Chicago Latrobe 57716 150 Series High-Speed Steel Jobber Length Drill Bit Set with Metal Case, Black Oxide Finish, 118 Degree Conventional Point, Wire Size, 60-piece, #60 - #1

I've been a machinist all my life as my profession (40+ years). I have used every brand of drill bit that is out there. Chicago Latrobe are by far the best I have ever used. The quality, precision, consistency, and durability of the drills are outstanding. I purchased this set for use at home for small metal projects and hobby work. Having a number set is essential for smaller screw tap drilling and clearance holes. Decent press and running fits can also be achieved. The black oxide finish drills are best for steel work, but can also be used on wood and plastics etc. I keep this index out on my workbench because I use them so much.The set covers drill sizes .040" through .228". They are "jobber" length which is the most common drill length. The flutes of the drills are ground, which helps with hole concentricity, location, and chip removal, unlike cheap forged flute drills. Each drill bit is marked on the shank with the number size, the Chicago Latrobe C-L logo, High Speed Steel marking, and USA logo. Heck, even the drill index is made in the USA by premier drill index manufacturer HUOT. This is quality through and through.Sure, this set is expensive for a set of drills, but you are getting 60 of the best USA made number drills you can buy in a USA drill index. Buy once, cry once as they say. If you like fine tools it will make you smile when you open this index. These will be appreciated by the machinist, mechanic, knife maker, model maker or hobbyist. Also, if you just want to support classic USA manufacturers and American workers, this is the set for you.

Sure you can find drill bits that cost less, those imports are cheaply made,not sized accuratly and are forged flutes than do not run true. Do your self a favor and step up to Chicago Latrobe drill bits and that will be the last time you will need to buy a drill bit set.These bits are made in the USA from Greenfield Industries in Seneca,SC and maintains the highest quality standards by controlling the entire product manufacturing process from mining the ore, to making the steel, to fabricating finished goods.These bit are sized correctly,have ground flutes with 118 degree points and run true with no wobbling that can ruin the hole size.Includes a Huot index box that has both the number and decimal size marked for each bit to make finding the correct size fast and easy.When your finaly over "saving money" on those budget sets that break and drill eggshaped holes and constantly need replacing spend the extra money for Chicago Latrobe and enjoy a lifetime of quality bits that wont need replacing. You'l be glad you did!

Well made set.Quality set.

I needed a replacement for my 20+ year-old high speed steel drill bit set. I do not work with hardened steel, only plastic, aluminum, and occasional mild steel drillingThe first (imported) set I ordered had the word "cobalt" in the title and was advertised for plastics and metal up to hardened steel. I did a side-by-side comparison to one of my old bits in aluminum on a drill press. My old drill bit required moderate force, but still put out a continuous curly chip and made a clean hole. The new bit required more force, put our small chips instead of a long, curly chip, and left a ragged hole. I sent the set back.Then I ordered this US-made high speed steel set, costing about twice as much. In the same test, this bit required much less force, put out a clean curly chip, and left a perfect hold. If this set lasts as long as the old high speed steel set, it will be a great bargain. You get what you pay for.

Nothing to rave about.

The made in America drills in these sets are incredibly sharp and they drill clean, round holes, unlike some of the competitive products made elsewhere, presumably in the world. I finally decided to replace my old set which started life of the same brand name and were purchased in the mid-1970s. These have seen a lot of wear and tear...so much so that I finally decided to treat myself to some new ones. I was amazed at the difference between the old and the new. These (new) drills get right with the program and aggressively bite right into the work surface. No more having to stand on the drill trying to get the holes started...then have the drill go walking - or worse, go skating across the work surface. Sure, they cost a bit more, but you won't be having trouble trying to do your work with very slightly bent, dull drill bits...or dealing with more than a few, out-sized bits. Because of this, these drill sets are wonderful time savers - plus you'll no longer have trouble locating your holes to the spec's on your drawings...anymore!

Good set of smaller indexed drill bits

I bought a Chicago Latrobe drill set decades ago, and it has been wonderful. I was looking for a gift for my grown son, and purchased an identical version for him. He likes it, as do I. I only use this set for precision work, leaving most other drilling tasks to the usual cheap drill bit sets for punching holes. But when I have holes that I want to wind up right on size, I pull out the CL set. When i have a small hole to tap, for example, I can select a drill bit that fits for a 90% thread (strength) or a 70% thread (easy to tap, not so strong). If you take care of these bits, they will last a long time.