Drill Bits Set
Drill Bits Set Buying Guide
It’s often said that you don’t need a drill bit; what you need is a hole. How you make that hole is up to you, but it’s a given that you want to make it as efficiently as possible. The drill bit, therefore, is built to match the diameter and length of the hole you want to make—as well as the material in which it works. And chances are good that you need more than one bit, you probably need at least a small set to make holes of various diameters.
Who should get drill bits set?
If you have a drill, you should have a comprehensive drill bit set. It doesn’t matter if you own a home or rent an apartment; you’ll eventually need a wide variety of drill and driver bits. Some projects may be planned, like assembling a piece of prefab furniture, but others might be unexpected, like screwing a tarp up to cover a broken window. Even a simple project like hanging a shelf can take two or three different drill bit sizes and a few different driver bits.
Buying drill bits one at a time as needed means taking repeated trips to the hardware store in the middle of a project to get what you need. Building a collection this way may also leave you high and dry in an emergency. M3Tools bits purchasing also leaves you without a proper bit case, so you’re collection will be hard to organize and difficult to sift through. A complete set is the way to go.
How To Select a Set
If you are familiar with drills and drill presses, then you must know that you need different drill bit sizes for different applications. As a result, you can find various drill bits, and drill bit sets out there. And if you also want to buy drill bits for your drill, then you need to consider the following factors:
- Number of Bits: Different drill bit sets come with a different number of bits. A higher number of bits offers you a more precise control on the size of the drill bit that you want to use for your requirements. You can find drill bit sets with 10, 15, or 20 drill bits.
- Size Range: The multiple drill bits present in any drill bit set have different sizes for different applications. And since this size is quite important, you must know the size range offered by a given drill bit set. Such drill bit sets offer a size range of 1/16 inch to ½ inch or 3/16 inch to ¼ inch depending on the kit that you buy.
- Materials: The construction materials used by any drill bit sets are also quite important. Since a drill bit gets used for heavy-duty applications, you should look out for the one that has bits made using titanium or HSS cobalt. Drill bits like these usually last for a long time without much wear and tear.
Materials
We have experimented with materials, in order to create drill bits that will last longer. This is specifically dealing with drill bits that are used to cut metals. The most common materials are:
- Low carbon steel – Although fine for working in wood and plastic, it won’t hold an edge long for metal.
- High carbon steel – These can be honed sharper and hold an edge much longer than low carbon. If overheated, they will lose their temper immediately and become dull.
- High speed steel – Is a special steel alloy, formulated for drill bits and other cutting tools. It’s much more resistant to heat than high carbon steel.
- Cobalt steel alloys – Are variations on high speed steel which contain more cobalt. This allows them to withstand temperatures up to 1000 degrees. However, they are more brittle.
- Tungsten carbide (typically called just carbide) is an extremely hard material that can cut in just about anything. Since it is expensive and very brittle, it is normally just welded to the tip of the drill bit, creating the cutting edge.
- Polycrystalline diamond – This is man-made diamond, sintered to a carbide support. These are the hardest bits, able to cut anything but they are very expensive, generally used only in industry, where taking the time to replace a drill bit might delay a production line.
Tips for Buying and Using Drill Bits for Metal
Researching shank design, bit material, and bit coatings can be confusing, but fortunately, drill-bit manufacturers make shopping relatively easy for the customer. Drill bits are labeled not only by the size of hole they’ll drill but also by the type of materials they’ll drill. Look for the words “metal-drilling bit” on the package, followed by a list of metals the bit is designed to puncture. Here are a few additional tips that will help you drill smoother holes and keep your bits in tiptop shape.
- Use a center punch to create a depression in the metal before drilling. This will reduce the likelihood of the bit slipping off the material to be drilled.
- Use a lubricant as you drill. A drop of three-in-one oil or cutting fluid will lubricate the drill bit, making drilling easier and reducing wear and tear on the bit.
- The friction generated by the bit drilling through the metal can cause the bit to heat up and break. This is especially true with larger bits. By drilling slower and taking breaks every few minutes to let the bit cool down, your bit will last longer.