Twist drill bits recommendations please

Mike Harding · Guru

Twist drill bits recommendations please

KFT · Guru

G'day Mike

I still carry a suttons metric set like one you mentioned only mine are the cobalt coated bits which can drill stainless steel as well as everything else.

I like to be as self sufficient as possible.

Frank

Tony Bev · Guru

Hi Mike

In my opinion

Bunnings usually sell, decent HSS drill bits, so it is probably six of one, and half a dozen of the other, which of the two sets you mention, are the best ones/value for money

I notice that the Sutton ones are M2 graded HSS, and although $20 more than the Kango ones, the Kango does not say, (or I could not see), any grade markings

I also agree with Frank (KFT) above, who mentions that the cobalt coated drill bits, are much better for drilling through stainless steel, (stainless rivets, come to mind)

In my situation, not having access to a bench grinder, (while travelling), or for that matter, I no longer have the eye/hand coordination to resharpen my drill bits
I only carry a set of up to 6 mm, Aldi/Supercheap HSS drill bit sets, while travelling

I also find that 3.2 mm, is a useful size for drilling out rivets, and carry a double ended HSS drill bit of this size, somewhere in my motorhome

Also I usually replace any stainless steel rivets I am forced to drill out, (wind out window arms come to mind), with aluminium ones, as they are easier to replace on the road

As it looks like I have put up a somewhat confused answer, to your question, I can only say, it is your decision

If you let us know what your decision was, it may help others in the future

Dougwe · Chief one feather

I was a tradie in a previous life many many moons back and still to this day have the original Sutton drill bits that travel with me. Those and my hammer have stayed with me since my apprenticeship.

Keep Safe out there.

Whenarewethere · Guru

If you use double ended drill bits make sure the chuck is tight so you don't fill out the back of the drill in the long run. I avoid them like the plague!

Another useful tool is a Cross Hole Countersink, 10mm is good enough for most situations, it is actually a deburring bit.

Rather than bits every 0.5mm (I have a set 0.1mm increments up to 6mm), the ones I tend to use the most & you can use for tapping, are M3 2.5, M4 3.4(or 3.3), M5 4.3(or 11/64), M6 5.1(13/64), M8 6.9(or 6.8), M10 8.6(or 11/32)

Some 1/8 (3.18) drill bits are always useful.

Drill tapping fluid makes drilling & tapping a lot easier.

Sutton have various grades of tools but their cheaper grades are better than no name brands.

If you need Taps get a Taper bit first. If tapping blind holes also get an Intermediate & Bottom bits. Get the top grade Sutton taps.

Whenarewethere · Guru

Tony Bev wrote:
In my situation, not having access to a bench grinder, (while travelling)

I have a Bosch 10.8v (now marketed as 12v) angle grinder. Brilliant tool but you need the 4ah batteries minimum capacity. Now Bosch do a 6ah battery.

I have pile of other 10.8v stuff & it's all good for most situations.

Greg 1 · Guru

The Sutton bits are good quality. You can buy a set of reasonable Chinese ones much cheaper but you really do get what you pay for in drill bits. The Cobalt bits are dear but certainly worth the money, as they stay sharp far longer and as stated, will drill most materials. They are a Cobalt alloy steel not to be confused with the Titanium coated bits that have a brassy appearance. The titanium coating is an improvement but nowhere near as good as the cobalt bits.

iana · Guru

I went and brought what I thought was a good drill set to find when I opened the package it was a mix of strange types. If I was to go and buy another drill set, I would now chose a set that came in a good container, with standard length drills in it. So Sutton springs to mind. Its just that they do break, and you want to be able to replace them. If the drills in the box are too short in length, the replacement drills won't fit, you cant close the lid. Use the KISS method, .5mm increments sounds good.

rgren2 · Guru

I would get a stepped drill bit too.

Warren-Pat_01 · Guru

G'day Mike,
Yonks ago there were two good sets of drills - both made in Australia - Suttons & P&N.

I bought a set of Suttons-Viper about six years ago - I have never broken so many drills before! Where they are made I don't know - if Australia, they must have a lot of carbon in them.
There are 10 drills in the set (1-10mm). Like iana mentioned, I do replace the broken ones to keep the set in one piece.

Just my thoughts.

Mike Harding · Guru

Many thanks everyone for your replies.

I'll go for the Sutton set but have noted Warren's comments about them, I do hope they haven't reduced quality to increase profits as so often happens.

Colin Penrose · Senior Member

I too am on the lookout for a new set. I thought I had bought a good set (cant remember type) until bits started breaking. Now I have around five incomplete sets. I bought a bulk mix of 3.2 down to 1 from the Big Green Shed. Absolutely useless. I plan to go to a specialised tool place when restrictions are over and purchase a GOOD QUALITY set. Just my thoughts.

Ozlad · Member

I recently bought a nice set of Milwaukee red helix drill bits , also available individually.

Whenarewethere · Guru

I'm lucky as I have an actual hardware store in my vicinity in Brookvale with engineering department, unfortunately their website is stuffed to say the least. But the staff are very knowledgeable. There is another business which sells all the stainless screws, bolts metric etc in 316 & 304 I need & they will even sell one at a time if that's all you need!

Whenarewethere · Guru

RS online, has a lot of stuff, a bit expensive but free delivery, I get a bit of stuff from them.

Dick0 · Guru

Has anyone used or uses Smith & Arrow (Cobalt M35) drill bits?

https://www.smithandarrow.com.au/product-category/drill-bits-sets/page/2/

Are they good quality and value?

Corndoggy · Senior Member

Watch the shopping channels on tv. The DOES IT ALL DRILL BIT SET is what you need. They drill through anything and everything, they will never loose their sharpness, they will never bend or break, and think they have a 10 year guarantee as well. Only one thing they can't get through. That's the bull s**t they spruk.

yobarr · Guru

Greg 1 wrote:
The Sutton bits are good quality. You can buy a set of reasonable Chinese ones much cheaper but you really do get what you pay for in drill bits. The Cobalt bits are dear but certainly worth the money, as they stay sharp far longer and as stated, will drill most materials. They are a Cobalt alloy steel not to be confused with the Titanium coated bits that have a brassy appearance. The titanium coating is an improvement but nowhere near as good as the cobalt bits.

Hi Greg....Of late,I have been looking at replacing my range of drill bits,and indeed my drills etc.Because you are someone who seems to know what you're talking about,I have today taken your advice and purchased a set of 19 Sutton Cobalt alloy steel bits,as I have been independently assured that they are the bee's knees! Cheers

Greg 1 · Guru

Use them on my lathe and mill and are better than the normal jobber bits, particularly drilling harder steels.

StewG · Senior Member

rgren2 wrote:
I would get a stepped drill bit too.

+1 from me. While working on my caravan I've found stepped drills like in the attached picture very useful. Although cheap Aldi versions, they are remarkably tough and good to use on steel as well as aluminium and wood.