Left hand drill bit kit?

Dale Finch

Dale Finch

501 Club
I have a broken upper dogleg screw in the fuel tank/hood on the '50 cub I am finishing up. I got out my set of left hand drill bits from Northern Tool. I KNOW, you get what you pay for...but I didn't think I would still be drilling out screws this many years later! Anyway, pretty much all the small ones are broken or super dull. So today I'll just use a right hand drill bit, since it is a thru-bolt. But I would like to get a new set with mostly the smaller sizes. I DON'T want to spend a fortune, but would like fairly good quality, maybe with a replacement warranty? Any suggestions?
 
I don't think I've ever seen a warranty on drill bits. If there was, you'd return them as soon as they got dull. Depending on how many you need, you might check McM-Carr. Higher quality and higher price.
 
Yeah, I may just look at the ones that USUALLY break, like the dogleg screws and a couple other sizes, and get a few good quality ones in maybe 3 different sizes.
 
My harbor freight set was eight dollars and some change and they are sharper and drill better than some name brand bits I’ve purchased. Maybe I just got lucky and got some good ones but I’ll surely try another set when I break a few from the first set which I know I will do sooner or later.
 
I've had a small Harbor Freight set for years. Four bits, largest is 1/4.

I only use them as extractors, not for drilling. I drill a slightly smaller hole with a standard bit then feed in the left hand bit at slow speed and lots of pressure. If they drill rather than catch and extract I know I'm in for a fight.......
 
Thanks, all. MiCarl, it never occurred to me to make the initial hole with a regular smaller bit, but that makes a lot of sense!
 
Bob McCarty":309uy9lg said:
I don't think I've ever seen a warranty on drill bits. If there was, you'd return them as soon as they got dull. Depending on how many you need, you might check McM-Carr. Higher quality and higher price.
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Or Drill Doctor 750X. Got one, use it frequently to sharpen bits.
 
Eugene":3qiqlno6 said:
Bob McCarty":3qiqlno6 said:
I don't think I've ever seen a warranty on drill bits. If there was, you'd return them as soon as they got dull. Depending on how many you need, you might check McM-Carr. Higher quality and higher price.
Click to expand...
Or Drill Doctor 750X. Got one, use it frequently to sharpen bits.
Click to expand...
Will the Drill Doctor work on LH bits?
 
I don't think the Drill Doctor will work on left hand drills. I have one and have used it some, but I have better luck sharpening them free hand on the bench grinder. Dale, bring your dull bits to the Bash, I'll grind them for you.
 
Sometimes the cheaper stuff works.

I used every top brand of impact and standard sockets trying to get the large bolt off the fcub seat post on the tube, cracked every socket even the 3/4 dr snapon. The oxy accel got ripping and said put me in the game boss. It cut the hex off perfectly. Ground it flush redrilled and tapped it on center now it’s good to go.
 
Don McCombs":1cobkre6 said:
Harbor Freight.
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Agree, I bought a set from harbor freight just to have If needed.
So far it’s worked great because nothing’s broken ;).
If I didn’t have them ... :roll:
 
I did go ahead and buy the $8+ set from Harbor Freight. Figure now that I have them, maybe I won't need them either!!!
 
I just got a set at HF and they are very very good. I would recommend them to anybody. They do a great job.
 
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