Drill Bits For Steel?

[evilfij]

Wait, what? Why would anyone want a triangular shaped hole or bolt?

 

[jymmiejamz]

The Snap On bits leave you with a round hole, they just cut in a triangular pattern.

The trilobular bolts are self tapping and used extensively on post 2010 Land Rovers.

 

[acheck]

Well, they leave a round hole in thick enough material. In thin sheet metal and 1/8" or thinner stuff I always found the holes were triangular like that.

 

[rocky]

One massively annoying thing that we have to deal with here in the US is the existence of Metric and imperial measures side by side.
So every big box store has a little of both.

 

[Crash303]

I'm in the same boat. I have been thinking about biting the billet and getting these stepper bits from Matco. They are stupid expensive and not sure if they are totally worth, but I'm getting tired of dull drill bits after the first use. The concept looks like it will work pretty well. https://www.matcotools.com/catalog/...-STEP-REDUCED-SHANK-DRILL-BIT-SET/#to-details

 

[evilfij]

Triangular shaped bolts and bits, you learn something everyday. Thanks!

Those matco bit looks nice, but I won’t spend $500 on a set of drill bits. But I did spend $62 on three dewalt step bits.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0090IHA7Y?ref=ppx_pt2_mob_b_prod_image

 

[chris snell]

I've recently invested in a bit sharpener as well. A few seconds sharpening and a quality bit is good as new. The other thing I've bought is a step drill bit and using that when I can has saved my sized other bits a lot of wear.

Which sharpener do you use?

 

[chris snell]

This Kaindl looks pretty sweet. Only $9,000,
Made in Germany, and you'll probably never have to buy another drill bit again.

Kaindl Drill Bit Sharpener BSG-60

Offering a huge selection of industrial tool sales online. Find over 100,000 metalworking products, precision measuring tools, power tools & accessories.

www.penntoolco.com

I just spent a few happy minutes reading through their catalog.

https://www.penntoolco.com/content/KAINDL-2017-Catalog.pdf

 

[lcdck]

Which sharpener do you use?

The Drill Doctor DD750X based of a Project Farm comparison video. You could definitely go much higher end but at $130 for this one it's worth it for the amount of life I'm getting out of my bits now. I used to go through them every couple holes it seemed.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CSHX7SX/?coliid=I1XK526NS322LS&colid=5LVTOCUYOAAM&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

 

[hillstrubl]

What material are you drilling? Whatever you use, don't overheat the bit. Use an RPM table, peck the material if needed, and use cutting oil.

Agree with this,

I forgot to mention, for the most part I use the same sizes of bits over and over again, especially 1/8" for pilot holes. Years ago I started buying the few common sizes in bulk, and never worry about them too much. 1/8, 3/16, 1/4, 5/16 are probably my most used. Have a blister pack of like 25 of each and just use them as disposable.

From McMaster Carr:

View attachment 18018

I haven't done much bulk work recently, but when I first bought my house ~9 years ago I did the exact same thing. I bought these from McMaster and treated them like they were disposable.

 

[SARTech]

Good info on why a drill bits cuts a three sided lobe. If you don't want to watch the whole video start at minute 11.

 

[LiquidMoose]

I too use the Drill Doctor, very nice to have when in the middle of a project and you need to fine tune a bit rather than go buy another one. Sharpening more than a few bits at a one time can be tedious, but better than the alternative.

 

[erover82]

Good info on why a drill bits cuts a three sided lobe. If you don't want to watch the whole video start at minute 11.

Great video. The Norseman which he refers to as "pretty much top of the line", is the same company and product as Viking that I mentioned earlier.

 

[Integrale]

An alternate approach for truly round and clean holes - Annular cutters. Come in inch and metric sizes.

RotaCut Sheet Metal Hole Cutters

www.hougen.com

 

[evilfij]

I have some of those anular cutters. I bought them as spot weld remover drill bits. I like the mueller keups spot weld bits better.

 

[jymmiejamz]

The best thing I have used for cutting large holes in sheet metal is a Green Lee punch

 

[evilfij]

I wonder if that would work to cut a hole in a bulkhead for the ECU wiring harness. I end up melting a wood hole saw bit every time I do it.

 

[jymmiejamz]

I wonder if that would work to cut a hole in a bulkhead for the ECU wiring harness. I end up melting a wood hole saw bit every time I do it.

I’ve used them to do holes in the tub for rear lights. The holes are perfect unlike a hole saw

 

[WreckITFrank]

The best thing I have used for cutting large holes in sheet metal is a Green Lee punch

View attachment 18204

those sets are one of the most expensive kits in an electrician's toolkit, but completely necessary when punching through panels.

 

[BarryO]

The Bosch cobalt ones seem to be the best. That is my conclusion after hours of research. So I bought a lifetime supply when they were on sale a while back.

Sounds like they're better than the deWalt cobalt bits. This happened with the first hole I drilled with this bit. Just as it broke through it jammed, as sometimes happens, and this was the result. This was with a handheld drill, not a drill press, and I'm a weak old man that can't exactly exert a lot of torque through my wrist. Not recommended.