AntonyUK Posted January 22, 2014 Share #1 Posted January 22, 2014 Hi. I have purchased from a UK company some drill bits of various sizes. This morning I went to use a 1.1mm drill bit on annealed brass. I did not check the bit as it was new out of its container. Put it in the drill and rubbish. Thought no more of it and replaced it with another new one. Same not cutting at all. Just skidding. I had a look under a X400 microscope. There was no tip. Had been ground but totally wrong. Checked all the drill bits one by one and all were sharpened differently. Only one had a correct edge Contacted the company and talked to custamer services and just not interested telling me it's me. LOL. Being a Toolmaker and engineer most of my life I know what's right and wrong. They did not even want me to return the bits... And no replacement or refund. No I am not going to name the company but I have made a complant to trading standards UK. So... Buying drill bits beware. Regards Antony. .... I feel better already for voicing it pompey2 and BLACK VIKING 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captainbob Posted January 22, 2014 Share #2 Posted January 22, 2014 I've also had that problem on drills in the US. Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pompey2 Posted January 22, 2014 Share #3 Posted January 22, 2014 Antony Could you be encouraged to name the company, we would then be advised to avoid them. Especially us UK bods. Nick mikeaidanh, tkay11 and Q A's Revenge 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Q A's Revenge Posted January 22, 2014 Share #4 Posted January 22, 2014 Sorry to hear of your problem Anthony. Have a look at this, it may enable you to reclaim your dodgy drill bits! http://www.modelenginemaker.com/index.php/topic,459.msg3581.html#msg3581 jud 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianmajor Posted January 22, 2014 Share #5 Posted January 22, 2014 Antony, I have also noted a decrease in quality of drill bits over the last couple of years. I buy mine in packets of 10. A recent packet of 0.5mm bits all had the tips ground looking like a ridged roof. I have also had bits where the tip has been ground off centre which result in over size holes. I put it down to the "economic climate" where rejects that would once not get through are now being fobbed off on model makers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Modeler12 Posted January 22, 2014 Share #6 Posted January 22, 2014 I think we can all appreciate the problem you are having with the company that supplied those drills. Most retail stores here in the US have a standing policy that they will refund or replace items that are not satisfactory or defective. It may even be a law here. About two minutes after I read your post, Anthony, I had a telephone call from Floyd Warner in Utah. He apologized that he could not fill my order of wooden blocks right away because he ran out of the 4mm double blocks that are part of the order and needs to make some more. My point is that here is a guy that really appreciates his customers and tries his best to satisfy them. Do you think I will order more blocks from him in the future? Besides his blocks are much better than those square monsters that come in most kits, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Q A's Revenge Posted January 22, 2014 Share #7 Posted January 22, 2014 The last lot I bought were on special from screwfix, £19.99 at the time. http://www.glue-it.com/model-engineering/tools/cutting-tools/erbauer-drills-hss-tin.html#.UuBTKcuQGSM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WackoWolf Posted January 22, 2014 Share #8 Posted January 22, 2014 Tony, I get all my bits from "Drillbitcity" and have had no problems as of yet. I am not at home so I can not give you there right web address, but I am sure if you do a search for them you can find it. Sorry to hear of this happening to you. RussR 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Modeler12 Posted January 23, 2014 Share #9 Posted January 23, 2014 (edited) Just for the heck of it, I happen to brake a drill (some day in the past) but continued drilling holes in wood with the stub that was still there. The holes were ok for what I wanted. But . . . I would not do this drilling any kind of metal. That is when a sharp drill (and a bit of lube) is necessary. PS. have you ever 'drilled' a hole in wood and have that turn into a black smoke? Especially with a high speed like tool? It is probably because of the same problems Anthony had. Buy cheap, work cheap. Edited January 23, 2014 by Modeler12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flying_dutchman2 Posted January 23, 2014 Share #10 Posted January 23, 2014 The website WackoWolf is talking about is https://www.drillbitcity.com/ . He mentioned this elsewhere on this site and I bought some bits from them and they are worth it and I will do business with them again. Marc WackoWolf 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianmajor Posted January 23, 2014 Share #11 Posted January 23, 2014 I think the problem that Anthony has highlighted is a UK supply issue. I have had defective bits from several outlets over the last couple of years. This included boxed sets and packets of same size small bits. I suspect they all came from the same source. I don't know about Anthony's supplier but the bits that I bought were certainly not cheap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Q A's Revenge Posted January 23, 2014 Share #12 Posted January 23, 2014 I generally don't buy cheap drill bits or even sets for that matter unless they are on special offer. In the past I've bought the sizes I needed at the time and from reputable suppliers, normally companies like Buck and Hickman. Surprisingly to many maybe, but it's normally cheaper to buy from a local engineering supply house if you have one than from a DIY store. The one notable exception I made was many years ago when I took the chance on a cheap set of number drills at a very good price at a model engineering show. They turned out to be made in India but I've not had any quality issues with them at all and still use them now. Having said all that I do keep a "rough" set of drills for non critical work! WackoWolf 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntonyUK Posted January 25, 2014 Author Share #13 Posted January 25, 2014 Hi.. Today I had a delivery of new drill bits. And a letter stating that there was a mix up with me and custamer services.. LOL. ALL the drill bits were excellent and had a good tip. Thats a good outcome as far as I am concerned. Regards Antony. WackoWolf, ianmajor, pompey2 and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WackoWolf Posted January 26, 2014 Share #14 Posted January 26, 2014 Glad to hear that things work out for you Tony. The company seems to be good to take care of there customers the way they took care of you. Good luck with the new drill bits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael mott Posted January 26, 2014 Share #15 Posted January 26, 2014 Q thanks for the link for the small bit Sharpening Jig, that is a good one. Michael Q A's Revenge 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RussR Posted September 21, 2017 Share #16 Posted September 21, 2017 Thanks WackoWolf, My order is in for some real drill bits. I am tired of buying what just looks like drill bits. mtaylor and Canute 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Osmosis Posted October 2, 2017 Share #17 Posted October 2, 2017 About 20 years ago a tool jobber came into our shop and handed these out as free samples. They have been in my tool box all this time and I am finally getting some use out of them. Canute and mtaylor 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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