sheet metal drills

[stevepaa]

Anyone know where to get sheet metal drill bits? These are regular drill bits that have been ground so that the outside is cut very soon after the center starts.

[aston@ultrasw.c]

Originally Posted by stevepaa

Anyone know where to get sheet metal drill bits? These are regular drill bits that have been ground so that the outside is cut very soon after the center starts.

did you try www.mcmaster.com

[stevepaa]

page 2404 found it with the help of their tech support

thanks

[cgarr]

These step drills work best for thin sheet metal

[stevepaa]

I may experiment with both. thanks

[Zeke]

steve, you better go back and read the page again. No mention of sheet metal that I could find. Go back one page and see the spade bit for sheet metal. BTW, a sheet metal bit is just sharpened at a low slope.

Methinks the brad point will give you some problems and hang up big time at punch through. How big a hole do you need? Over 3/8ths and you might want to think about a bi-metal hole saw. I don't see anything less than 5/8ths, though.

Can you back up the work or place the metal on wood? That's the ticket.

[robmog]

+1 on the step bits, the single flute (cutting edge) makes a true round hole.
and they're versatile, a single bit can replace 10.
for nicest finish drill from backside to remove burr.
i've used them up to 1 1/2".
you won't be sorry

[RWebb]

yeh - those are for "nice" cuts in wood AFAIK

look just like that and never seen 'em called anything but "brad point"

[stevepaa]

i did not see sheet metal either, but a master chief ground some drills for use just on sheet metal for me once. I am adding the euro side markers and need two nice holes. I'll look at the other bits.

thanks