Drilling holes is an often overlooked part of woodworking. Woodworkers—myself included—will work tirelessly on a project, then go to drill a hole for a dowel, plug or other need, and simply grab any old drill bit. This often leads to the bit wandering, or a torn and ragged edge. The solution is to first make sure you are using a drill bit made for wood and not metal. Second, make sure that the drill bit is made to the same high standards you expect of your other woodworking tools. The Viking 14-Piece Imperial Brad Point Drill Bit Set, Item 101-176 fits both of these requirements and is made in St. Paul Minnesota.
Viking was founded in 1951 and is one of the few companies still making quality HSS drills and taps here in the USA. In fact, their slogan is "America's Finest High-Speed Steel Cutting Tools." This is a slogan Viking takes seriously, and it is apparent the first time you make a hole with one of these Brad Point Bits.
What is a brad point?
What is a brad point bit and why should I care you may be asking. Brad point bits are designed specifically for drilling in wood. The point, or brad, at the center of the bit keeps it from wandering. This allows the outer edges of the bit to score the wood fibers eliminating tear-out. Viking calls this specific grind BURROUT™ because it produces burr-free holes. Without the "brad" it would be very difficult to start the hole and almost impossible to get the drill cutting exactly where you need it. Unlike lesser quality brad point bits you may have used, Viking carefully machines this tip on even the smallest sizes, all the way down to the tiny 5/64" bit. If you didn't know better you would think they were just showing off. The proof is in the holes these bits make, and it definitely lives up to their slogan.
All about the Steel
Each of these brad point bits is made of M2 high-speed tool steel with a Hi-Moly coating. Hi-Moly coated drill bits are known for toughness, durability, and resistance to heat and wear. In other words, these drill bits are capable of tackling even the toughest jobs. The Hi-Moly coating also makes the steel corrosion resistant and has a subtle gold color that just looks good. This steel also allows for Viking's ULTRA BOR geometry. This is a fancy way of saying that these bits have larger flutes that clear waste more effectively, making them less likely to clog up when drilling deep holes. All Viking drill bits are made to meet or exceed National Aerospace Standards (NAS) 907, so you can be sure they are made to extremely tight tolerances and produce accurately sized holes.
Keeping things organized
To keep this 14-Pc. Brad Point Drill Bit Set organized, each comes packed in a tough and durable drill index made of thick powder-coated steel. Inside, two galvanized steel tilting organizers precisely hold the bits. The organizers are stamped with the size of bit each slot holds. This makes choosing the correct size bit very easy. The raised stamping is in both fraction and decimal notation which comes in very handy. Both the outer case and the tilting organizers are also made of the same thickness steel, meaning the metal is nice and stiff and not easily bent—something all too common in lesser quality sets.
Just the right size
This 14-Pc. set includes, you guessed it, 14 drill bits including 5/64", 3/32", 7/64", 1/8", 9/64", 5/32", 11/64", 3/16", 7/32", 1/4", 5/16", 3/8", 7/16", and 1/2" sizes. The 7/16" and 1/2" drill Bits have a "Reduced Shank." This means the shank is turned down to 3/8" in diameter so that all sizes in this set can be used in drills with a 3/8" chuck—definitely a feature worth noting.
Stop struggling with the wrong type or poor quality drill bits. Pick up a Viking 14-Piece Imperial Brad Point Drill Bit Set, Item 101-176, and put an end to tearout, wandering, and imprecisely sized holes.
