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[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

I'm sick to death of poor quality drills that snap, or drill bits that are useless when you come to use them for a second time.

Can anyone suggest a good quality selection of drills for metal, masonary and wood? Drill bits that last.


I'm willing to pay £50 for a comprehensive set.

Thanks, chaps.

[aaronjb]

I think if you want "good quality" you might have to triple your budget..

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

I think if you want "good quality" you might have to triple your budget..

Okay. Point taken.

I'll settle for 'fit for purpose quality' rather than made of liquorice.

[zirk]

Rather than buy a set (50 quid wont cover it), just buy the bit sizes you think you may need and build up from there.

For Steel, most people make the mistake of using a pilot drill that is too big and then use the final bit at too fast speed, bit quality is in this order (good to very good) Titanium, Cobalt, Tungsten Carbide. For heavy steel work also use a Cutting Compound grease or spray.

All the above will be good for wood and plastic, just dont point them towards stone or concrete.

For Masonry (SDS) Ive always found Hilti Bits to be good valve for money. 

[aaronjb]

Okay. Point taken.

I'll settle for 'fit for purpose quality' rather than made of liquorice.

I may have exaggerated slightly.. unfortunately I don't know how good the £20-30 range drill sets are (HSS drills) as my set came from Germany courtesy of my Dad.

I do know that the difference between a single DeWalt masonry bit that cost ~£4.50 and the masonry bits in my cheap set was like night and day..

[Kevin Wood]

For drilling metals, I bought one of these sets back when I started my LPG conversion:

https://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/cht565-170pce-titanium-coated-hss-dril

They are reasonable for the money, IMHO. Yes, you'll still break one occasionally and they won't be any good if you're drilling stainless all day, but for a general purpose drill they are infinitely better than the toffee sets you get from DIY shops.

Never really had a problem with masonry drills. Can't even remember where mine came from but I've had them for years and they just work. YMMV if you drill through reinforced concrete on a regular basis, etc.

[Nick W]

I have a similar set to Kevin's suggestion, and if it covers the sizes you need(under 10mm by 0.5mm steps) is a good deal. The bits cut well and make a reasonably accurate hole. Occasionally you find a bit that isn't sharpened or hardened correctly, but this is obvious the first time you try it.

There are enough of each size to make several sets, which is a real help if you have more than one drill, or are mobile.

[Bigron]

Give UK drills a try - I have found them to be a good quality vs price combination....
http://www.ukdrills.com/
Currently offering a 10% discount too.

Ron.

[aaronjb]

A friend of mine has one of these: http://www.ukdrills.com/productdetail.php?proid=105&catid=227&flag=1

Because he can break a drill bit just by looking at it ..

[Sir Tigger KC]

I bought a set in Aldi probably about 8 or 9 years ago for £19.99 which I thought was extravagant!    I've still got it, still use it regularly and have only replaced 2 or 3 bits. 

[omega2018]

for metal i only buy cobalt bits now, they are the best much better than tit coated Clarke do them http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/cht383-19pce-cobalt-steel-drill-bit-se probably cheaper on ebay.  beware they are more brittle and can snap. much harder to blunt them though.  use water soluable cutting oil.

[EMD]

Ive bought cobalt and they were useless  However i tried these and they were brilliant 

Drill bits

For metal obviously 

[chrisgixer]

Could just re sharpen them? Needs a bench grinder though, and an understanding of the cutting edge angles. But it's two seconds to tidy up a drill.


....unless it's busted or completely melted and lost its hardness of course.