Drill Bits

MANCAVEDWELLER · Post by **MANCAVEDWELLER** » Sat Nov 28, 2020 3:03 pm

So what's the best drill bits you can buy for drilling Steel and what's the best device for sharpening them with with?

Dave54 · Post by **Dave54** » Sat Nov 28, 2020 3:15 pm

There's a previous discussion here.
viewtopic.php?f=11&t=92913&p=767619&hil ... ll#p767619

I generally try to get Dormer from a local supplier, although I've got a mishmash of all sorts, some good, some bad.

Sharpening I use a 6" double ended bench grinder by hand. I was taught to sharpen drills that way years ago when I was an apprentice.
Worth learning IMO. You can get various devices that take the guesswork out if you want them.

Chippo1 · Post by **Chippo1** » Sat Nov 28, 2020 6:28 pm

I still sharpen drills as originally taught as an apprentice at Poplar Tech .

128 degrees included angle and 5 degrees clearance. Big drills thinning the web at the tip All by hand and eye, we got marked on this having been given a range of drills from 2mm up to 20mm to sharpen , all had been buggered, I got 10 out of 10 for that phase test.

For steel , decent HSS or Cobalt are fine , usually poor drilling is as a result of poor sharpening rather than the material and poor practice drilling especially with hand held machines

Dave54 · Post by **Dave54** » Sat Nov 28, 2020 7:02 pm

Chippo1 wrote: ↑Sat Nov 28, 2020 6:28 pm I still sharpen drills as originally taught as an apprentice at Poplar Tech .

128 degrees included angle and 5 degrees clearance. Big drills thinning the web at the tip All by hand and eye, we got marked on this having been given a range of drills from 2mm up to 20mm to sharpen , all had been buggered, I got 10 out of 10 for that phase test.

For steel , decent HSS or Cobalt are fine , usually poor drilling is as a result of poor sharpening rather than the material and poor practice drilling especially with hand held machines

Similar here, we were given a big drill to practice on, and get right to the satisfaction of the demon eye of the instructor. "Scrap!"
Then we did some smaller ones.
It's a useful skill to learn.

Chippo1 · Post by **Chippo1** » Sat Nov 28, 2020 7:45 pm

It was indeed Dave, stood me in good stead over the years , even sitting on the floor on site with an angle grinder between me feet and sharpening drills when others threw them away and got new. Also useful when needing a very short drill for access.