Brad point HSS bit sets - source

[Chris Barnett]

Looking for a source for a 25 pc. brad point drill bit set. Want only HSS and need both english and can use metric sizes also. Had contacted both Grizzly and Woodstock International by phone and got conflicting responses whether their titanium coated bits were HSS or not (don't need Ti coated but their non-Ti Steelexplus individual bits are excellent and the Ti coated seemed the only kit available in English size. Their non Ti sets are ony carbon steel and had a quite similar set from Woodcraft...tip grind was unpredictable to be nice; and they don't have metric). Have looked at Lee Valley, Woodcraft, Rockler, Craft Supply, PSI, Harbor Frieght, Northern Tool, Tools Plus, Tool Warehouse...and Bass Pro Shop :D, but cannot find English brad set in HSS, only carbon steel, plain and Ti coated.
Anyone know where I can get real HSS in a set; don't care if it's Ti coated or not.

[Garth Keel]

may have what you are looking for.

[Kevin Davis]

I have thes HSS Lee Valley bits and I have been pleased with them.

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=42247&cat=1,180,42240

[Joe Close]

I've had bad luck w/ steelex HSS. I bought a tin of those a while back. And overtime stumbled upon several bits w/ bent shanks. I would return them, except I've used a number of the bits in the kit, and several months have passed. Very disappointing. If you do purchase the steelex, I would verify the trueness of each bit upon getting them home. And when I say bent shank, I'm not referring to a thousandth of an inch or so, I'm talking a wobble that measures in 8th inch ranges.

[Doug Shepard]

I have thes HSS Lee Valley bits and I have been pleased with them.

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=42247&cat=1,180,42240

Same here. I also bought one of the 3/4" ones for putting dogholes in my bench. I thought for sure I would toast one drilling all those holes through 4" of vertical laminated BB ply plus epoxy finish so I bought a backup. I still need to return that extra one. They come sharper than any other bit I've bought too. I've cut myself a couple times clearing chips out of the flutes with my fingers.

[Clifford Mescher]

Another vote for Lee Valley. Clifford.

[Paul Demetropoulos]

I have the Lee Valley bits as well, very pleased with their proformance.

[Mike Cutler]

Chris

WL Fuller, Warwick RI.
Download the catalog from the following link. The Metric Brad points are on Page 50, and the US sizes start on page 38. If it's a drill bit, or a mill, they can make it. Excellent quality,and very accurately dimensioned.
I have the utmost respect for Lee Valley and their quality, but these folks only make bits. It's their entire business.

http://www.wlfuller.com/html/online_catalog.html

[Peter Quinn]

Here's another link, little less spendy than Lee Valley. http://woodworker.com/cgi-bin/FULLPRES.exe?PARTNUM=120-332&search=Bradpoint%20Drill%20Bit&smode=

If you want one of the best bits, check Morris Wood Tool, don't see sets on their site but their brad points are great.

[Prashun Patel]

Are these the droids you're looking for?

http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=10627&filter=hss%20bit

THere's a coupon code in Wood Magazine for $10 off a $30 purchase @ Rockler too.

[Lloyd James]

Hi, I found another source for HSS Bradpoint and Forsner bits.
MikesTool.com http://www.mikestools.com/Default.aspx
I found it by looking for German woodworking tools, although the drills listed may not be from Germany. I would like to buy some HSS steel
bits also. I wore out a 7/8 forsner bit drilling Bloodwood in no time.
The drill bit was from a Chinese brand that I bought at Woodcraft for $40.
That was for an entire set up to 2 1/8". I have learned that you have to
pay quite a bit more than that for the quality tools.
I have a friend who owns a machine shop, and he has told me that the titanium coating does not help much since it wears off fast. He says
cobalt drills are the best drill bit. I have to talk my daughter in giving me a larger gift certificate so I can buy U.S.A. :)
I prefer to have drill neck down to 3/8 Dia., but had to buy 1/4 Dia. several times.

[Dewey Torres]

Thanks all! I have been piggy backing this thread.

I may go withe LV but the Fullers seem like a great choice as well and were also recommend when I asked about countersinks (http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=100478&highlight=countersink). Still undecided.

[Chris Barnett]

Thanks...several leads there.

I had purchased a few of the larger Steelexplus, and they are still sharp and were dead on accurate and true. I also bought a set of plain carbon steel brad bits elsewhere and they appeared (not the problems) to be the same as the plain Steelex; those bits were terrible, and were returned. So there might be a difference between the Steelex and the Steelexplus. A full set of the "plus" bits would be nearly $60 but no box, so it seems the Fuller set might be the way to go, or one of the others that looks very promising.

I have numerous sets of the standard and specialty tip, and the colbalts that I go to for metals, but needed the brads. But it does appear that I must turn loose of a few more green ones to get the quality I want. In this case, the other "use infrequently for less cost" bits will not do this job. Just had a Griz 20 inch floor drill press and a G490X delievvered, so might need to ask Santa for a real early present. The DP is s-o-o-o smooth; bought it instead of the SC because it had a much more versatile table and built so much stronger, and a 1-1/2 hp motor that purrs. Hope you guys are also right on the 490X! It's still in the box since I'm so busy. And I can be confident that Griz will be in business in 10 years if I need parts. And they kept their prices down when others skyrocketed...need I say more! And no, no stock in Griz...spend all my money on tools :D.

I knew I could count on you guys to have excellent information on this. And thanks, thanks very much.

[glenn bradley]

+1 on Lee Valley. Spendy but I have never looked back.