Step bit - why didn’t I get one of you sooner
- Thread starter fourjeepin
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kbeefy
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I have 7 or 8. They are especially handy for softer materials, plastic, aluminum etc...
danielbuck
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they are fantastic, my neighbor gives me some all the time, as a thank you for helping him with stuff. I really like the ones that go from 3/16" to 1/2", those are my go to for most drilling in thin-ish material (less than 3/16" steel or aluminum). Start with a 1/8" pilot drill, and they last alot longer. They work real well in impact drivers too!
They're also nice with thin fiberglass!
And if you get an impact-compatible one (I would never actually use one with an impact driver), and pair it with one of these
You'll be ready for anything.
Union Delegate
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They're the best for sheet metal, but I haven't found one that'll last that long, even Titanium Nitride coated
danielbuck
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try starting out with a small (1/8" or so) pilot hole. Sheet metal shouldn't dull the stepped bits very quickly, but the very tips do ware out pretty quickly I've found, so I start with pilot holes. you working with stainless alot?
Union Delegate
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This is on machinery enclosures (carbon steel) that can be pretty thick. Once you get that bit heated up and smoking, it's a matter of time...
A pilot hole might help but it's on the larger diameter steps on the bit that get mangled quick in my experience.
YesIHaveAHammer
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Straight cut ones rather than spiral for those is what I read on here. The spiral ones tend to pull themselves into soft materials.
Twisted Sid
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You can sharpen the straight cut ones pretty easily with a diamond sharpening stone
micromind
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In the electrical world, I don't like them. Shavings everywhere, I saw a guy get blown up one day because he used a step drill to make a 7/8" hole in the top of a hot panel........
rlitman
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What's the alternative? Even if you're punching holes in a panel, you still need to start out by drilling for the pulling stud. My most recent experience punching holes in panels required drilling to almost 1/2" to get the small diameter punch in there to make way for the 4". We used magnetic rings on both sides to catch any shavings, and they work pretty well to collect anything coming out of a step drill in steel.
micromind
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A 1/2" KO takes a 3/8" pilot hole. Small shavings and not very much.
I always start all my KOs with 1/2".
The magnets are a good idea!
I'm far from a sharpening expert, but I tried this a few weeks ago and had zero luck. Into the bin she went.
The last one I threw away went from ~1/4" to 1-1/4", I trashed the 7/8" part drilling some holes a while ago, and so it quickly became a 1/4" to 3/4" bit.
Luckily they're cheap.
In fact, I'm now reminded to go order a replacement of the larger size.
Of the 3 brands I've tried, Drill Hog (whos twist bits I really like) was hot garbage, Harbor Freight was surprisingly good, and Neikos have been the best. To me step bits (and most smaller twist drills) are disposable, so I don't buy super high quality in that department.
They're also the best bit I've found to carry in my "go bag", when I have to have a little of everything for fixing "something" at someone else's house.
NoahG
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Honestly the harbor freight ones are the best bang for yer buck. Irwin ones are garbage, and Klein are only marginally better but the price isn’t linear to quality.
I’ve wanted to try Milwaukee but the price has never been right.
I’ve wanted to try Milwaukee but the price has never been right.
kngelv
Well-known member
Take a small cardboard or plastic box and put it flush up against the area where you’re drilling your hole. That’s what I’ve been doing as an industrial electrician for 30 years. Never had an issue with shavings as all of them end up in the box. I also use carbide bit hole saws as they make cleaner holes than unibits/step bits.
James
rlitman
Well-known member
I'm quite happy with them. I own the Ideal one:
My electrician owns the Rackatiers:
There's no comparison between the two, and I got the wrong one for pilot drilling. The Ideal is much shorter and wider, while the Rackatiers is much taller. Nothing is escaping the Rackatiers, but fast moving chips can get out of the Ideal. That's not a big issue when you're using the Ideal on the back side of the hole with it's opening taped shut. You could also use clear packing tape to close the hole on the drill side if you're working in a clean-room environment.
The worst part about them is cleaning the swarf out of their inside.
edit: based on warnings I'd seen online, where hot swarf melted it's way into the plastic, I lined the inside of mine with Kapton tape (since I already had it). I can't say it's I've observed much of a difference, but nothing has melted into mine FWIW.
It helps. Almost all of the shavings come out on the front side, so unless you're drilling through the cardboard box, stuff can still fly over the top if your bit is spinning fast enough. That may not be a big deal in some places, but the stuff I work around, it's a big deal.
When I had to drill almost 100 1/4" holes in the edges of sheet metal, I cut a slit in a shop vac crevice tool to fit over the edge of the metal, and drilled through the side of it. Nothing's escaping that.
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PhantomEB
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I buy another set at least one every other sale at Princess Auto.
one thin I know about my shop is I need to ditch those crappy tire drill bet sets and just get a Walter set!
one thin I know about my shop is I need to ditch those crappy tire drill bet sets and just get a Walter set!
Great.... Now I have a pair of ring magnets in my Amazon cart. 1-1/4" ID.
I usually use a welding magnet at my drill press but these look interesting.
I bought 4, 5 packs (like these ) for $9 ea at PA a month or so ago just to have. at that price I should have bought more. I can abuse them and not feel badly
rlitman
Well-known member
Sorry. That's what this site does to us.Great.... Now I have a pair of ring magnets in my Amazon cart. 1-1/4" ID.
I usually use a welding magnet at my drill press but these look interesting.
You probably wouldn't use more than one at a drill press. That's all I've got, though my electrician bought his after seeing mine.
Great.... Now I have a pair of ring magnets in my Amazon cart. 1-1/4" ID.
I usually use a welding magnet at my drill press but these look interesting.
Oh, I definitely know that about more tools thanks to things I've read here. I will say that the vast majority that I've jumped on have served me well.
$10 for a pair.... I can live with that.
drokihazan
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Wait until you try Norseman Vortex Point. All the joy of a step bit and a twist drill at the same time.
UserNameAttempt3
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For soft to semi hard (lexan/plastics) nothing beats a hobby grade body reamer. Sharp and hand turned cuts make for precise and clean cuts.
Notgrownup
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They are great for sure
KnurledNut
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I have a bunch of variations in the shop, but I keep three in my load out.
NoahG
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Look at that little guy!I have a bunch of variations in the shop, but I keep three in my load out.
Bodj Built
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They're all I use anymore, aside from drilling through anything thicker than 1/4". I get the cheapo ones from Hobo Freight and toss them when they dull, but I get a pretty substantial amount of life out of them.
Steel_Rain
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Like some of you, I have good ones and bad ones, but damn they are handy:
KnurledNut
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I have one with deeper steps dedicated to my compact rivet nut kit.
InsanePyro
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Thats just stupid. I'm nowhere near a sparky and I know better then that