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Drill bits USA

bamabaja

Contributor
Sr. Member
Joined
Mar 25, 2012
Messages
729
Loc.
The Shoals
As we know we do alot of drilling on a restoration project. I'm tired of replacing drill bits from big box stores, etc and looking for quality bit sources, preferably USA made. Any suggestions?
 

rydog1130

Contributor
Bronco Guru
Joined
Jun 19, 2014
Messages
4,121
As we know we do alot of drilling on a restoration project. I'm tired of replacing drill bits from big box stores, etc and looking for quality bit sources, preferably USA made. Any suggestions?

Harbor freight are flat out junk, after a couple passes through sheet metal you couldn't even drill a hole in a block of cheese....theyre spot weld cutter, well worth the money. I'm not sure if they're American but I really like the dewalt bits, they def out perform the HF's by a mile

http://www.ebay.com/itm/DEWALT-DW13...048129&hash=item41c9343e25:g:8VAAAOSwjRpZVLq0

Normally get mine from Ace Hardware and I've had good luck with these...ebay tag just for reference
 

broncodriver99

Bronco Guru
Joined
Jan 27, 2008
Messages
4,780
Loc.
Glen Allen, VA
Is there a Fastenal near you? They have Made in USA bits for less than what you pay at the box stores and they last 10 times longer. They sell online as well.
 

71Broncitis

Jr. Member
Joined
Dec 1, 2014
Messages
152
MSC has a wide selection of USA made professional grade bits that machine shops use.

Investing in a Darex drill sharpener is another good idea. They work great on standard 118° point bits. Will not work on the DeWalt pilot point type. Those bits work pretty well also.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
 

duffymahoney

Contributor
Bronco Guru
Joined
Apr 26, 2015
Messages
2,643
Drill Hog! USA made, highest strength cobalt bits. Lifetime warranty. They are the only thing we use in our metal shop at my brewery and only thing used on my bronco. They will blow you away. They make every size and shape you could imagine. Also you can offer less then asking and they almost always accept it!

http://stores.ebay.com/drillhog/
 

langester

Contributor
MASTER OF MADNESS
Joined
Mar 2, 2013
Messages
2,672
x 2 on Drill Hog. I got some a few months ago and I am impressed. Lifetime warranty has yet to be tested , but thats hard to beat.
 

rydog1130

Contributor
Bronco Guru
Joined
Jun 19, 2014
Messages
4,121
Drill Hog! USA made, highest strength cobalt bits. Lifetime warranty. They are the only thing we use in our metal shop at my brewery and only thing used on my bronco. They will blow you away. They make every size and shape you could imagine. Also you can offer less then asking and they almost always accept it!

http://stores.ebay.com/drillhog/

Nice, followed them!
 

AZ69EB

Sr. Member
Joined
Jun 8, 2006
Messages
680
Rocky Mountain Twist Drill, made in Montana USA. Great people and greT drills. Find a local distributor.
 

ared77

Contributor
Bronco Guru
Joined
Apr 21, 2013
Messages
2,977
Some good info here guys. I'd just decided that bits are only good for a few times use, and that's just the way it is now. :cry: Reason was, no matter what kind I bought at Lowes, box stores, etc around here they were all junk!

Thanks for the info on some good drill bit sources!
 

71broncman

Sr. Member
Joined
Sep 6, 2009
Messages
410
Loc.
Maysville, Ky
I have 4 29 piece sets of HSS jobber bits and 1 29 piece set of cobalt bits. I use the cobalt bits for drilling cast and stainless steel. Most of the bits I have are USA made but, I do have some from foreign countries. I also have loose bits from 9/16" to 1". Years ago I bought a Drill Doctor 750 (3/32-3/4") that works very well on bits up to around 1/2". The 750 will sharpen the bits over 1/2" but it kind of struggles on the larger bits. The larger bits I hand sharpen on my bench grinder. In my experience, the inexpensive bits (Home Depot, Lowes, etc.) are barely useable right out of the package. As an example; I had to drill 48 1/4" holes in some 1" thick plate. New out of the package bit 2 holes. Same bit resharpened on the Drill Doctor did the other 46 holes without resharpening. Cutting oil was used on all holes. The Drill Doctor has paid for itself many times with the savings on resharpening Vs. buying another bit.
Mark.
 

ntsqd

heratic car camper
Joined
Jan 30, 2005
Messages
3,928
Loc.
Upper SoKA
"Drillhog" looks like branding on someone else's 135° Split-Point Jobber length drill bits. Look a LOT like the DeWalt bits at Lowes.

I buy from Enco and MSC (really now the same company). McMaster has good stuff, but like most things McMaster if you have the time to search you can find the same thing for less.
 

AZ69EB

Sr. Member
Joined
Jun 8, 2006
Messages
680
The simple truth is that there are only a handful of HSS and cobalt tool mfg's in the US. Most of these companies private label the tools for other companies. This is due to the low price of these tools.

Carbide tool are competitive. So, there are many companies small and large manufacturing carbide tools, drills, reamers, taps, and end mills.
 
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