting to break, it's served me well though, I have yet to have anything last me as long as that set. I can't find anything to replace that set that's not pure garbage.

Basically I want bits made out of metal, like, actual steel or something, none of this chinesium BS where it's like a ceramic with metalic coating.

Is there a place to buy something like this now days? Something preferably made in Canada or USA. I'm willing to spend $500 on a good set, if it's actually going to last.

 

[stargazr]

You don't have to spend that much. I would get bits made of at least HSS (High Speed Steel). Cobalt is even better, but not necessary for home use.

https://www.mscdirect.com/product/details/81109068

 

[Micrornd]

Many of the old-line manufacturers have been bought-out and only the name was retained with the actual manufacturing cheapened or moved overseas.
Your best bet is to find a bolt and nut or a (dedicated) fastener store (not a big box store) in your area that the working crowd frequents.
They will have what you need and can make recommendations and you can support local businesses at the same time.

 

[shortylickens]

Lowes has decent stuff.
But I find all my good bits at the True Value. They cost 2-3 dollars each, but are nicer than the garbage generally found in sets.

 

[Red Squirrel]

No Lowes here. Though I always forget about Home Hardware, they sometimes actually have stuff that's made in Canada. Might get better stuff than what I'll find at Canadian Tire or Home Depot. We do have Fastenal that might work too, might have to try that.

 

[Greenman]

I've heard that the Harbor Fright giant drill bit set is actually made out of decent material, but the bits aren't sharpened properly. You might want to investigate those bits and a drill doctor. This is by no means an endorsement, just passing along some hearsay that may or may not be valid.

 

[Mandres]

Norseman is a good brand. But really for drilling wood any bit should work, and cheap enough to just toss out after

 

[Billb2]

https://www.lowes.com/pd/IRWm

$19.98

IN-17-Piece-Spade-Bit-Set/50433648

 

[Zorba]

No Lowes here. Though I always forget about Home Hardware, they sometimes actually have stuff that's made in Canada. Might get better stuff than what I'll find at Canadian Tire or Home Depot. We do have Fastenal that might work too, might have to try that.

I've bought decent stuff from Fastenal before. If you are drilling metal, you can look for places that sell kitplane building tools, they are generally pretty good and you aren't paying for marketing.

 

[vi edit]

How big of a hole in the door? You probably want a hole saw bit for that. Butterfly bits are ok for going through stud walls and dimensional lumber. For normal drilling, Bosch or Dewalt titanium bits do a good job. They'll punch through metal too if you need them to.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Nah it's a small hole, like just for a normal bolt to go through, as on the existing door it's just a small screw that bites into the metal, it's for the handle part of the door knob (it's a standard one that has an actual handle). But the new door knob requires to screw it from the other side and then the hole has to line up. They don't seem to make small bits that are also long. The "higher end" ones I got by Dewalt are all super short, like an inch. They're ok to predrill holes and let the screw do the rest but in this case I needed to pass a bolt through.

I ended up repairing the old door handle and returned that one though. But still need to source out a good bit set. Think I may go with Fastenal.

Found this real quick: https://www.fastenal.com/products/d...rilling"|~ ~|categoryl3:"601077 Drill Sets"|~

If "you get what you pay for" applies here I presume that is going to be a pretty good set. That's probably American though, will need to find a Canadian source. I think I can buy those products locally here at Aklands, may try that.

Though even if I could buy individual ones I could buy just the small ones. Those are the ones that tend to break all the time.

 

[Billb2]

A cobalt bit set - way overkill! Your grandchildren's grandchildren will be handing then down to their children. And you will never be drilling through something so hard that you will need a cobalt bit. HSS (high speed steel) bits will drill through wood, aluminum, brass, plastic, etc..

This ($53) would be more than adequate:

Or this: ($27)

eBay: ($24)

 

[Red Squirrel]

The issue is that the sub $100 sets break all the time. I want something that will last forever. I mostly just drill into wood, sometimes metal. Most hardware store brand sets will break if you drill into even a knot.

