Recommendations for twist drill brands

S

Sleazey

Aluminum

Joined

Sep 28, 2008

Location

Houston TX USA

• Mar 2, 2010

• #1

Who makes good twist drill bits? Any brands particularly recommended, or, abhorred?

I've got a number of metric sized twist drill bits, but I need to start getting imperial sizes, especially the # and letter series.

 

S

stuball48

Stainless

Joined

Sep 10, 2006

Location

Dickson, TN

• Mar 2, 2010

• #2

I have Chicago Latrobe (CL) and Precision Twist Drills (PTD). Have them in jobber length and "stub" length. I use the "stub" length for 90% of the drilling I do. There are others but I would lean toward USA.

 

L

Limy Sami

Diamond

Joined

Jan 7, 2007

Location

Norfolk, UK

• Mar 2, 2010

• #3

Guhring for me, Titex if the job demands it or I'm feeling flush

 

PixMan

Diamond

Joined

Jan 30, 2007

Location

Central MA USA

• Mar 2, 2010

• #4

Titex for me. I've gotten batches of Guhring drills that had uneven grinds on the tips of smaller sizes before, so I won;t be spending money on theirs anymore.

Precision Twist Drill is also a good bet for a lower price point on standard jobber lengths drills used for general purpose work, but not as good as Titex for specific material applications.

 

Toms Wheels

Titanium

Joined

Dec 30, 2005

Location

Jersey Shore

• Mar 2, 2010

• #5

The PTD Precision Twist Drill co, seem to be real good. The cobalt line holds up well drilling in SS, I've the stub lenght in Black Oxide as well for the BP mostly, Jobber lenght for the lathes.

 

The real Leigh

Diamond

Joined

Nov 23, 2005

Location

Maryland

• Mar 2, 2010

• #6

PTD also

Another vote for Precision Twist Drill.

I have many drills from them, particularly in the larger Silver and Deming style.

Excellent American-made products.

- Leigh

 

J

John Garner

Titanium

Joined

Sep 1, 2004

Location

south SF Bay area, California

• Mar 2, 2010

• #7

There are some folks in St. Paul, Minnesota that make very good twist drills. Some of their product ships out of one door under the Viking brand, and some ships out of another door under the Norseman brand.

Ohio Drill and Tool also knows how to make good twist drills.

 

C

[email protected]

Aluminum

Joined

Jul 19, 2009

Location

southern Illinois

• Mar 2, 2010

• #8

+1 on norseman.

 

register

Hot Rolled

Joined

Apr 26, 2008

Location

San Francisco, CA

• Mar 2, 2010

• #9

I just went through this exercise this past December. Search for my thread titled "Help With Drill Selection."

I ended up going with screw machine length PTD cobalts, and I couldn't be more pleased. Holes usually come in +/- .0015. Wonderful tools. The three indices I bought are still on sale at Enco. I paid ~$360 for all three (1/16-1/2, A-Z, 1-60).

Henry

 

J

jeagan

Cast Iron

Joined

May 28, 2008

Location

NC, USA

• Mar 2, 2010

• #10

Is bright or black oxide finish best for general purpose use in steel and aluminum on the lathe and the mill?

John.

 

EPAIII

Diamond

Joined

Nov 23, 2003

Location

Beaumont, TX, USA

• Mar 2, 2010

• #11

Of all the sets I have, the brand that impressed me the most was Triumph Twist Drill, a US company. Here is one of their sets:

Enco - Guaranteed Lowest Prices on Machinery, Tools and Shop Supplies

Not cheap. But really good quality drills and a nice index box, not a falling-apart cheapo.

 

coyotekid

Cast Iron

Joined

Apr 20, 2008

Location

Montana

• Mar 2, 2010

• #12

Am I the only one that likes Morse?

I have no complaints with Precision Twist, and I've been impressed with Ohio Drill for specialty stuff.

 

RC99

Diamond

Joined

Mar 26, 2005

Location

near Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia

• Mar 2, 2010

• #13

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