CA-ON Decent Drill Bits?

[dave_lawson@]

Looking to elevate my drill bit quality a little. Recently got a number drill set from Temu in China and (unsurprisingly) the result was underwhelming. Not actually cobalt (despite the claim) and several bits were identical diameter despite being stamped otherwise. It was less than $40 delivered, so I did get about what I paid....lol.

Anyone have a line on a non-bank-breaking brand of drill bits? I like the idea of cobalt, but perhaps just a good reputable HSS set would be better?

Budget- target under $100 for a number drill set.

 

[DavidR8]

I bought some Drill Hog bits ages ago and have been very happy with them.

 

[Don Sipes]

Most industrial supply companies offer quality drill bits. I have a set fractional inch bits my son bought for me a number of years ago from Fastenall. I keep them for my better efforts in the mill, lathe and drill press. I kept my old Busy Bee sets for rough work and hand drills. I think they where about $100.

 

[slow-poke]

I have a set of screw length Drill Hog - they seem good, I use them sparingly
I have a set of Dormer (lightly used eBay) - Also good, I use them sparingly
I have a couple of cheaper number-letter sets

I have several sets of mixed HSS, Cobalt that I use day to day, when one gets dull it goes in the dull bin for a rainy day and I pull a sharpened one from the drawer. Every once in a blue moon I sharpen a bunch of dull ones.

I'm on the lookout for a high quality number-letter set as well as full set of screw length. Neither of these seem to be affordable on my budget, and even less so with the ever increasing dollar spread.

 

[Ironman]

I have many junk drill bits that get used once and then tossed out. CanTire and P.A. are sources for them. You can buy a lot of scrap metal for 29.95, and they will work ok in wood.
The exception is in the Princess Auto surplus isles where I have picked up more than a few metric and inch size Dormer bits.

For good quality drill bits I buy Norseman because they are decent quality but still affordable. The last 29 piece set I bought from KMS Tools was $109. Over 1/4" they have 3 flats, which offends some people, but if they feel round is more accurate they can stuff them further into the chuck and grip the round.
These drills stand up very well and stay sharp.
I see Amazon has the 29 piece set on in a scuzzy plastic holder for $130 and in a real drill index Number set box for $147. The peso does not fair well against the USD.

Edit. I checked, KMS has the 29 piece set of Norseman bits for 130 bucks

 

[Downwindtracker2]

Not so long ago they were $79. Fastenall also sell them.

 

[Dan Dubeau]

https://www.harryepstein.com/products/norseman-60-pc-drill-bit-set

Shipping might sting coming up from the states, but I'm sure browsing around the rest of the epstein site you can find a bunch more things to fill a box and make it more worth your while..... I've bought from them a few times, and always been satisfied and never had issues.

I have a 115 piece set of the same drills (Norseman 118* jobber length bright finish HSS) and think they're great, and just as good as the precision twist ones I used for years at work. I prefer bright finish drills over other finishes. Jobber length bright finish 118* drills are probably the best all around general purpose drills you can get IMO. Specialize in different lengths, coatings or materials if you have greater needs, when you need them, but the above is a great baseline to start from for all general drilling needs.

I did a bunch of searching around, and was surprised at how much prices have gone up since I last bought drills.....I thought for sure you'd be able to get a decent 60 pc # drill index with good quality drills for ~$100. But most I found were in the $150 range. The ones from HJE are the only ones I found under $100. Shipping might bring that up closer to the others though.

 

[Susquatch]

Looking to elevate my drill bit quality a little. Recently got a number drill set from Temu in China and (unsurprisingly) the result was underwhelming. Not actually cobalt (despite the claim) and several bits were identical diameter despite being stamped otherwise. It was less than $40 delivered, so I did get about what I paid....lol.

I echo @DavidR8's recommendation. Though not amazing, I am not unhappy with a set of Drill Hogs drills I got. They sell numbered sets too. If you sign up for email blasts, he often has sales.

My favorite drills are Dormers. I buy them two or three at a time only as needed.

I have a handful of really good quality split point drills, but I only use them sparingly when they really matter. I got them at a garage sale and I don't know the brand. What I can say is that anybody who doesn't like split point drill bits can't have given them a decent try.