Where would you buy small drill bits, say in the range 0.4 to 0.8mm?
I tried to drill a small brass piece the other day on the lathe with a 0.6mm bit . After an initial location peck with a centre drill, I found the small bit was not at all interested in drilling, but just started to physically spring into an arc with increased tailstock pressure.
The bit was from a set I bought from China via eBay, a few years back, 10 off many sizes from 0.4mm to 3mm or so. On examining the bits with an eyeglass, I was shocked at the tip grinding: I did not expect it to be necessarily that perfect and symmetrical at the price, but the smaller sizes often had a remarkably rounded and amorphous tip, or a very asymmetric one. Or even no sign of a central point! Larger sizes appeared very much better, but I have not actually tried them as I have other drills for above 1mm.
So on to a ‘Microdrill’ set bought at a show. This was better, but nothing to write home about. I than found that I had a few higher quality drill bits stored away in a bag, and one of these worked as perfectly as expected.
Therefore I would like to obtain a set of bits of the size suggested above. Prices seem to have a very wide spread. E.g.
- UK Drills do 10 off individual sizes for prices under £1.30. I have used UK Drills previously and been very pleased, but have not tried them for small sizes.
- Arceurotrade do ‘polished drill bit sets’, 20 piece set, 2 off sizes 0.3 to 1.3mm for £3.47. Sounds absolutely perfect, but how good are they? I have a couple of 1.3mm cobalt HSS bits I purchased from them a few years back, examination shows they look good apart from having the tip a bit off centre, maybe only 0.1mm, but that is a very significant amount on a small drill, and I want significantly smaller sizes.
- Cousins appear very trustworthy and clear: they stock a number of classes of drill bits. They recommend that for metal, use bits from Dormer. No problem with this, although the price is obviously higher for a quality item, generally north of £3 each, rising to £6.75 for a 0.2mm bit (now where did I drop that little bit on the littered workshop floor?). Their other ranges are said to be suitable for soft materials such as ‘wood, wax, and leather'. Fair enough, and also describes the bits I have, fully capable of battering their way through a sheet of balsa.
- Cousins also carry 2 manufacturers versions of ‘jewellery drill bits’, small bit diameter on 2.35mm shank, relevant prices either around £1 or £3.
So I would like to buy a set with more than 1 of each size to allow for the odd breakage. I have probably psyched myself up to paying around £3 per bit for a quality item (either Dormer or A*F parts from Cousins), but would be interested in other’s experience.
Re. the ‘jewellery bits’, these obviously can be used in chucks of greater minimum capacity, have others found them good?
Martin