Recommend a good quality large size drill bit set

[Big Barn]

Here is the ebay seller I was thinking of.

Walker Turner Delta Rockwell Atlas Craftsman Drill Press Slow Speed Assembly | eBay

This is what Canadians would have to pay


Plus 12% for taxes.

 

[coxhaus]

I have just bought big drill bits as I needed them. Here is my collection over 30 years. I use an old Atlas floor drill press. I replaced the Atlas with a larger pulley and a 1125 rpm motor to slow my drill press down. It is not an industrial floor press. Anything larger and I use a hole saw. How about just buying what you need rather than buy a large set?

Oh I worked for a gun smith in my young days and he always sharpened his drill bits free hand on the side of a bench grinder wheel. So that is what I try to do. He was much better at it than I am but I get the job done.

 

[Big Barn]

I learned how to sharpen drill bits in high school and I used to think I was pretty good at it. I suck at it today and in retrospect I most likely did back then too!!

I use my Drill Doctor once every year or so for accumulated dull bits over 3/16 inch. Anything smaller I throw out.

It always takes me ten minutes to refresh myself how the Drill Doc works then I just sharpen the bin of dull bits incrementally small to large.

 

[Big Barn]

Hmmm. I seem to have overlooked the fact I have 4 bins of drill bits in need of sharpening.


The lonely Drill Doc

 

[dragoneggs]

Boeing would be the equivalent in the PNW. Canadians use to make the trek down to their surplus store.

Last time I tried I couldn稚 buy anything surplus on line as I needed a credit card with a US address as well as a matching residential address.

Unfortunately the Boeing Surplus closed several years ago. Now they sell through online auctions. No longer can you rummage through for 'bits' and pieces of raw material and all other kind of stuff.

 

[Big Barn]

Unfortunately the Boeing Surplus closed several years ago. Now they sell through online auctions. No longer can you rummage through for 'bits' and pieces of raw material and all other kind of stuff.

Too bad. An afternoon there would be my kind of fun.

 

[dragoneggs]

Too bad. An afternoon there would be my kind of fun.

Yeah it was a sad day... if I ever was wondering what to do on a Saturday instead of chores, I jump in my truck and head there.

 

[BigBlue1]

Just to follow up on this:

Using some of the tips here, including a very solid vise to hold the drilled part, spotting drill but no pilot hole, cutting fluid and blowing out the hole I was able to successfully drill a bunch of larger holes in my lawn roller project (5/8", 3/4" and 1") Used the hole saws for the larger ones and the cheapo S&D bits for the others. They all came out well. I think two major parts of my challenges were drilling a pilot hole and not having the part held firmly. The bigger S&D bits worked better with just a spot vs a pilot hole.

I really like the look of those RotaCut bits but not quite enough to dump $200+ on a set right now. I'll add them to the wish list.

Thanks,
Rob

 

[denchen]

I would still recommend putting one of those cheepo flat fine diamond files on the top of your box. You can see the cutting edge brighten up as you gently push the diamond over the cutting edge, and a sharp bit cuts much better. After you find the difference, I think you`ll find like me going for a finer more expensive file, and before you know it you`ll be putting an edge on TCT saw blades and steel cutting tools for the lathe.

 

[BukitCase]

Rob, one thing that hasn't come up in this discussion

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00820M9LS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_bia_widget_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

price has gone up since I bought mine, still worth it if you need to "field drill" holes bigger than about 3/8" - can be used (a bit carefully) in a hand drill. I did manage to break the 5/16" cutter trying to drill 1-1/2" EMT, but individual cutters are also available. also, there are more expensive sets that go larger. Cutting depth is 1/2" or less.

Maybe something to consider til that lottery ticket works :licking: ... Steve

 

[BigBlue1]

Rob, one thing that hasn't come up in this discussion

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00820M9LS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_bia_widget_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

price has gone up since I bought mine, still worth it if you need to "field drill" holes bigger than about 3/8" - can be used (a bit carefully) in a hand drill. I did manage to break the 5/16" cutter trying to drill 1-1/2" EMT, but individual cutters are also available. also, there are more expensive sets that go larger. Cutting depth is 1/2" or less.

Maybe something to consider til that lottery ticket works :licking: ... Steve

Thanks. That's pretty much what the RotoCut set is. I think they are essentially the same type of tools. I will consider a set if I can find a sale or when I save up and feel like splurging.

Rob

 

[woodlandfarms]

If you are coved bored there are some plans floating around where you gut a treadmill and put that variable speed high torque motor on your drill press.

 

[Big Barn]

Rob, one thing that hasn't come up in this discussion

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00820M9LS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_bia_widget_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

price has gone up since I bought mine, still worth it if you need to "field drill" holes bigger than about 3/8" - can be used (a bit carefully) in a hand drill. I did manage to break the 5/16" cutter trying to drill 1-1/2" EMT, but individual cutters are also available. also, there are more expensive sets that go larger. Cutting depth is 1/2" or less.

Maybe something to consider til that lottery ticket works :licking: ... Steve

If and when any of you purchase sets similar to this I would highly recommend buying EXTRA arbors so that each individual cutter has its own, installed and ready to go.

The cutters are sharp and changing arbors carefully is time consuming

 

[BukitCase]

Good call Terry; most of the time when I use the small kit it's for a single hole size, but you're right about difficulty of changing. I just ordered a second arbor for mine, thanks for the "prod" :laughing: ... Steve

 

[chriswheeler]

Don't know if they are still in business, New York Twist drill Co. offered a good quality set at a great price. Union drill and Greenfield are pricey, but of the best quality. A few other good made in USA Co. but you get the quality you pay for. Best bang for the buck ended up being New York Twist. I guess I need to look them up and see if they are still in business. Larger than 1/2" yes, but until you get into a #5 Morse taper shank it's still small. 4" spade drill in a radial drill press takes some hp to drive it. But it is expensive and can't be found at a ace hardware store
Chris

 

[dstig1]

This video is a very good one on how to sharpen by hand. I find it works pretty well for larger bits, but I can't pull it off on smaller ones. I'd guess my cutoff is around 3/8" give or take. I also have a drill doctor but am not terribly thrilled with it. The hand method seems to turn out a better edge, if you can do it. i do wish he was better focused with the camera, but it still works.

 

[Bigb56]

I have the Rouge Fab speed reducer kit on my old 15" Rockwell and I can bring the speed down to about 100 RPM. I am quite pleased with it, and of course the torque is also multiplied. I am planning to copy this one next for another press Cardinal Machine Co. | Cardinal Tool Co. - Publication Reprints - Number 18 Slo-Drive | VintageMachinery.org , it looks pretty easy to replicate, all the parts can be store bought and the plate easily made.

 

[Bigb56]

What is the preferred angle on bits for mild steel? I have some older sets that are 118 degrees and some newer ones at 135 degrees with split points. I've tried both and it's hard to tell the difference. Last week I sharpened a 3/8" at 118 degrees with the drill doctor and it punched right through my work better than a new bit, this week I did another one at 135 with a split point and it came out very well too. It was an older Milwaukee bit that was 118 but I re ground it to 135.

 

[bigtiller]

I tend to use 135 in the drill press and 118 in a hand motor.

Or sometimes 135 for metal and 118 for wood. 118 won't blow out the back as easily as 135.

 

[dstig1]

118 is the standard point. 135 is intended for harder materials like Stainless or tool steels, I am told. But I don't know why it would help more on hard stuff...