Set of Larger Drill Bits

[Mike Henderson]

I have a set of Norseman drill bits, from 1/16" to 1/2" by 64ths. Very good bits and I'm very satisfied with them.

Occasionally, I need an odd sized bit that's larger than 1/2". What I'd like to get is a set of bits that go from 1/2" to 3/4" by 64ths. I stress the word "set" because I want something to store the bits. I could buy a bunch of individual bits but then storing them would be a problem.

Does anyone know of a set of bits in that range, made by a good manufacturer?

Mike

[Gary Radice]

Are you asking about regular twist drills?

[Mike Henderson]

Are you asking about regular twist drills?
Yes, sorry I didn't specify. Standard length twist drill bits, regular split point.

Mike

[Bruce Page]

Most "sets" have a range of ½" to 1" and they’re not cheap, particularly in 1/64 increments. McMaster-Carr sells them. It would be much more economical to buy what you need at the borg and make a custom stand out of a block of wood.

[Mike Henderson]

Most "sets" have a range of ½" to 1" and they’re not cheap, particularly in 1/64 increments. McMaster-Carr sells them. It would be much more economical to buy what you need at the borg and make a custom stand out of a block of wood.
Yep, that's what I was afraid of (the cost that is).

Mike

[I found them at McMaster-Carr. Yep, close to $1,000 for a set from 1/2" to 1" by 64ths. That's expensive!]

[David L Morse]

Yep, that's what I was afraid of (the cost that is).

Mike

[I found them at McMaster-Carr. Yep, close to $1,000 for a set from 1/2" to 1" by 64ths. That's expensive!]

If this http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRIT?PMAKA=240-6549&PMPXNO=4872381&PARTPG=INLMK32 is in your price range promo code JUN99 gets you free shipping.

[Mike Henderson]

If this http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRIT?PMAKA=240-6549&PMPXNO=4872381&PARTPG=INLMK32 is in your price range promo code JUN99 gets you free shipping.

Thanks for the pointer. That's still pretty expensive at $426. What I really needed is the sizes around 5/8" so I think I'll take Bruce's advice and just buy the ones I need (from 1/2" to a bit over 5/8") and make a holder for the bits. I really don't need the ones close to 1" and those are probably the most expensive ones.

Mike

[Tai Fu]

What's wrong with forestner bits? They're cheaper than regular twist drills in larger size

[Mike Henderson]

What's wrong with forestner bits? They're cheaper than regular twist drills in larger size
Can you find Forstner bits in 64ths? Know any source?

Mike

[Tai Fu]

What about metric sizes? I mean it's going to be a lot of bits in 64th increment so I guess it's going to be expensive no matter what.

[Mike Henderson]

What about metric sizes? I mean it's going to be a lot of bits in 64th increment so I guess it's going to be expensive no matter what.
I only want from 1/2" to a bit over 5/8" so it's not as many as if I needed to go all the way to 1". I'll look at metric and see how they convert. Maybe that would work.

Mike

[Thomas Hotchkin]

Mike
If you want to keep price down and are using them in a drill press with a #2 morse-taper or larger. Look to Clist for some older carbon steel taper drill bits I find them used for a good price. Tom http://images.craigslist.org/medium/3ra3qf3H55G45Hf5q9d6ce56b1cbae1fd1948.jpg

[Kevin Groenke]

Regular twist drills over 1/2" with 1/2" shanks are commonly called "Silver and Deming" drills. These will be quite expensive from domestic sources but if they're for occasional use and you're careful about how you use them (watch the speed, use cutting oil, basically try to keep the heat down) you can probably get away with an imported set.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000IEXA8W#productDetails

http://www.shars.com/products/view/3789/33641quot_by_64ths_HSS_12quot_Shank_Drill_Set

ebay-/310409610427

[Mike Henderson]

Thanks for the name, Kevin. Once you know what it's called, it's possible to search for what you want. I found a 33 piece set on Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005OMWHEQ/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) (1/2" to 1") for about $150 with a case and ordered that. As you pointed out, it's probably not the best quality but for my occasional use, it should work. I'll let everyone know after I have some experience with it.

Thanks for the information and for taking the time to post.

Mike

[Bruce Page]

We always called them blacksmith drills in the machine shop trades.

[Mike Henderson]

I received the set of bits today but haven't used them yet. I only expect to use them in wood, so I think they'll hold up well enough for what I need.

The way all this started is with the folding party stands that I made earlier (I posted pictures of those in the Woodworking Projects sub-forum). I wanted to use some commercial dowel stock but that stuff is only a nominal size, i.e., it may be labeled as 5/8" but it's smaller than that. I just didn't have a bit that would match the size of the larger dowel stock, so I had to use 1/2" dowel stock.

Anyway, here's some pictures of the bits and the case. Having a case was important to me because having a drawer of loose bits is a mess and bad for the bits.

Here's the case. It's sufficient, but not a deluxe quality case.
265116

And here's the bits in the opened case. The largest bits are in the center which helps to balance the case for carrying. It's not confusing for finding the size you want.
265117

Note that they labeled the bits 'behind' the bit, which is not as sensible as labeling in front of the bit. Seems to me that it would be easier to see the sizes if they inverted the writing, so you could see it properly as you looked into the bits.
265118

I doubt if I'll use the bits enough to give any evaluation of how well they hold up.

Mike

[Keith Outten]

Kind of a mute point now but you can purchase dowels from Beal Tools that are accurately sized. Beal sells a wood dowel threader that requires the dowels you use to be round and of the right size or the dowel won't work in the threader. They have been selling dowels of various types of wood for as long as I can remember.

http://www.bealltool.com/products/threading/dowels.php
.