Hello to the group,
Can anyone give me a heads up on the quality of the auger bit sets sold
at Lee Valley? I have been searching for a set of (new) auger bits for
use with a bit brace and so far have only come up with the same sets
offered on Amazon from several different locations. One site has an 8
pc. 24" auger set for 59.00 but they all look to be the same quality one
could expect from Harbor Freight/Northern Tool etc.. I dont know for
sure but thats just my assumption based on the pictures and price.
The Lee Valley bits, again just from the pictures, look like they may
be of a bit higher quality and given they are from Lee Valley I would
hope so. If anyone had any other suggestions for sources of new sets it
would be greatly appreciated. I have spent a lot of time searching the
archives and the net but the selection seems to be very limited.
Thanks,
Mark
Wellll.... it doesn't work for everyone, but I have bought some
wonderful Irwin bits that were in the 20 year old range on EBAY. I
know you will receive many warnings here about the people, products and
auction process at EBAY, but for me it works great.
In fact I got three really nice sets of old bits, two were Irwins in
the wooden box, and one was an old Millers Falls. I paid about 35
bucks plus about 20 for shipping to the 12 pc. (the nicest of the
group) that was some kind of anniversary set issued many years ago. I
am not sure there was ever a hole drilled with any of them, and the old
timer I bought them for as a gift was completely thrilled.
I went on to buy some really nice ratcheting braces for him on EBAY
also.
As far as the HF - Northern bits go, they are great for a couple of
holes in white pine or styrofoam before they are dull. Make sure you
roll them across the counter or something like a tablesaw table. I
think maybe one in ten is actually straight.
Robert
M&S wrote:
> Hello to the group,
> Can anyone give me a heads up on the quality of the auger bit sets sold
> at Lee Valley? I have been searching for a set of (new) auger bits for
> use with a bit brace and so far have only come up with the same sets
> offered on Amazon from several different locations. One site has an 8
> pc. 24" auger set for 59.00 but they all look to be the same quality one
> could expect from Harbor Freight/Northern Tool etc.. I dont know for
> sure but thats just my assumption based on the pictures and price.
> The Lee Valley bits, again just from the pictures, look like they may
> be of a bit higher quality and given they are from Lee Valley I would
> hope so. If anyone had any other suggestions for sources of new sets it
> would be greatly appreciated. I have spent a lot of time searching the
> archives and the net but the selection seems to be very limited.
>
Obviously the single flute are much better than the contractor style.
>From reading the text, I'd say you get what you pay for, and a bit
more. Read the text. Lee Valley has a quirk in its catalog
explanations: they tell you what you're getting, instead of tossing you
a hard sell.
And there's another thought: you can't lose. If you don't like, LV will
refund shipping as well as the price. IIRC, they refund shipping both
ways, too.
In article <[email protected]>,
M&S <[email protected]> wrote:
>Hello to the group,
> Can anyone give me a heads up on the quality of the auger bit sets sold
>at Lee Valley? I have been searching for a set of (new) auger bits for
>use with a bit brace and so far have only come up with the same sets
>offered on Amazon from several different locations. One site has an 8
>pc. 24" auger set for 59.00 but they all look to be the same quality one
>could expect from Harbor Freight/Northern Tool etc.. I dont know for
>sure but thats just my assumption based on the pictures and price.
> The Lee Valley bits, again just from the pictures, look like they may
>be of a bit higher quality and given they are from Lee Valley I would
>hope so. If anyone had any other suggestions for sources of new sets it
>would be greatly appreciated. I have spent a lot of time searching the
>archives and the net but the selection seems to be very limited.
>
>Thanks,
>Mark
>
Greenlee makes good _adjustable_ ones. Pricey though.
Quality -sets- are not easy to find.
OTOH, the BORG do carry _single_ bits that are of reasonable quality.
A good full-line hardware store -- _not_ one of "know-nothing" franchise/
co-op operations -- can probably order for you, if they don't stock.
And there's always the 'industrial' suppliers like McMaster-Carr.
(sit down, apply seat-belt, *before* looking at prices.)
In article <[email protected]>, CW
<[email protected]> wrote:
> I would like to know too. The flea market/ebay idea doesn't appeal to me
> much.
Hopefully they'll be on special at the grand opening of the first LV
store in Saskatchewan in a couple of months, just a few blocks away
from work.
<BSEG>
--
~ Stay Calm... Be Brave... Wait for the Signs ~
------------------------------------------------------
One site: <http://www.balderstone.ca>
The other site, with ww links<http://www.woodenwabbits.com>
> Hello to the group,
> Can anyone give me a heads up on the quality of the auger bit sets sold at Lee Valley? I have been searching for a set of (new)
> auger bits for use with a bit brace and so far have only come up with the same sets offered on Amazon from several different
> locations. One site has an 8 pc. 24" auger set for 59.00 but they all look to be the same quality one could expect from Harbor
> Freight/Northern Tool etc.. I dont know for sure but thats just my assumption based on the pictures and price.
