Source for quality drill bits?

Dgswaner

I'm looking for some drill bit for drilling PCB's does anyone have a good tested source for bits. I've gone through about 3 sets from harbor freight. They just don't last. I would like them to fit a drill chuck rather than a Dremil. so a shaft size of 1/8" +/- would be preferable.

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A complex design is the sign of an inferior designer. - Jamie Hyneman, Myth Buster

Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)

McMaster-Carr carries solid carbide drill bits having an eigth-inch shank that are suitable for drilling circuit boards. I've used them, and they're of good quality. As with any carbide bit — especially the tiny ones used for circuit boards — a drill press, drill stand, or Dremel stand is an absolute must. High RPMs and a precision (i.e. well-centered) chuck are important, too. Otherwise you'll be snapping bits off right and left.

-Phil

Post Edited (Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)) : 6/4/2007 5:11:54 AM GMT

Forrest

PC board drill bits are designed to run at 10K to 50K RPM and you must use a drill that has a very low runout tolerance. Most large industrial drill presses have too much runout tolerance and these PC board drill bits will instantly break when trying to drill a board. I've been thene, done that and can confirm the Dremel drill with stand works great. I've bought resharpened drill bits from drillcity.stores.yahoo.net/ and they work fine.

Dgswaner

I think there is a local McMaster-Carr, if not I'll hit drill city. I've been using a modified drill press (it has an X-Y table on it now) from Harbor freight, but I don't get the precision that I need and the bits wobble so much that I usually break one per board.

Thanks for the info.

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A complex design is the sign of an inferior designer. - Jamie Hyneman, Myth Buster

Ken Gracey

For small drills rigidity becomes even more important. Check J&L Industrial for "screw machine drills". They often have these in a complete set for around a hundred bucks. Expensive,but well worth it - they don't flex like jobber's length drills.

Ken Gracey

Bill Chennault

Dgswaner--

I buy a lot of stuff from McMaster-Carr and am very satisfied with their service and products. Man, do they have a LOT of products! You might take a look at SPD/SI, as well. I like them just as much. Both have excellent web sites that you can easily browse for hours. (That's their only downside! [noparse]:)[/noparse] Additionally, SPD/SI likes to give away fabulous catalogs with drive components you never knew existed.

--Bill

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You are what you write.

Dgswaner

I got a little side tracked at lunch today and I ended up tracking down a drill press stand for a Dremel. I figured no use buying expensive bits only to break them in a bad drill press. tomorrows adventur will be to track down some bits. I'm hoping to find some locally, as I have lots of parts coming in any day now.

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A complex design is the sign of an inferior designer. - Jamie Hyneman, Myth Buster

Alex41

Harbor Freight drill bits are junk. they are made of soft metal. I bought a set once and wound up just throwing them out - kept the metal box though for other bits. They even would burn when drilling through wood.
I haven't had a problem with made in USA bits.
Are you clamping your work to the table? This is important as you are working with small drill bits that flex and break easily.
Also are cleaning the chips out of the flutes on the drill between drilling each hole? Don't touch a spinning bit, compressed air works well.

Good luck!
Alex

ThePenguinMaster

MSC has everything and anything you could ever need.