BRad point bits

[Eric John]

Afternoon everyone,

Would anyone like to point me in the direction for good brad point bits?
Generally have been using dewalt from the big box store, but am looking
for a set of "woodworking" bits just for woodworking, not general construction.

Thanx
Eric

[Dustin Bullard]

What is your budget?

I went through two of the sets from Rockler when they were on sale for $50 I found at least a few bits with unacceptable runout and ended up returning both sets.
I picked up a set of MLCS brad points on Amazon and they are ok ~$60 and while all of the bits aren't perfect they are still a far cry better than the set from Rockler and VERY sharp.

If you are looking for a really nice, last set you will buy (short of breaking bits) look at the set from Lee Valley for ~$200 (http://www.leevalley.com/us/Wood/page.aspx?p=42247&cat=1,180,42240) this has been high on my wishlist for a while and everywhere I have looked says these are the bees knees for brad points...

[Ben Rivel]

I have and really like the Lee Valley set mentioned above. Got it based on A LOT of recommendations around the net from people who owned and liked it.

[Nick Decker]

Ditto on the Lee Valley bits. Excellent.

[Warren Lake]

Lee Valley stuff is fine or grind your own from a steel bit.

[Mike O'Keefe]

Fuller drill bits are great,but spendy. Mike O'Keefe

[James Baker SD]

a nice thing about the Lee Valley set is if you accidentally ruin one, you can replace just that one and restore your set. They are the best brad points I have ever used.

[Neil Gaskin]

For high quality I like Fisch and Fuller.

[Bob Ballard]

I have Fuller bits,high quality and still made in the USA!

[Peter Kelly]

Colt brad point sets from Infinity and others are good too. There's a cheapie "import" version of the 7 pc set for $15 that should be avoided. The German-made ones are more than worth the $70.

https://www.infinitytools.com/boring-bits-accessories/drill-bits-accessories/brad-point-drill-bits

[Simon MacGowen]

grind your own from a steel bit.
The best recommendation I have seen...not.

Simon

[Eric John]

Thank You All,
will be looking at the websites for my next set.
very soon

Eric

[Phillip Mitchell]

The Lee Valley brad points are the best I've used. I bought the 7 piece set a couple years back (1/8 - 1/2 in 16th increments) and now I just want the full set...someday.

[Dan Rude]

My older Rockler Bit set is still going strong. For a brand, that I have had good luck with try Montana, made in the USA. I small set from Menards is only about $15 or on sale now for $9.99 for the common sizes https://www.menards.com/main/tools-hardware/power-tools-accessories/power-tool-accessories/drill-bits-sets-accessories/6-piece-brad-point-bit-set/mb64760/p-1444436606649-c-10079.htm?tid=4495404429443916777&ipos=12, Amazon is a bit more at $29 for the same set. https://www.amazon.com/Montana-Brand-Brad-Point-Drill/dp/B002HO38DI Dan

[Mike Cutler]

WL Fuller in Rhode Island.It's all they do.

[Doug Hobkirk]

WOW! What a remarkable tribute to Lee Valley. I remember reading a rave many years ago (Fine WW?) and - if I remember correctly - they were only slightly expensive. Now they seem outright expensive.

That said, I chose to buy a Harbor Freight set that goes up to 1" (maybe 20 total).* I don't use them often but I've never had a problem. But if I broke one or needed a different size, I'd probably use LV.


* I only buy optional tools at HF when they're on super sale, but it's worked out well for my limited usage.

[joe maday]

Fuller made in USA bits from Tools for Working Wood. Sets and/or individual bits.

[Larry Frank]

I have had a number of brands but the Colt ones are my favorite.

[Mike Cutler]

Fuller made in USA bits from Tools for Working Wood. Sets and/or individual bits.

Joe

You can buy directly from WL Fuller also. They're a very good company to work with, especially if you need a one off, specialty bit, made to order.

[Peter Kelly]

Fuller taper drills are great too, use them more than any other bits.

[Brian Holcombe]

I use the LV bits and they're fantastic.

I have a handful of Famag bits, I'd expect their brad points to be excellent as well. Has anyone used Star M, what's your impression?

[Andrew Pitonyak]

I chose to buy a Harbor Freight set that goes up to 1" (maybe 20 total).* I don't use them often but I've never had a problem. But if I broke one or needed a different size, I'd probably use LV.


* I only buy optional tools at HF when they're on super sale, but it's worked out well for my limited usage.

And I think that you nailed it.... This gives you a bunch for cheap for occasional use, and the two that you use all the time, replace with higher quality. But when you need that one off you have it. If you will make use of them more regularly, buy the expensive set.

[Mike Cutler]

And I think that you nailed it.... This gives you a bunch for cheap for occasional use, and the two that you use all the time, replace with higher quality. But when you need that one off you have it. If you will make use of them more regularly, buy the expensive set.

Andrew

I have a few sets of WL Fuller Brad points, and they were $$$$, so I bought a set of those WoodRiver bradpoint bits from Woodcraft for just general use.
I ended up tearing my drill apart and replacing the shaft bearings, and chuck because of the "wozzle" I got from the wood river bits. I never suspected the bits, but after getting everything back together with my drill press I just grabbed a normal jobber bit to see if would still wozzle. It ran straight and true. I put one of the WoodRiver bits, and back came the wozzle, so I tried a few more. After four or five bits I stopped. I never would have thought that a drill bit would be bent, especially a set, uniformally
On the plus side I have a new Jacobs chuck installed, and finally fixed the power switch on my drill press. Saved me a couple hundred bucks buying a new drill press.
On the negative side, I don't have a new drill press. :eek:

[Andrew Pitonyak]

WoodRiver bradpoint bits from Woodcraft for just general use I ended up tearing my drill apart and replacing the shaft bearings, and chuck because of the "wozzle" I got from the wood river bits. I never suspected the bits, but after getting everything back together with my drill press I just grabbed a normal jobber bit to see if would still wozzle. It ran straight and true. I put one of the WoodRiver bits, and back came the wozzle, so I tried a few more. After four

So when new, you did NOT see them wobbling around, but, this was clearly visible after the fact? Or were you just not looking for it? Are you saying that they were bad out of the box or that they bent with use and that destroyed your drill press?

Regardless, that is terrible and I never would have suspected you would do that much damage.

[Mike Cutler]

Andrew
They were bad out of the box. I never suspected the bits and went to tearing the drill press apart thinking that was the problem.
I was wrong, it was the bit set.
I should have just stuck a piece of drill rod into the chick and checked runout to start with.☺️

[Ted Phillips]

After burning through a lot of bits over the years, I try only to buy Fuller bits anymore. As folks have said, they are high quality, spendy, and made in the US of A.