 

[herm0016]

max winters, precision twist, triumph. many of the things listed above are utter crap.
https://www.amazon.com/Precision-Twist-C29R10CO-Cobalt-Drill/dp/B00075NWNU

http://www.wintersdrillbitcity.com/

http://triumphtwistdrill.com/

usa made with good, known quality steel, not Chinese unknown spec steel.

 

[crashtech]

I wonder if there's a Canadian equivalent to Norseman. From direct experience, they are really good

 

[paperfist]

Don't buy Home Depot house brand.

 

[momeNt]

Check out estate sales. Some old fart might have sprung for a quality domestic set and barely used it.

 

[Greenman]

A cobalt bit set - way overkill! Your grandchildren's grandchildren will be handing then down to their children. And you will never be drilling through something so hard that you will need a cobalt bit. HSS (high speed steel) bits will drill through wood, aluminum, brass, plastic, etc..

This ($53) would be more than adequate:

Or this: ($27)

eBay: ($24)

I've used some of the Ryobi kit, the steel just isn't up to snuff, they break and get dull pretty quick.

 

[mindless1]

The issue is that the sub $100 sets break all the time. I want something that will last forever. I mostly just drill into wood, sometimes metal. Most hardware store brand sets will break if you drill into even a knot.

How many knots are you really breaking bits on? You may be going the wrong direction. More expensive bits tend to be harder, more brittle, and I don't just mean very expensive. Lower quality bits flex, even bend before breaking. Obviously not all, junk bits can break easier too.

Since you're ending up with incomplete sets due to the smaller ones breaking, I'd try these from Harbor Freight (or the sizes you need) for wood . You might also try a higher speed but lower feed rate, and a different drill if the one you're using is hard to keep in a straight line to avoid side-loads.


https://www.harborfreight.com/18-in-titanium-high-speed-steel-drill-bit-set-7-pc-63194.html

It may not help for your door but anything I can put on a drill press, I do.

 

[NutBucket]

Cheap drill bits suck. No two ways about it.

 

[Humpy]

Breaking bits is 99% operator error mixed with the wrong choice of bit.

Though you can drill small holes in wood with nearly anything, I've drilled a ton of holes by chucking up clipped off nails when I didn't want to make a run to the store, it doesn't make sense to spend a bunch of money on bits designed to cut into metal if you want to cut into wood.

Get a set of brad and spur bits for soft wood or hardwood (or a set of both) for drilling smaller holes. Get forstner and auger bits too if you want to spend all $500. Then get a set for metal too.

There are bunches of companies still making this stuff in the US, in any length and configuration imaginable. I liked using WL Fuller when I was butchering wood for a living.

 

[crashtech]

Here's a Canadian outfit that might be able to point to a distributor of good cutting tools:

http://www.cmtda.com/

 

[Scarpozzi]

The issue is that the sub $100 sets break all the time. I want something that will last forever. I mostly just drill into wood, sometimes metal. Most hardware store brand sets will break if you drill into even a knot.

Yeah, but eventually those bits are going to get dull if you really use them. I have some decent Milwaukee bits I bought a few years back...but quite a few don't cut like they used to.

Smaller bits are going to be more prone to breakage....I recommend just shopping before and after the holidays and see what kinds of gift sets you can find at various sale levels. When you buy bits individually, they sell them for $3-5 each. I try to pickup a few of those sets when I can for $10-15 on sale every couple of years and store them on the shelf when I break or lose the size I need...

I probably misplace as many as I break.

 

[IronWing]

I've had very good luck with Thunderbits. I don't remember if they are the cobalt or HSS version though as they've lasted long enough for me to forget. They weren't cheap.

https://store.snapon.com/THUNDERBit-174-Drill-Bits-C629281.aspx

 

[WHAMPOM]

There are extended length bits(two inches longer then jobber length) and aircraft drills(twelve inches long). I try to stay with HSS bits, but I do use a set of Harbor Freight cheapo left twist bit and a cobalt one to drill out broken bolts.