Most common drill bit sizes

[Lord Robster]

I want to buy some 10 packs of drills bits but I would like to know what the most common sizes are to start with.  Seems these things get dull really quickly, especially drilling metal.  Are any brands or materials better than others?  

[Jim Lad]

The size of drill you'll need depends very much on the scale of the model that you're building.  At 1:96 my most commonly used drill size is No. 78, but Michael Mott, currently building at 1:8, will be using much bigger drills, of course.

 

John

[qwerty2008]

True about drilling metal when I was making my latest Knife I started with a new drillbit and after drilling three holes I had sharpened the drillbit so many times that it was almost down to the shank.

[von stetina]

I'm building a clipper at 1/8 scale and do other work at HO scale. I've litterally gone through hundreds of #80 bits in the last 4 years. Next most used would be #78, and #75. Definately buy the more expensive USA made bits. Worth every penny. They don't dull out or break as easily, I can drill over 100 holes with one #80 bit.

 

Von Stetina

[Jim Lad]

I've never been able to drill 100 holes with a No. 80 bit, Bruce - I break 'em long before that!

 

John