Quality Drill bits

[mscher]

DW uses 1/16" for her jewelry making. Been using the cheap (but plentiful) Harbor freight or the best(?) Menards has.

They do all right but about the time they start getting dull, they usually break off inside the hole nearly flush with the drilling surface, usually impossible to remove, the broken bit piece.

I'm not expecting the moon with such small bits, but are there any higher quality bits available, anywhere any more?

I'm going to try lubricant also.

 

[colbyt]

Re: Quality Drill bits

If she only uses one size a jobber pak will cost less per unit.

What are we drilling? I prefer 135 degree bits for metal.

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: Quality Drill bits

Bosch TI2131 1/16-Inch Titanium Sp Jobber Drill Bit, Carded, 2-Pack - Amazon.com

 

[gm280]

Re: Quality Drill bits

DW uses 1/16" for her jewelry making. Been using the cheap (but plentiful) Harbor freight or the best(?) Menards has.

They do all right but about the time they start getting dull, they usually break off inside the hole nearly flush with the drilling surface, usually impossible to remove, the broken bit piece.

I'm not expecting the moon with such small bits, but are there any higher quality bits available, anywhere any more?

I'm going to try lubricant also.

There are tons of places that sale drill bits by the piece or in bulk. I buy lots of drill bits from different sources and buy in packs because of the reduced cost. I also have a Drill DR. that re-sharpens drill bits and it seriously works great too. One place I order from is;

Buy Drill Bits - Associated Industrial Distributers

another place is;

Widget Supply

I've ordered from other places as well, from wire sizes to 1/2" and larger...

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Quality Drill bits

Cobalt bits are best

 

[rbh]

Re: Quality Drill bits

Get her to try a drop of something like rapidtap to lubricate the bit/hole.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Quality Drill bits

Cobalt bits are best

X2.

 

[82rude]

Re: Quality Drill bits

X2.

yep, cobalt drill bits are the best.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Quality Drill bits

What material are you drilling and what speed are you running the drill bit?

People tend to run drill bits at too slow which generates heat heat and dulls the bit. You should be running @ 3000 rpm for a 1/16" drill

Forget the big box home and discount tool stores for drill bits. Buy a pack of black oxide bits from a reputable supply house like McMaster Carr or Grainger. Run the bit at the proper speed with a bit of lubrication and your problem should pretty much go away

 

[littlerayray]

Re: Quality Drill bits

for drill bits i buy cheap ones cuz i know im gonna destroy them and i use cutting oil or mineral oil to lubricate the bit as i drill

 

[gm280]

Re: Quality Drill bits

Again I have to reiterate, a Drill Dr. is an amazing tool to resharpen those dull worn out bits. It works with most any type bit too as well as different angle bits...

 

[Grub54891]

Re: Quality Drill bits

Cobalt,split point bits. And the drill doctor can redo the split point too!

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Quality Drill bits

Chicago-Latrobe Cobalt. Best bits I have ever owned.

 

[mxcobra]

Re: Quality Drill bits

I like ace brand bits their cheap enough and seem to be decent at that...

 

[glenn property of pam]

Re: Quality Drill bits

my wife uses titanium coated bits in a dremel on the jewelry she makes and they seem to work fine so im going with dingbat idea that the drill speed may be the problem.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Quality Drill bits

my wife uses titanium coated bits in a dremel ....

I would hope that her dremel has variable speed. Those things will turn up at hellacious rpms. And the problem is that I would not know how to determine the rpm of any particular setting. I think mine has a dial with 1 to 10. If the tool will do 37,000 rpm (as some will do) maybe a linear calculation on the dial will get you close, ie, top speed 37K, a setting of 5 on the dial MAY equal 18,500 rpm And so it goes with other dial settings, per the maximum rpm of her tool.

Those are awful fast speeds and I suspect that the jewelry is all relative soft. I would think that even the cheapest drill bits would work well, with jewelry, at an appropriate speed.

 

[glenn property of pam]

Re: Quality Drill bits

I would hope that her dremel has variable speed. Those things will turn up at hellacious rpms. And the problem is that I would not know how to determine the rpm of any particular setting. I think mine has a dial with 1 to 10. If the tool will do 37,000 rpm (as some will do) maybe a linear calculation on the dial will get you close, ie, top speed 37K, a setting of 5 on the dial MAY equal 18,500 rpm And so it goes with other dial settings, per the maximum rpm of her tool.

Those are awful fast speeds and I suspect that the jewelry is all relative soft. I would think that even the cheapest drill bits would work well, with jewelry, at an appropriate speed.

im sure she is drilling at very high speed but I think it works because the drill is not cutting a flute at that speed (im sure that the engish term of flute is incorrect but im not sure of the correct word. It having a continues cutting going up the twist of the drill). With less dig on the tip of the drill if it has any side pressure the drill will start to mill the sides of the hole instead of snatching and breaking the drill like the op's wife is finding. (safety glasses are a must). This is only when shes drilling metal parts and she secures them to the table with clay so if the drill did catch the piece would be flying around the house. On rocks/stones she uses diamond bits and when it comes to glass I drill it for her just in case using a diamond bit and water.

 

[Harritwo]

Re: Quality Drill bits

What material are you drilling and what speed are you running the drill bit?

People tend to run drill bits at too slow which generates heat heat and dulls the bit. You should be running @ 3000 rpm for a 1/16" drill

Forget the big box home and discount tool stores for drill bits. Buy a pack of black oxide bits from a reputable supply house like McMaster Carr or Grainger Run the bit at the proper speed with a bit of lubrication and your problem should pretty much go away

McMaster-Carr has all kinds of options, I prefer the old fashioned Carbide Tipped for heavy duty work, then Cobalt for GP work. Run at the correct speed and use Tap Magic or Similiar will work wonders.

 

[levittownnick]

Re: Quality Drill bits

Drill bits of solid carbide will break if not fixtured rigidly. They will not tolerate hand held operation. On the + side they can be used to drill hard materials that could not be drilled with cobalt or titanium coated drills. I am not aware of small size carbide tipped drills (but that don't mean that they don't exist). I think the material being drilled needs to be explored so the proper type of drill can be selected.