Drill Bits 1-13mm 0.1 steps

[HeavyMetal]

Where to buy Drill Bits 1-13mm 0.1 steps ?

Reasonable price, Perth prefered.

Thanks

[BobL]

It was some time ago (more than a decade) but when I looked around for a 1-13mm set in 0.1mm increments I could not find any in Perth.
The only 1-13 mm set I could find were in 0.5mm increments.

I ended up buying one set 1-6 mm set with 0.1mm increments from McJing, and a separate second set of 6 - 10 mm with 0.1mm on ebay.
Recently I bought a 0.5 to 3 mm set in 0.1mm increments with 10 bits in each size from ebay.
Even though they were cheap sets I am surprised how long they have lasted. The main users have long since broken etc and been replaced with decent bits.

Here is a set of 1-10 in 0.1 mm plus a few more up to 13mm in M2
100PCS HSS M2 TIN COATED DRILL BITS IN REVOLVING STAND #N76 | CTC Tools (http://www.ctctools.biz/100pcs-hss-m2-tin-coated-drill-bits-in-revolving-stand-n76/)

Heres the same in M35 - make sure you are sitting down before you check out the prices
100PCS M35 HSS COBALT DRILL BITS IN REVOLVING STAND #N74 | CTC Tools (http://www.ctctools.biz/100pcs-m35-hss-cobalt-drill-bits-in-revolving-stand-n74/)

[HeavyMetal]

Hi Bob

Thanks for the write up, and yes Ouch those prices are steep.

C-47 (I think you know him) mentioned a place in the Bassendean area had a set for some reasonable $$, he could not remember the name and I also googled for it. One possible company that came up on Google closed around 5 years ago.

If nothing comes up here I think I'll have to go eBay route as you suggested.

Cheers

B

[WCD]

I bought 1-6mm and 6-10mm drill sets in 0.1mm steps at McJing in Sydney - see https://mcjing.com.au/categorybrowser.aspx?categoryid=53 - scroll down the page to find Drill Sets. Not incredibly cheap, but affordable for what they are. Quality seems to be OK.

They suit my needs. I don't use them for rough or general work, only for opening out pre-drilled holes to a to a size I am looking for, when reaming accuracy is not needed.

Cheers,
Bill

[BobL]

Hi Bob

Thanks for the write up, and yes Ouch those prices are steep.

C-47 (I think you know him) mentioned a place in the Bassendean area had a set for some reasonable $$, he could not remember the name and I also googled for it. One possible company that came up on Google closed around 5 years ago.

Venables In Malaga and a couple of other places used to sell individual 0.1 mm bits and was where I got some replacements from a few years back but when I visited last year Venables no longer stock all sizes.

[Michael G]

Do you need the 0.1mm steps? It might be easier/ cheaper to get a set of number drills.

Michael

[HeavyMetal]

A set of number drills might be ok,

With my current poor selection of drills, 1/32 or 1mm steps, every time I need to tap a hole I never seem to have a drill of the correct size, and that's what I'm really trying to fix.

[Uncle Al]

I have also bought the 1-6 and 6-10mm in .1mm rises as WCD has done from McJings. Good value for money, and their reputation for quick delivery is well deserved.

Alan...

[Michael G]

... every time I need to tap a hole I never seem to have a drill of the correct size, and that's what I'm really trying to fix.

Contact General tools here in Adelaide - they are an industrial supplier and should be able to source what you want. Bear in mind that it will be good quality stuff, so will cost.
However, if it is just for tapping sizes, industrial suppliers (and several fastener chains) do sell individual drills. So if you are tapping M3, M4, M5, M6, M8, M10 and M12, that is only 7 hole sizes - even buying 2 off of each sized tapping drill should not cost a fortune. The issue with buying a set in 0.1mm steps is that most won't get used - bit of a waste really.

Michael

[Toggy]

I just replaced a broken 3.7mm with a Sutton one. Price.... an eye watering $15.00.

I am over chinese mild steel (claimed to be HSS) drills and other tools in general.

Ken

[BobL]

Contact General tools here in Adelaide - they are an industrial supplier and should be able to source what you want. Bear in mind that it will be good quality stuff, so will cost.
However, if it is just for tapping sizes, industrial suppliers (and several fastener chains) do sell individual drills. So if you are tapping M3, M4, M5, M6, M8, M10 and M12, that is only 7 hole sizes - even buying 2 off of each sized tapping drill should not cost a fortune. The issue with buying a set in 0.1mm steps is that most won't get used - bit of a waste really.

