HSS drill set advice

[Neil B]

I have a number of different size holes up to 13 mm to drill in steel. I bought a set of jobber drills from Screwfix, but the 4mm one bent while drilling through chassis rail of a Catterham. I know one gets what one pays for, but there are Jobber ones, Titanium ones and Cobalt ones. What make/model of drills should I buy and from where for a reasonable price that will be servicable.

 

[Burnerman]

Just my opinion, but I buy HSS jobber drills from Screwfix - avoid carbon steel ones at all costs. Even the cheapo things from Titan work fine. The secret is, don't try to drill the holes big at one go - use a series of step up drills. Use a lubricant - oil or WD40 will do - don't let the drill bit get too hot. Make sure the drill speed is slow for the larger drills. When starting, make sure the centre punch mark is deep enough to prevent skidding - the tip of a drill is flat, after all.
Cheers John

 

[Jasonb]

You want fully ground drills some of the cheaper ones are only ground on the cutting edges.

I have a set of Dormer ones but for 1-10mm in 0.5 you will be looking at £40. Presto or guhring are a reasonable price, try some of the model engineering suppliers.

http://www.chronos.ltd.uk/acatalog/Chronos_Catalogue_Drill_Sets_150.html

http://www.mscjlindustrial.co.uk/cgi/insrhm?ukepcode=HER40

http://www.greenwood-tools.co.uk/ishop/728/shopscr87.html

Jason

 

[Bodgeit and scarper ltd]

use dormer get them on e-bay

 

[wotan]

Dormer drills without any doubt, are amongst the best you can buy, not cheap, but certainly worth the money.

Wotan

 

[gregers]

these are good,
http://www.screwfix.com/prods/95497...S-Sets/Erbauer-HSS-Cobalt-Drill-Bit-Set-15-Pc

or this one,
http://www.screwfix.com/prods/78029...S-Sets/Erbauer-HSS-Cobalt-Drill-Bit-Set-25-Pc

 

[Neil B]

thanks for the replies. Looks like Dormer are the ones to get.