Was looking for a set of decent brad point drill bits. I found this Craftsman set:
Where would you be shopping for brad point drill bits (for joinery)?
Thanks, Bill
Compare the pictures near the drill tips.
Bill,
Give Lee Valley a look:
Bob S.
I have the Lee Valley brad point bits. I really like them. They are sharp enough that they are a little scary to use. I received a top rating in one of the woodworking magazine tests a couple of years ago.
Dan
Stubby bits whip less, would be preferred for dowel joints. No experience with this make, just an example:
Don't know if they are good or not as I've never tried them . Lee Valley has some very good ones (made in USA last I looked) that were highly rated in Fine Woodworking a few years back. I've been using them quite a while and like them a lot.
(You owe me a monitor and keyboard, Bill.)
I"d almost bet they were made in China, just like the $1 bits.
No, steel quality and initial sharpness. I was happily surprised.
I'm not using them on hardwoods. YMMV
Not much!
-- "Human nature itself is evermore an advocate for liberty. There is also in human nature a resentment of injury, and indignation against wrong. A love of truth and a veneration of virtue. These amiable passions, are the latent spark. If the people are capable of understanding, seeing and feeling the differences between true and false, right and wrong, virtue and vice, to what better principle can the friends of mankind apply than to the sense of this difference?" --John Adams
Lee Valley has a set of 7 from 1/8 to 1/2 for 54--those are IIRC the top rated bit in Fine Woodworking's shootout.
I thought so too. But I took another look at the picture of the item. Near the top of each bit it say "Germany". A family member wanted to buy me something for Christmas, but I can't send them to Lee Valley.
Bill
if that's too many...
----------------------- Mutually exclusive terms.
When you going to get out of the cheap seats.
You want brad point drills, try McFeelys, WW Grainger (Same company these days), McMaster-Carr, Rockler, Lee Valley, etc.
Notice Home Depot & Lowes didn't make the list.
Lew
Why not. If you buy junk you'll just throw them away and spend even more money replacing them. Does that make sense?
You guys gotta remember, Craftsman doesn't MAKE the stuff, nor does Granger, McMaster-Carr, Lee Valley, They all either have them made to their spec or rebrand/package product from other manufacturers. The fact they are German and not Chinese means there is a high likelihood they are reasonable quality - and quite possibly either identical to, are at least equal to, the product you would buy from one or more of the referenced suppliers.
Most likely either Miebach, Colt, Famag, or Diemar.
They don't come much better than either of those.
Actually, after reading J. Clarke's post, maybe I can work something out (7 pc set for $54). Maybe I just need a gift card from Lee Valley to help! :)
Bill
At less than a quater each, average, they are likely high quality Chinese bits. The TiN coating just makes them LOOK expensive and/or good.
Yeah Steve, less than a quarter a piece--probably really sharp! :)
Bill
Thank you. I copied the list. There are a couple there with which I'm not acquainted. BTW, I noticed tonight that Home Depot had a 6 piece Brad point drill set for 14.99. I didn't bite.
Bill
wrote.>>
. Lee Valley is a partial exception to that. At least some of the Vertitas stuff is made in house.
As for the brad boints, they state:
Regardless of where you ultimately buy them, once you have them - or maybe before - you'll start dreaming of a set of stop collars for them.
My advice is, give up the dream. If you get split collars you'll find that you have to tighten them so much that they can become next to impossible to get off. If you get collars that fasten with a set screw you'll find that they don't lie perpendicular to the bit. Either kind can and will mar whatever you are drilling. Both kinds also get packed up with chips.
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