TiN drill bits

They actually only have a coating. What good that does apart from looking pretty, I dunno.

Look out for the same thing in Lidl. Cheaper than either. And very decent quality. Perhaps slightly brittle in the small sizes - but they are cheap enough in bulk anyway.

Can't understand that. I regularly use Titaniium Nitride coated drills on metals without a problem (mild steel, alloy steel, aluminium alloys, brass, cast iron) Some are also split points, the majority of my normal HSS drills once they need regrinding are also split points

They are usually Dormer or Guhring though and not some unknown Chinese pound shop special.

Ah - didn't read that bit. Wood drills are generally cheaper than HSS types - which makes them even poorer value, compared to the Lidl ones which are for steel, as well as wood and plastics.

the thin titanium coating is many times harder than hss, and lower friction.

NT

So fine if the drill comes well sharpened - and you chuck it away when blunt?

Yup :) Send em to me

I'd have thought that TiN was a waste of time on wood and plastic bits. Presumably it is *real* TiN and not the yellow fake coating which is sometimes found on cheapies?

Real TiN makes a big difference on proper HSS bits, screwdriver bits, etc. It is also near universal on carbide inserts used on machining centres.

Why do you say fake coatings? If they were fake they'd soon wear off.

NT

Thanks. That's interesting. Is it that all TiN bits that are unsuitable for metal or just this set from CPC?

I usually use the Bosch multimaterial bits but read on the wiki how useful TiN coated bits were and I couldn't resist a bargain ;)

I have the Toolsatan set. Seems OK to me, but I don't drill that many holes in metal.

The ones Lidl sell are suitable for steel too - that's what I mostly use them on. It could be just the way the tip is ground that makes them for wood etc only.

In message , Fred writes

Aren't they advertised on TV as cheese sticks?

In message , The Other Mike writes

Duratool are hardly "unknown"

On Thursday, September 20, 2012 11:40:50 PM UTC+1, Dave Plowman (News) wrot= e:

Titanium coating gives better performance in all materials. Whether a bit's= sutiable for metal depends on how its ground. Most titanium bits are regul= ar twist drills optimised for drilling steel - which also makes them poor p= erformers on wood, but its still the most popular bit shape for wood drilli= ng.

NT

They do. They are put on to fool people into thinking they are high quality bits.

It would be interesting to do a comparison between Dormer etc and the Lidl sets. The Lidl set goes from 0.5 - 10mm in 0.5mm steps, and comes in a decent steel box. For about 6 quid. I've found them very satisfactory for jobbing work. How much would a Dormer set cost? The odd ones I've bought from the local tool shop are terrifyingly expensive. I really can't see them being worth the extra.

Despite being a Farnell brand, IMHO they carry the same aura as Ratners the jewellers

There are no direct Dormer equivalents in metal boxes of that range, 0.1 steps to 6mm @ 80 quid or 0.5 steps to 13 @ 100 quid

Plastic cased 0.1 steps to 10mm are about fifty quid

As to if they are worth it. For the vast majority, no.