Drill Bits

[Dirtlaw]

DO NOT buy HF drill bits.
there junk.

I use the Dewalt cobalt drills a lot.
the common drills I use the most, I buy 10 at a time from Mcmaster Carr

and no drill bits don't make a perfect hole.
I use reamers.

THIS!


In some situations brad points help but that's not for metal.

[hermosabeach]

I was told that Cle Line are good bits

You can find them in many Home Depot stores- easier than a specialty shop

[hermosabeach]

Home Depot prices can be fairly competitive on this line

https://www.homedepot.com/s/cle%2520line%2520drill%2520bit?searchtype=suggest&NCNI-5

135 degree index

https://www.homedepot.com/p/CLE-LINE-1802-Cobalt-Fracture-Letter-and-Wire-with-135-degree-Split-Point-Bit-Set-115-Piece-C21129/300046839

In stock at my local depot

https://www.homedepot.com/p/CLE-LINE-Black-and-Gold-High-Speed-Drill-Bit-Set-15-Piece-C18131/206378184

https://www.homedepot.com/p/CLE-LINE-Black-and-Gold-High-Speed-Drill-Bit-Set-15-Piece-C18131/206378184

Cle-line uses a variety of steel for their bits

Many sets look the same but the material can widely vary.

[ar15barrels]

I was told that Cle Line are good bits

Cle-Line appears to be Cleveland Twist Drill but I can't find if it's USA or imported.

[Forestgnome]

I agree with AR15's recommendations. In my experience you can't buy good drills from a box store. Roundness of a hole is a matter of tolerance. You can drill a very round hole with a properly sharpened drill bit. If you drill a pilot hole the size of the drills web, you reduce the out of roundness because the larger drill will follow the path of the hole. The out of round condition is a percentage of the drill diameter, so the pilot hole reduces it due to the small diameter. Of course if your machine is stout like a mill, you don't need the pilot hole unless your drill bit has long flutes. I use mostly jobber-length HSS bits. Be wary of drills advertised as cobalt. There are great cobalt bits, but there's a trend to sell cobalt-coated bits. Good ones are cobalt steel all the way through. BTW, I do use a Drill Doctor. It can work good for you if you're careful with your technique. They're not foolproof. My work hasn't justified the cost of a Darex. I use the Drill Doctor on drills 1/4" and up. Smaller than that I get 10-packs and toss them when they're dull.