PCB drill bits

RS Components have both 0.5mm and 0.6mm carbide bits:

And Computronics have 0.6mm too:

Dave.

**As David suggested, use the carbide bits. You'll never look back. Don't even THINK about using the bits with a handheld drill though. They are extremely brittle.

Trevor Wilson

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Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

I used to buy mine from braemac, but that was many years ago now. They used to come shipped in a hard red plastic storage case too. They were genuine tungsten carbide too, so always sharp and always snapping!

Pretty sure the shank is

1/8"

In Perth rather than Melbourne. Last time I bought something the delivery fee (Perth metro) was about $5.50. Order delivery takes 2 or 3 days. As mentioned by others carbide bits are very fragile, I've gone back to HSS (which blunt very quickly).

Are these the reground ones you are referring to?

There is no mention of them being reground in the ad, but hey, who knows, they do seem cheap.

I gave up on the mini chuck idea and made a collet to hold the HSS bits because they are easily and quickly obtainable. They do go blunt bloody quick though producing a rough edge.

Regards James

Go to Kalex in Melbourne

Small business and good service.

Cheers Glenn

Thanks to all who replied. The cheapest of all were the computronics, at $3.20 per unit. +GST, BUT, they have a minimum $20-00 delivery fee. Kalex are at $4.65 each, but I don't know if they have a 1/8th shank. I spoke to a lady on the telephone who had a poor understaning of English, and couldn't help, and said they would call back. I'm going to drive down there (About 30minutes drive), and check for myself. Thanks again all. Rob.,

Yep, all carbide bits have 1/8" (3.175mm) shank, I think this is an industry standard left from the old imperial days. Beware, drill bits >

3.175mm , the price jumps to from $4.65 to > $10 ~ $15. I got one 3.3mm just for PCB screw holes. Kalex prices