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  1. #16
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    Quote Originally Posted by elanjacobs View Post
    We always made our own brad points at work from standard HSS twist drills, then you can have any size you like instead of being limited to what they make. Probably cheaper as well.
    Definitely cheaper but I can't be bothered to tell the truth and I don't tend to have broken drill bits or even unbroken ones I want to grind to do the job. I find the standard sizes do everything I need but I am not doing this for a job as you were.
    CHRIS

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  3. #17
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    I have mentioned it in a few threads previously but happy to do so again, it's reeeeeaaaally easy. The setup is simply a 6" x 1/4" wide wheel that's dressed to the shape of the bit. Set the tool rest to the back clearance angle and away you go. That grinder is permanently set, so touch-ups are a 15 second job, fully shaping a bit is just a minute or two once you've had some practise.

    IMAG1487[1].jpg

    The sizes you can do is only limited by how sharp the point on the wheel is and how delicately you can manipulate things by hand. I have gone down to 3mm once as a favour for someone here who wanted a brad point that small, but it's not something I'd like to do regularly; 5mm is a pretty comfortable lower limit for me.

    IMAG1485[1].jpg

    Side note: I've noticed that Carbatec stock CMT brad point bits from 2mm, but at about triple the price of a standard Sutton Viper bit from Bunnings Individual - Carbatec

  4. #18
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    [QUOTE=elanjacobs;2150894]I have mentioned it in a few threads previously but happy to do so again, it's reeeeeaaaally easy. The setup is simply a 6" x 1/4" wide wheel that's dressed to the shape of the bit. Set the tool rest to the back clearance angle and away you go. That grinder is permanently set, so touch-ups are a 15 second job, fully shaping a bit is just a minute or two once you've had some practise.

    IMAG1487[1].jpg

    QUOTE]
    Elan, I have not seen your previous posts. Could you please explain this a bit more. My Brad point bits appear to have 90° V's in them. So is your wheel ground square with 90° corners and you use the corners or is it ground to a 90° point?
    Thanks,
    Rgds,
    Crocy.

  5. #19
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    RS Components appear to have a reasonable range of Dormer bits.
    (I have no connection/affiliation with RS Components)

    Yvan

  6. #20
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    Quote Originally Posted by yvan View Post
    RS Components appear to have a reasonable range of Dormer bits.
    (I have no connection/affiliation with RS Components)

    Yvan
    Thanks for the lead.
    I had a look at the RS (now called Element14) bits between 6 and 1 mm.
    There are ~75 sizes/types listed in this size range, but all bar 15 are listed as available, the others are listed as "no longer available"
    Of those that are available they have a tag "Available until stock is exhausted" AND in most cases they appear to only have single digit amounts remaining in stock.
    Same applies to the Dormer sets
    Based on this it appears that they are getting out of supplying Dormers.

    The prices range from $47.20 for a single 6mm bit, to under $5 for all the other bits in this size range.
    By way of comparison a 4mm bit is priced at $3.36 compared to a Bunnings Sutton Viper at Bunnings for 2c under $4.
    If you buy $50 worth of stuff you get free delivery
    Of course none of the sizes I regularly use are available!

  7. #21
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    actually I don't think RS Components are related to Element14....
    Element14 are a Premier Farnell company, which is now an Avnet company.
    RS Components are an ElectroComponents company.

  8. #22
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    Quote Originally Posted by poundy View Post
    actually I don't think RS Components are related to Element14....
    Element14 are a Premier Farnell company, which is now an Avnet company.
    RS Components are an ElectroComponents company.
    Sorry always get confused between these companies.
    Had aquick look at the RS site, plenty of stock there including some of the 0.1mm increment sizes I have been chasing for some time.
    Prices for a 6mm bit range from $90 for a carbide, to $17 for a CoHS and $6.80 for individual HSS bit. If you buy a set of multiples they cost as little as $4 ea.
    Time to get restocked on a few sizes.

  9. #23
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    Quote Originally Posted by Old Croc View Post
    Could you please explain this a bit more. My Brad point bits appear to have 90° V's in them. So is your wheel ground square with 90° corners and you use the corners or is it ground to a 90° point?
    None of the above.

    The brad points you can buy have a much more pronounced angle than how we made them. The pic of the grinding wheel is taken top down; about a 10-15 degree angle straight across the wheel.

    The bits are held pretty much straight on, with the back of the bit just slightly angled out so the centre point comes to a point and is not left square at the tip, and with the 3 points of the bit (the 2 outer spurs and the centre point) all in a line parallel to the tool rest so there is no funny business trying to make a V with a square wheel. The shape of the wheel does all the work.

    I might wander down to my old work and take some more pics of the process for a proper tutorial thread.

  10. #24
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    Quote Originally Posted by elanjacobs View Post
    None of the above.

    The brad points you can buy have a much more pronounced angle than how we made them. The pic of the grinding wheel is taken top down; about a 10-15 degree angle straight across the wheel.

    The bits are held pretty much straight on, with the back of the bit just slightly angled out so the centre point comes to a point and is not left square at the tip, and with the 3 points of the bit (the 2 outer spurs and the centre point) all in a line parallel to the tool rest so there is no funny business trying to make a V with a square wheel. The shape of the wheel does all the work.

    I might wander down to my old work and take some more pics of the process for a proper tutorial thread.
    God I know I am slow, but none of that makes sense to me. I would really appreciate a follow-up with photos as you said.
    Thanks,
    Rgds,
    Crocy.

  11. #25
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    Plus one for Dormer brand, only ones we used at work doing a heap of stainless steal work.
    We would also from time to time use ARTU Bits which had a T/C tip.
    Got them from the local Engineering Supplier. Cheers crowie

  12. #26
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    Thanks everyone for your input. I've ordered a set of 19 Dormer bits from RS Components for $115. I'll report back on their performance.

  13. #27
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    Quote Originally Posted by Tccp123 View Post
    Thanks everyone for your input. I've ordered a set of 19 Dormer bits from RS Components for $115. I'll report back on their performance.
    The drill bits arrived (finally) and I'd have to say at first glance they appear to be well made and sharp. It's early days yet and I haven't really given them a good test but if the case they came in is any indication of quality (and it often is) then I think they will serve the purpose well. The few holes I have drilled (in hardwood) have been done with little resistance.

    Value for money? Depends how you measure it. I had mentioned in my original post buying a single 8mm bit (Sutton) from Mitre10 for $14.99 and it being useless when trying to drill mild steel. The set I've now bought cost $115 and there are nineteen bits, but they're all of different sizes so it's hard to compare the value. Obviously a larger bit is going to be more expensive than a smaller bit. But given that I could only have bought seven of the Suttons bits for $115 then it seems good value to me though you could argue that if you only wanted to drill a few 8mm holes then it's expensive. However the Suttons bit at $14.99 (or even $2.99) wasn't good value either because it didn't do the job...

    In any event I'm happy with my purchase. Thanks for the heads up from those who suggested it.
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