> The Lee Valley bits, again just from the pictures, look like they may be of a bit higher quality and given they are from Lee
> Valley I would hope so. If anyone had any other suggestions for sources of new sets it would be greatly appreciated. I have spent
> a lot of time searching the archives and the net but the selection seems to be very limited.
>
> Thanks,
> Mark
>
These are the best on Earth:
http://www.toolsforworkingwood.com/Merchant/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=toolshop&Product_Code=EE-63579.XX&Category_Code=TD
Solid center bits are single flute but double cutters/spurs. These ones are
double flute, cutter and spurred. A set of 13 will cost around $350 but you
could cop an original set on eBay for say up to $100-$180, bidding (a Russel
Jennings set).
The cheapest way on eBay is a nice condition set of Irwins in an original box,
lots of those show up there, and there are several online sellers of basic solid
center bits with double cutters. Highland hardware, Jamestown distributers,
and Bits 'n' Bores have them new.
You're looking at "ship augers" which have a single cutter and spur, and
without tapered square heads for the chuck, I wouldn't buy those.
--
Alex - newbie_neander in woodworking
cravdraa_at-yahoo_dot-com
not my site: http://www.e-sword.net/
On 14 Jul 2005 22:07:57 -0700, [email protected] wrote:
>Wellll.... it doesn't work for everyone, but I have bought some
>wonderful Irwin bits that were in the 20 year old range on EBAY. I
>know you will receive many warnings here about the people, products and
>auction process at EBAY, but for me it works great.
>
>In fact I got three really nice sets of old bits, two were Irwins in
>the wooden box, and one was an old Millers Falls. I paid about 35
>bucks plus about 20 for shipping to the 12 pc. (the nicest of the
>group) that was some kind of anniversary set issued many years ago. I
>am not sure there was ever a hole drilled with any of them, and the old
>timer I bought them for as a gift was completely thrilled.
>
>I went on to buy some really nice ratcheting braces for him on EBAY
>also.
>
>As far as the HF - Northern bits go, they are great for a couple of
>holes in white pine or styrofoam before they are dull. Make sure you
>roll them across the counter or something like a tablesaw table. I
>think maybe one in ten is actually straight.
>
>Robert
I too purchased a very nice old, and apparently unused, set of Irwins
on ebay - took some doing though to get a decent set under $50 (mine
cost $32 plus about $10 shipping). Nice box too.
Dave Hall
"AAvK" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> AND, looks like Irwin still makes em
You've been on these long brad point drill bits for two weeks now and you've
received quite a few suggestions.
Do you actually have a project that needs them?
Yes, they do. I looked on their site yesterday. Fallowed every one of their
"where to buy" links. Nobody carried them.
"AAvK" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:jbnCe.44857$ro.35146@fed1read02...
>
> AND, looks like Irwin still makes em
>
http://www.irwin.com/irwin/consumer/jhtml/detail.jhtml?prodId=IrwinProd100100
>
> --
> Alex - newbie_neander in woodworking
> cravdraa_at-yahoo_dot-com
> not my site: http://www.e-sword.net/
>
>
> You've been on these long brad point drill bits for two weeks now and you've
> received quite a few suggestions.
>
> Do you actually have a project that needs them?
>
>
I have quite a few square head augers actually. What I requested info on was "where
I can find the great deal" on extra long HSS (specifically) brad point bits, but what I
need one for is the holes for bench bolts. You know... the bench you showed off has
them... (he he). Going straight through the tenons to the nut hole, which is what I'll
do.
I really don't trust myself to drill them straight with an auger. So I bought a dowl-it
(old and used), hopefully that'll work. My 2101 brace will hold a straight shank bit,
no problem. I bought a bit though, 1/2" x 10" long HSS brad point with 7-1/2"
distance of flutes, made by WL Fuller.
--
Alex - newbie_neander in woodworking
cravdraa_at-yahoo_dot-com
not my site: http://www.e-sword.net/
I would like to know too. The flea market/ebay idea doesn't appeal to me
much.
"M&S" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hello to the group,
> Can anyone give me a heads up on the quality of the auger bit sets sold
> at Lee Valley? I have been searching for a set of (new) auger bits for
> use with a bit brace and so far have only come up with the same sets
> offered on Amazon from several different locations. One site has an 8
> pc. 24" auger set for 59.00 but they all look to be the same quality one
> could expect from Harbor Freight/Northern Tool etc.. I dont know for
> sure but thats just my assumption based on the pictures and price.
> The Lee Valley bits, again just from the pictures, look like they may
> be of a bit higher quality and given they are from Lee Valley I would
> hope so. If anyone had any other suggestions for sources of new sets it
> would be greatly appreciated. I have spent a lot of time searching the
> archives and the net but the selection seems to be very limited.
>
> Thanks,
> Mark
>
CW man, read read and read everything previous. And I bet if you
called the Irwin company they would work out a way for you to get
a set bro, really. Any company that sells Irwin can order them as
well ('cept maybe Sears). Just ask.
--
Alex - newbie_neander in woodworking
cravdraa_at-yahoo_dot-com
not my site: http://www.e-sword.net/