Anyone used the Flatted shank Cobalt Dewalt Drills recently kinda funny

[maxboostbusa]

Just a little heads up maybe, either they really suck now or all I bought were from a bad run. At work most of my drilling is in Stainless. I dont mind using the Dewalt and other cobalt bits from Lowes or Home Depot in my coldless drill around work since you may drill a plate and hit a piece of tile or anything, they usually dont stay sharp all that long. I got some of the new Dewalt bits a few weeks ago because I was getting low on some sizes and I liked the idea of the flatted shank for the keyless chucks. I had to drill a 3/16 hole in a 11 guage Stainless plate and a piece of 24 guage stainless to pop rivet them together. Pilot drilled all the holes 1/16" since they werent in all that easy of a place to get to. Stepped up to 3/16" drilled 1 old bit was dull so in one of the new Dewalts go. 3/4 of the way through the bit twisted off about 3/4" up from the point like a cheap grade 1 bolt. The lands and valleys were missing now. I was totally in awe, OK. Open another pack drill 2 holes fine, great chips, bits cut good anyway, then the bit stopped for a moment on breakthrough chuck didnt though. Pulled the bit out and the shank where it was clamped in the chuck has twisted the flats almost a half round. It also had bent the bit like a bananna. Bent it back most of the way straight and finished the other 3 holes. I have never twisted or bent a small drill bit like that without breaking it let alone twisted it up like a screw. I threw the first one away but kept the second just to show the guys at the shop. It made for a good laugh anyway. I think they may have forgot to harden them or something, bad thing is I have 10 more

[cadmonkey]

Had a batch of Dewalt driver bits recently that completely snapped off installing some Tapcons - I had the same Phillips bit doing tapcons for over 6 years and it finally got rounded so I bought a new pack of 5. Within 10 tapcons 4 snapped or rounded the bit so bad it wouldn't drive. Emailed Dewalt and they sent out 10 new bits. Granted the wrong length ones (the little stubby ****s not the ones for the quick attach unit) but still they were happy to try and make me happy.

I think their QC has gone down a bit. They used to be my choice at the Depot but I think I'll stick with the stuff I'm getting from the tooling store from here on.

[blades]

Hey max, are those Dewalt drill bits advertised as being HSS, or were they actually billed as being Cobalt?

[maxboostbusa]

Cobalt on the blister pack. I dont even bother with HSS with all the crappy Stainless I have to drill with the cordless. I'll have to see if I can get a pic to show the twist in the shank vs. a new one out of the pack and post it.

[lowpull]

Ive got two of the suckers that bent the first time I used them in aluminum.
Either the heat treat was wrong or they are using some crap steel.

[blades]

Wow, I'm surprised at that. Cobalt drills (true commercial grade anyway) are some of the best drills I've ever used. I appreciate the heads-up on these crappy bits, I'll definately steer clear of them. I almost bought some a while back... glad I didn't. No excuse, cobalt makes for very good tooling.

Are these Dewalt bits the PILOT POINT bits?
http://www.dewalt.com/us/articles/pr...se.asp?ID=1561

I wanted to invite DeWalt to respond to this, but conveniently, they don't list any contact email addresses on their website.

[maxboostbusa]

Yeah there the new pilot point. I had some other pilot points in the past and didnt care for them really but with the exception of these twisting up they seem to work pretty good. Its a shame to really because its hard to find a decent bit at odd hours when I usually need it and dewalt has always been good bits for me...til now. I think I will call them or something and maybe they can check on it. Im sure mine werent the only ones with this problem.