best drill bits for metal

f140

I am drilling using the local coops only bits for metal. they are 5mm for pop rivets. the metal itself is only 3 mm thick but they crack after about 25 holes. sick of the coop rubbish.


what are the best bits for metal especially smaller bits?

Muckit

Are you keeping the bit sprayed with oil?

Outkast_IRE

f140 wrote: »

I am drilling using the local coops only bits for metal. they are 5mm for pop rivets. the metal itself is only 3 mm thick but they crack after about 25 holes. sick of the coop rubbish.


what are the best bits for metal especially smaller bits?

Are you keeping the bits cool by dipping them in some oil as much as possible when drilling, most people find this helps alot. I find not forcing it and leaving the bit do the work helps, have always found the dewalt small bits very good.

Timmaay

Cheap and cheerful lidi or aldi coated drill bits. A box of about 20 ranging from 2mm to 10mm costs about 10quid. You can get various different mixes of titanium coating, I never really notice any difference. Make sure the drill bit doesn't overheat also, don't do aload of holes together and have a can of oil with you to dip the drill bit in after each hole.

Oldtree

I always drill in a bit, then take the bit out of the hole, blow in the hole to clear any debris, reinsert the bit and off I go again.

Muckit

Yeah I find those lidl bits in the blue steel box excellent for the price

awaywithyou

f140 wrote: »

I am drilling using the local coops only bits for metal. they are 5mm for pop rivets. the metal itself is only 3 mm thick but they crack after about 25 holes. sick of the coop rubbish.


what are the best bits for metal especially smaller bits?

I'm guessing your using high speed steel bits... Which are grand if you drill with care... Hss bits are very brittle... But the advantage of them is they can withstand a lot of heat... But I don't think that should worry you.... Go for softer bits like high carbon steel bits with treated cutting edges... Will last longer... Try miko metals iin cork....

onyerbikepat

There's drill bits and there's drill bits! Carbide tipped (I think) are the best.

The fitters I work with swear by this cutting compound;
http://www.hisltd.co.uk/Trefolex-Cutting-Compound-Paste-500ml.html

gctest50

some stuff here :

http://www.caulfieldindustrial.com/guhring--carbide-jobber-drills--type-no--5517-metric/p-226108pd.html

gctest50

Would a punch work for you instead ?

this sort of yoke

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2hAhdYKBCQ

Timmaay

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3-PCE-LARGE-HSS-STEP-CONE-DRILL-TITANIUM-HSS-BIT-SET-HOLE-CUTTER-4-12-20-32mm-UK-/400624040210?ssPageName=ADME:L:OC:IE:3160

Actually I picked up these afew months back, by far the best job possible for anything less than 5mm thick! No messing around swapping over drill bits for pilot holes. Just be careful not to overheat the tip, ie the smallest drill bit! What I often do is make a pilot hole with a different drill bit just in case.

Tyson Lannister

I'm my experience, it's the speed of the drill is often the problem as it causes over heating. For instance if you attempt to drill a hole using a normal hand drill and then use the same bit in a geared pillar drill at a slow speed you wil find that it works with no prob and drills far faster on the pillar drill.
To get around this I use the slow speed on a cordless drill and half press the trigger, works well. There's a formula for rotational speed of bit proportional to size being drilled if I can remember it...

9935452

f140 wrote: »

I am drilling using the local coops only bits for metal. they are 5mm for pop rivets. the metal itself is only 3 mm thick but they crack after about 25 holes. sick of the coop rubbish.


what are the best bits for metal especially smaller bits?

I got a box of special drill bits at the ploughing. Box cost 50 euro. they dont cut like a standard drill bit , they grind. They are designed to run flat out and dont wear out or overheat. lifetime guarantee
Stay away from them. Im getting about 8 holes a piece and the heads snap off. tried them in cordless drill, corded drill, pillar drill and they are snapping in them all,
Ive even had one melt,
Ill be returning them next year