Overheard a guy at the hardware store explain why his drill bit always snaps

I was grabbing screws yesterday and this older dude told his buddy that most people run their drill too fast when going through metal. He said you gotta start slow and let the bit bite in before you speed up. Ive snapped like 8 bits this year trying to punch through steel brackets. Tried his method this morning on a fence repair and it worked perfect no break. Anyone else learn a simple trick from a random stranger that made a huge difference?

2 comments

2 Comments

jordan_anderson9028d ago

Lube your bits too, a drop of 3-in-1 oil makes a huge difference on steel. That tip from a machinist saved me a ton of broken bits lol.

elizabethtaylor28d ago

The slow start trick changed my whole approach too. A buddy told me the same thing about letting the bit find its groove first and I felt stupid for all the bits I wasted before that. Now I also put a little bit of beeswax on the tip for aluminum - saw an old timer do it once and the difference is night and day. That with the oil Jordan mentioned and I hardly ever snap bits anymore. Funny how the simplest stuff gets passed around at hardware stores like secret handshakes.