Bad HF Drill Bits

[greencom]

Check out these drill bits from Harbor Freight. The top one kind of melted at the tip and the bottom one started to actually twist in the opposite direction. I was trying to drill a hole in my battery box with the first one and needed to finish the job with the bottom one . They were in a hand held drill going into sheetmetal. My guess is they were never heat treated. I'd like to think it was a slip up and not standard product.

[poor rich]

I got some Black & Decker drill bits from the hardware store a few years ago that did the same thing, I guess it happens.
Rich

[WarrenD]

Didn't you know M37's were made from higher grade metal???? You need the special government drill bits that go for $25/each!

[Josh]

haha, love the bottom one. I'm guessing you are right about the heat treating. That certainly is some pliable steel they use!

On a side note, the ones that fastenall are very good. I have had good luck with my set, and at just over $100 for a standard 1/32-1/2" set, tehy are a pretty good deal.

[Master Yota]

haha, love the bottom one. I'm guessing you are right about the heat treating. That certainly is some pliable steel they use!

On a side note, the ones that fastenall are very good. I have had good luck with my set, and at just over $100 for a standard 1/32-1/2" set, tehy are a pretty good deal.

What! You don't make your own drill bits?

[MSeriesRebuild]

You gotta watch Harbor Freight stuff, much of it is junk, not saying all, but those drill bits from China and India just won't make the cut.

[greencom]

Actually this was the worst case I've ever run across. I don't usually buy bits from HF but they were a "gift"? I went out that day and went to Lowes to find a set of USA made bits, no luck, every brand there, Skil, Makita, B&D, DeWalt..etc. were all made in China. I did buy a Skil set and they did the job. It does say on the back of the case "made to Skil specifactions", the other brands also say this on the back, that's the difference I suppose. These junk bits had nothing printed anywhere except "China". They can obviously make good products but gimme USA anytime. Anyway I do like having a truck tougher than drill bits, even though they're cheap ones.

[Nickathome]

I try to stay away from the Chinese drill bits as I've had several bought from other places that have snapped with the slightest pressure. However, I have bought and used several HF air tools and so far haven't had any problems. I just bought a Central Pneumatic(or is it Chicago Pneumatic?) sheet metal shear. It was on sale for $29.99, regularly $39.99.

[Carter]

They may be the new Chinese drill bits made out of rubber, they are guaranteed not to break and they look good in a drill index, just don't use them.

[greencom]

I try to stay away from the Chinese drill bits as I've had several bought from other places that have snapped with the slightest pressure. However, I have bought and used several HF air tools and so far haven't had any problems. I just bought a Central Pneumatic(or is it Chicago Pneumatic?) sheet metal shear. It was on sale for $29.99, regularly $39.99.

I bought an air chisel from HF 30+ years ago and it still chisels away, I'm always sure to keep it well oiled.

[Lifer]

You must not have read the box. I'm sure that there must be some fine print on there somewhere that says "For Use With Balsa Wood Only."

[Nickathome]

I try to stay away from the Chinese drill bits as I've had several bought from other places that have snapped with the slightest pressure. However, I have bought and used several HF air tools and so far haven't had any problems. I just bought a Central Pneumatic(or is it Chicago Pneumatic?) sheet metal shear. It was on sale for $29.99, regularly $39.99.

I bought an air chisel from HF 30+ years ago and it still chisels away, I'm always sure to keep it well oiled.

For the price they sell some of that stuff for, even if they do break its economical to buy another. I've seen people bring back some ratty looking tools and the clerk just tells them to go pick out another no questions asked. Can't beat that.......

[Lifer]

For the price they sell some of that stuff for, even if they do break its economical to buy another.

I'm sorry, but I have to say that that kind of thinking is a large part of why our economy is in the crapper today. If you think "no big deal" when you throw away a $4.00 POS item and buy a replacement, you have basically thrown away $4.00. Do it 10 times, and you have thrown away $40.00. How many times do you have to throw your money away before it becomes a problem to you? Once is enough for me! If all the "no big deal" throw-aways could be collected from the manufacturers of the crap items thrown away over the last 30 years or so, we'd be way better off.

OK I'll get off the soap box now.

[MSeriesRebuild]

For the price they sell some of that stuff for, even if they do break its economical to buy another.

I'm sorry, but I have to say that that kind of thinking is a large part of why our economy is in the crapper today. If you think "no big deal" when you throw away a $4.00 POS item and buy a replacement, you have basically thrown away $4.00. Do it 10 times, and you have thrown away $40.00. How many times do you have to throw your money away before it becomes a problem to you? Once is enough for me! If all the "no big deal" throw-aways could be collected from the manufacturers of the crap items thrown away over the last 30 years or so, we'd be way better off.

OK I'll get off the soap box now.

Well Lifer, I agree 100% in a case like ours here. Using tools in a business, huge $$ are lost when an item goes down when in use. The tool cost, the frustration of things no proceeding as planned, having to change plans on a moments notice as we don't have the luxury of running up the street to replace the item in 99% of instances. All these issues spell $$ lost, and most times not recouped.

In the case of an individual, I could see things a little different, but $$ thrown to the hogs are still simply that, I don't purchase a tool the 2nd time if the first one was poor quality. Frustration is still there, or it would be for me, some may not be aggrevated by such, but stuff like this happening ain't my game. I'm going to do better if I can.

[Master Yota]

A car salesman once told me that if he's upset over a deal, and so is the customer, then its a fair deal.

Money can be thrown away at both ends of the spectrum. Whether in the home garage, or a business, if a tool or machine can't pay for itself, then its too over priced. I wouldn't go out an buy a 10000$ Dake Ironworker to cut sheet metal once or twice a month when a 12" 100$ HB metal shear would suffice. Pick the right tool for the job, and you'll be loads of money ahead in the long run.