Michael

One of then most useful things about the 0.1mm sets is to have on hand the 0.1 mm "over" and "under" recommended size bits required for tapping so that in thinner softer sheet material (like 3mm Al, brass or plastic) I can make the thread a slightly tighter fit, and if necessary VV in thicker harder materials. In the case of the latter I've broken a few less taps but just using that 0.1mm larger hole.

In a similar fashion for non critical load work, if the required drill bit is missing which in my case is almost inevitably (muggins law of drill bits, the one you need is always the one that's missing) I then use the closest 0.1 mm bit and it usually makes little difference.

I've also found I'm tapping imperials far more than I thought I would (about half as often as metrics) so combined with all of the above I'm really using my cheap set way more than I thought I would.

I've also been recently tapping a lot of plastics for 2 and 2.5mm screws which is why I bought an extra set (10 drills per size) for <3mm operations. If I drop one of these small suckers my shed I can only rarely find it.

By the time all these are added up its close to ~50 drill sizes so it is worth getting a 0.1mm set as a starter. I've replaced almost all of the bits for the standard sizes several times over in some cases.

[Grahame Collins]

Hi HeavyMetal,
First up, welcome to the Forum.

If it is only a matter of drill sizes for standard taps it not a big deal you may not need a whole set.

If you are beginning, cost is a concern so it helps to buy just the basics and add to the set only when you need it.

For instance I use only metric.
I have a block marked and drilled for the sizes I use, 3mm through to 12 mm.

The M prefix is the Tap diameter and the suffix is the standard tap drill diameter.
M3 -2.5mm, M4- 3.3mm, M4.5 - 3.7, M5-4.2mm , M6 - 5mm, M7 - 6mm, M8 - 6.8mm, M9 -7.8mm
M10 - 8.5mm and M12 - 10.2mm. Thats a basic set suitable for a new DIY metalworker.

Those are fitted to the block with the tap/s ie full depth tap ,(intermediate and starter - if you are using them ) and each is marked appropriately for that diameter.

The sytem saves a bunch of time in that you are not looking for the drill and tap chart,then searching out the right drill diameter. It all there ready to go.

If I can remember to replace the drill and the tap back in its respective place it works well.

Welcome again,
Grahame

[snapatap]

I just replaced a broken 3.7mm with a Sutton one. Price.... an eye watering $15.00.

I am over chinese mild steel (claimed to be HSS) drills and other tools in general.

Ken

That's pretty expensive. We pay more like $5 at work.
I have never bought from them, but this company has pretty good pricing.
https://www.bolt.com.au/370mm-jobber-drill-blue-p-93228.html

[snapatap]

A set of number drills might be ok,

With my current poor selection of drills, 1/32 or 1mm steps, every time I need to tap a hole I never seem to have a drill of the correct size, and that's what I'm really trying to fix.

I wouldn't bother with .1 increments over about 4mm. I work in a machine shop and we only have sets in .5mm and 1/64th increments*. normally if you don't have a odd metric size like 10.2mm to tap a m12 hole there is a imperial drill that is close like 13/32(10.31mm). If money is tight you are better off with fewer good quality drills than lots of poor quality ones.

*Note: we specialize in large parts and rarely tap anything smaller than M4, if your threading really small holes my comments may be invalid.

[Somedayplumbing]

I have spoken to the owner of the above company about his drill bits be has made, I forget where he said but he is very knowledgable about how they are made.
He is very approachable about his products.
His company sells them direct at a much cheaper price than you can get similar drill bits.
I haven't purchased any yet, I phoned him about stub drill bits but he doesn't make them.

I don't have any monetary interest in this company and only posting for the interest of others.
If someone buys the bits please let me know how they go.

Simon

www.amosindustries.com.au

[steamingbill]

Could you buy a set of matching drills and taps at the local hardware shops in Perth ...... I've got M3 to M12 matching taps, dies and drills from a local hardware place.

How about bang good or amazon or ebay

0.1mmIncrement Drills (https://www.amazon.com/s?k=drill+set+0.1mm+increments&ref=nb_sb_noss)

I see these combined drills and taps on ebay/amazon/banggood etc but have never used them.


DrillAndTap (https://www.amazon.com/Tacoli-Metric-Thread-Titanium-Machine/dp/B07DCR2LQK/ref=sr_1_27?qid=1555495625&refinements=p_measurement_system%3AMetric&s=industrial&sr=1-27)



I have used a tap in a pistol drill and on my mill in aluminium and thin sheet metal and cannot see why these gadgets wouldnt work. Anybody used them ?

