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Absolutely disgusting HF Crap Quality

Master Hack

Master Hack

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I been in need of a new set of drill bits. Been putting it off for a coupla years cuz @ somewhere north of $200, my inner cheapskate held me back. Then I thought HF quality has been improving some, maybe their drills are getting mo bedder? NO not even close! I let me inner cheapskate rule the day. Now I never throw anything away if it costs real money, but this is a first. You can see how many have broken and gotten so dull as to be useless. Not one of the missing bits have been used more than twice. I have been around machines for a while and I am purdy confident around a drill press. Fact is my drill press has a power down feed so its not a case of overloading. If you were to use this sh*t on plastic or aluminum exclusively ya might be ok, but that is even doubtful. The real piss off is when ya just spent a coupla hours making a part just to have a bit snap off, in what was to be a threaded hole. I shoulda known bedder.
Moral of the story is, Ya get what ya pay for. And yak grease and rice fiber does not make a good alloy.
BTW the ones left have not been used.
Rant over!

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TNThomas

TNThomas

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They go south insanely easy. I still use them, but don't enjoy it. Do you ever sharpen your bits? I need to figure out how to do that.
 
Master Hack

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TNThomas said:
Do you ever sharpen your bits?
Click to expand...
I do, occasionally. I prefer just to get a new one. If ya need an accurate sized hole ya need a sharp tool. Ummm forget that...
I've had those Drill Doctor things. They work OK if ya can figger out how to use 'em. I can do it by hand, but that ain't easy.
I only use that method when I have to. Usually the dull bits end up in a bucket "waiting to be sharpened" Who has the time when yer in the middle of sumpthin? Then, who has the time to sharpen a bucket full of bits?
Its the cost of doing biz. Toss 'em when they get useless.
The problem with the HF sh*t is the metalurgy. They are either too brittle, so they snap off, or they are too soft and go dull in the first 2 sec. I used to have a guy that came by and filled up the drill index and sent me a bill monthly. That was great! best service ever!
The HF sh*t is so brittle it actually launches broken shards of steel flying uncontrolled into space. I just picture about half a 1/2 drill with a spear point flying at me when it breaks. Hmmmm, .50 inch? thats real close to 50 cal, I think....
 
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Rat

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Master Hack said:
I do, occasionally. I prefer just to get a new one. If ya need an accurate sized hole ya need a sharp tool. Ummm forget that...
I've had those Drill Doctor things. They work OK if ya can figger out how to use 'em. I can do it by hand, but that ain't easy.
I only use that method when I have to. Usually the dull bits end up in a bucket "waiting to be sharpened" Who has the time when yer in the middle of sumpthin? Then, who has the time to sharpen a bucket full of bits?
Its the cost of doing biz. Toss 'em when they get useless.
The problem with the HF sh*t is the metalurgy. They are either too brittle, so they snap off, or they are too soft and go dull in the first 2 sec. I used to have a guy that came by and filled up the drill index and sent me a bill monthly. That was great! best service ever!
The HF sh*t is so brittle it actually launches broken shards of steel flying uncontrolled into space. I just picture about half a 1/2 drill with a spear point flying at me when it breaks. Hmmmm, .50 inch? thats real close to 50 cal, I think....
Click to expand...
What you're talking about isn't even neccisarily an alloy problem, however it is absolutely a hardening inconsistency. Over hardening makes steel brittle like glass, not hardened enough allows them to get bent and dull fast.
 
Master Hack

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Rat said:
What you're talking about isn't even neccisarily an alloy problem, however it is absolutely a hardening inconsistency
Click to expand...
Just metalurgy in general. Ya can't make chicken soup outta chicken sh*t, with a dumbass in the kitchen.
l half expected crap, but had high hopes. This is so far below my expectations, l'm pissed off at myself for being so stupid.

l threw the garbage away and now rely on the homeless bit box. Again...
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D

Denny

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As they break I replace them with better quality bits. But it seems like any bits you buy anymore are junk. I too used to hand sharpen my bits. Then I bought a Drill Doctor, they’re great! I used it so much that I’d wear out the grinding wheels and eventually it. It’s what we’re stuck with these days. It’s a shame.
 
Master Hack

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Good quality bits exist, ya just gotta wade through the import/amazon/chit to find 'em.
the difference in quality(USA) bits is night and day.
l'll bite the bullit, get that 2nd mortgage andbuy the full set. Fractional, wire, and letters.
my old bits are getting dull after 20 years.
 
P

panchothedog

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Sort of a hijack here, but seeing how the subject is crapy (mostly Chinese ) metal.
I am pretty capable with hand saws. Both cross cut and rip. Used to own a few real nice Stanley's. Had them for 45 years or more. Tried to get them sharpened about 5 years ago. After the 3rd saw sharpening shop told me that they cannot buy files anymore that are hard enough to sharpen a hand saw I gave up and bought whatever they had at Home Depot. They can only sharpen round power saw blades now because it's done with a grinding machine. Hand saws had to be done with a file, by hand. Not any longer. Was very surprised when I was told that.
I guess that's progress.
 
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jmaack

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I got it. I bought some left handers a few weeks back. For one bit. It snapped. I bought new cheapies they drilled through harbor freight hardened taps.
 
Rat

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The only thing worst than having a tap snap off in a blind, is not having a left hand bit sharp enough or hard enough to drill it back out.

THAT is a really bad day in which entire strings of obscenities are spewed as if they themselves are sentances and things may or may not be thrown out the garage door and bouncing down the driveway
 
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