Does anybody use a quality drill bit case?  Or is everybody just using bags?  I went and did a quick install today, I used one of my guys tools, it took me longer to find bits and tools than it did to do the installation.  

We've already had the conversation about the Veto bags etc.  

I'm thinking about getting my guys drill kits for Xmas.  I found one that is 200 pieces, has a case, but the reviews say the case is cheap and breaks almost immediately.  

Looking for something that will hold small bits and bits up to 12".  Any suggestions?  Want to be able to keep them in place, not just toss them in the bottom of a bag.

Every one (big mega bit set) i have ever had sucks. They are always plastic and they always break. I don't even bother trying to find a good kit anymore. I buy 2 or 3 cheap bit sets that have the sliding lock at Home Depot every year. If i lose one or break one i don't care. After 2 or 3 months the case or lock starts failing so i toss it and buy another

The only nice set i have is this from Bosch. I tried one of these bits earlier this year and it was great so i got the kit. [Link: amazon.com] This one is a little different/less expensive. [Link: amazon.com]

I try to buy bits that have a locking box or bag and i just toss it into my tool bag. Another stocking stuffer idea is a security bit set like this one : [Link: sears.com]

If you find something good for bit storage/transport let me know.

This is what I use currently, bits have lasted me a long time so far.

[Link: milwaukeetool.com]

Even if you have a great case, a steel case, you become its enemy the moment you just toss it. Just toss it, it just gets damaged, which is step one of it breaks.

Every single thing that drill cases are made out of can take a certain amount of punishment. For instance, you can take a piece of threaded rod (allthread) and bend it slightly. It will straighten again. Spring metal is made to bend, and will return to its original shape. But with either of these, once you bend it too far (passing its elastic limit, which means what it says), then you have permanently bent it.

The materials used to make drill cases, hard cases of all sorts, all have elastic limits. How do you exceed this? By not paying attention to how much force you use on it. The simplest way to do this is to just toss it. Do you calibrate your tossing force? Do you know it's not going to smack into the point of a tool, thus putting a bend into it?

This is the kind of thing I like to use for my high-speed bits. [Link: grainger.com]

When I bought a table saw a few years ago, I made a holder for my spade bits. It consists of five 1/4" layers of wood glued together, about 1 3/4" wide, with two rows of holes; each row holds a 1/4" spade up to a 1" spade, with a couple of extras in there. The 1/4" of one side is next to the 1" of the other side so there's always room in the holder to grab a bit. Yes. it's points up, but nobody abuses it and it's always standing up in a corner of my tool box.

Longer drill bits are in a 17" long shallow tool box that I call "holes r us." It's also got reamers, files, hack saw blades... all the longer stuff up to 18". Hmm. Box must be more than 17" long!

A key here with those long bits: choose to put the points to the right or to the left and always put them away that way. Then you can search for them. If you put them whichever way you happen to, then you can search for them. Twice.

I agree with these guys just keep a few sets on deck.

I have a Plano box that only has cutting tools- twist drill bit set, self-feeding bits, Irwin Speedbore bits, short hand saw, hole saws/mandrils and longer drill bits. The small diameter long bits fit in the plastic sleeve/cap from a 3/4" masonry bit and I keep the masonry bits in one side of the removable tray.

This one- I think I paid $10
[Link: planomolding.com]

Speedbore bits kick ass!
[Link: northerntool.com]{keyword}&gclid=CPmDlIXg4rMCFcxcMgodaF8AtA

For storage of tools I don't use all the time, I use one of these- it might have been $20
[Link: planomolding.com]

One thing I hate about most drill bit sets is the length of the bits- the case fits the ones that came with it but the bits sold individually are too long and most stores don't sell the same ones that were in the case.

i have seen this guy, Winters Drill Bit City, http://www.wintersdrillbitcity.com/ at a trade show a few times. My dad has a welding and fab shop and he uses their bits and they last.

I couldn't find a picture of the case, but at his booth he had drill sets (15 pc?) plastic containers that resembled a thermos. the case was very tough, somewhat bulky, but i doubt that you would break it. His cost was over $100 a set. I plan on picking up 3 sets at the next show in Feb.

His drill bits are great, but they are Norseman brand that he re-badges. I have bought sets from him (the cardboard box the metal index comes in has the Norseman part number on it), and from Harry Epstein, and they are identical. These are some of the best drill bits out there.

Coming from a metal fabrication background, I have used all of the best brands, Chicago Latrobe, Precision Twist, etc, and the Norseman bits are as good or better.

You can buy the Norseman sets from Harry Epstein for less money.

[Link: store.harryepstein.com]


Whatever you do, these drill bits (or just "drills", a machinist would never call them "drill bits"!) are made for drilling metal. With proper speed (slow), feed rate, lubrication, they will keep an edge for a long time. Using them on drywall and wood will dull them pretty quickly.

It is best to keep a separate set for wood and drywall, and one for metal, but in the field that can be kind of a PIA.

seriously the only thing from trashman I would ever buy again, ive had the same set for 3 years and now are just finally becoming dull and i have a few that have become lost.

[Link: sears.com]

+1

the Milwaukee drill bits have been the best we've used so far and the cases for the bulk bits are pretty solid.

Mine has held up for a couple of years now.
Granted, I don't do as much day in and day out drilling as I used to but they have been the most durable I have found.

Own several sets, the general use stuff, hole saws and augers.

For wood:

I have the Erwin SpeedBore set, and the bits, along with the case have served me very well.

For metal:

I have several that are organized in my cheap plastic containers ([Link: walmart.com]).


Things like that are kept in the rolling suitcase I use to tote some tools and small parts in. I made partitions for the "suitcase", and it's worked really well over the years.

Me too. Right now HD has Milwaukee and Dewalt sets for great pricing meant to be "stocking stuffers". I like that these have their own cases and that the cases themselves are small enough to be manageable.

Big cases suck...with the possible exception of this Makita set which is an awesome "standby" as it has pretty much everything: [Link: homedepot.ca]. It fits in my big Stanley watertight took box. The one I lug around on larger jobs.

This is my drill bit set too. It's like $10 at HD here. Gonna grab a few more as spares.