[HeavyMetal]

Guys,

Thanks for the great advice please keep it coming, There is so much experience here it just bubbles.

Grahame, thanks for the welcome and great Idea, I like the idea of building up a set for tapping only. I just tried to price up a pair of each size you mentioned on McJing but alas their sizes are not consistent. Will try other outlets.

There is a large set of drills on ebay https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/115pc-Titanium-Drill-Bit-Set-Steel-Wood-Carpenter-Masonry-Hobby-w-Index-Case/261661128527 But been advised to stay away from Chinese Butter.

I think I'll also take snapatap's advice and Others and save some $$ just going for a 1-6 or Numbered set 1-60 from McJing. and then get a regular 0.5mm steps for the larger sizes.

I'm sure everybody here knows the frustration of having many drills but not the one you want at the time.

[jack620]

I agree with those suggesting you just buy the sizes you need for the taps. Otherwise you might end up with a lot of unused drill bits. You'll also blunt and/or break the commonly used bits which leaves you with 'holes' in your set. My taps are mostly in sets of 3, so I attach the appropriate sized drill bit to the tap set with a rubber band. They live in a drawer.

[shedhappens]

I you are still interested there is this https://assetplant.com.au/product/cutting-tools/drilling-reaming-cutting-tools/hss-drill-set-115-piece-1-0mm-12-4mm-in-0-1mm-increments-packed-in-metal-box-2/
If you were going to buy it you would want to ring them first to make sure it is in stock, i pushed the buy button on one of these some time back and after a few months of emails and phone calls i swapped the order for a couple of digital internal mic's (plus a few more bucks).

cheers, shed

[BobL]

I've found multiple uses for 0.1mm bits so reckon that a even cheap set is worth it.
Yes the common used ones in cheap sets eventually snap (even good quality ones will do this) but I replace these with better quality
I have already mentioned being able to fenage the hole size for taps in thicker/tougher thinner/softer material but here are a couple of more uses

Holes for Tek screws in sheet thicker than usual.
If I try using the nearest 1/2 mm drill smaller I usually end up snapping the head of the screw, while with a 1/2mm bigger size I end up with a weak fit.
I measure the ID of the screw with callipers and drill a hole the next 0.1 or 0.2mm size larger, a practice run gets the best/tightest possible fit.
The hole for the OD of the thread can also be more closely matched

Fitting/aligning holes - also mentioned by WCD
Sometimes when drilling holes that are supposed to align with threaded holes they don't quite do that. Using the next 0.5 mm bit amy be excessive and I find I can get an alignment with using slightly larger bit sizes. The alternative is a round file - I've done that a lot. I reckon this is probably probably my greatest use of unusual 0.1mm size bits. For a precise fit many M size screws will also fit in holes drilled by an M-0.1 bit so for and M6 screw a 5.9 mm hole will often provide a more precise fit.

Looking at holes around around a specific size eg 6mm, for M6 screws I typically have used bit sizes between 6.3 - 6.0 mm for M6 screws, while for their threaded holes I have used between 5.4 to 5.1 mm bits. For 1/4" WW screws I have used 6.5 - 6.2 mm, while for their threaded holes I might use between 5.5 and 5.2 mm.
Then there's the odd "Fine" thread hole that may require something unusual.

I reckon in the 10 years or so I've had then there would be less than half a dozen bits in my 0.1 mm sets that have not found a use for. As usual If I did not have these on hand it would be likely I would have an immediate use for them.

[jhovel]

Hi all. On the strength of this thread, I asked my Chinese friend Felix Mu (M&G Productions (http://www.mag-pro.com.au/)) if he has any sets or can source good quality ones. He is currently in China looking after his manufacturing business. He said the market seems too small for 0.1mm step sets, but he does carry imperial sets with number drills (HSS 115 PCS FULLY GROUND DRILL SET 135°POINT TIN COATED METAL BOX WITH BLACK COLOR_Cutting Tools_M&G Productions (http://www.mag-pro.com.au/goods.php?id=514)) that he tells me are really good quality.

He carries my "Joe Blocks" (12-sided ER self-indexing milling and grinding blocks) in both ER32 and ER40 - in case you haven't come across them yet.... :)
And the disclosure: I get royalty fees from the sale of these. :wink: