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Where do you get carbide drill bits?

i4Marc

i4Marc

Joined
Oct 19, 2011
Messages
5,010
Where do you guys go for decent quality but relatively inexpensive solid carbide drill bits? Which types work best on hardened steel, fluted, spade etc.?
 
I’m a big fan of the spade drills. Easy to resharpen. I just get mine off Amazon when I need them.
 
I normally make my own out of carbide round stock for drilling out the center marks from the plasma cutter. Another option is friction drilling. Talk about a glass smooth hole. I use this on 15n20 some times. I have done it in hardened D2 as well that was .163 thick. I grind a 4 sided point onto carbide. I spin it in a hand drill first to create a centered point while grinding on a green wheel. Then hand grind the 4 sides. Then chuck it up in the mill or a drill press. Run it around 2500-3000 rpm and start drilling. It will start to drill a hole and you will see dust. Once it gets into the material aways you will see it starting to get hot. Then I push harder and you will see the carbide glow red and the steel around it will as well and it will go right through. What ever you do don’t stop. Once through pull it out and let it cool. Then grind off the rolled out material on the entry and exit. Or you can leave it and use it as scale retention and run a loveless bolt through the center hole. It’s a slick way to do it.
 
JT, what are you using to grind points on the carbide rounds, a bench grinder? Are the carbide rounds much cheaper than buying drill bits?


Rob, I bought some stuff to hold me over for a short while today. Good thing because it seems USA knifemaker is out of everything I need. McMaster has some stuff but they are more expensive.
 
I will take some pictures when I get home. But yea a bench grinder with a green wheel.
 
As short as possible. Screw machine or stub.

McMaster shouldn’t be that much more expensive.... never hesitate from buying from them because their service is exceptional and they take anything back

ebay works too. Look for name brands
Look forward A dealer in FL called suncoastprecisontooloutlet

i’m guessing you are looking for in the 1/8th inch to 5/32 range and that’s about a $15-$20 carbide drill.

make sure your setup is rigid when drilling with carbide
 
HSC /// said:
As short as possible. Screw machine or stub.

McMaster shouldn’t be that much more expensive.... never hesitate from buying from them because their service is exceptional and they take anything back

ebay works too. Look for name brands
Look forward A dealer in FL called suncoastprecisontooloutlet

i’m guessing you are looking for in the 1/8th inch to 5/32 range and that’s about a $15-$20 carbide drill.

make sure your setup is rigid when drilling with carbide
Click to expand...

yeah a wobble drill press will make short work of your nice carbide lol.
 
This is a mod I do to carbide burrs to drill hardened steel. I call them hole poppers
 
I ordered mine from Mac Tools. The bits themselves are somewhat pricy, but you have the option to order them individually instead of being forced to buy a whole set and end up paying for bits you don’t need.
 
i4Marc i4Marc I'm guessing you do not have a mill, or do you? I'm sure you know this, but if you have a mill, a carbide endmill will make very short work of the hole in hardened steel. Being much more rigid and less run out than a drill press will keep the bit from snapping, too. Just a thought.

Sam:thumbsup:
 
JT, thanks for that. Interesting. But you have to run them red hot? Does that affect the life of the bit?


Sam, I do NOT have a mill yet (and I'm not happy about it). I'm making do for now. I might be upgrading to some better equipment soon.


Scaniaman, I will check those out. Thx.
 
I have been using Amazon spade and would recommend them but I just checked and they are double to triple what I paid for them last year. Seems weird. Anyone know the reason?
 
i4Marc i4Marc Do it, my man. Get the mill as soon as reasonably possible. Will change many aspects of how you make knives. I don't even use a file anymore to fit guards. You'll love it.:thumbsup::thumbsup:

Sam:thumbsup:
 
Thx Butch.

Edit: A carbide countersink I ordered a couple of days ago arrived today. It is a Kodiak!
 
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