Drill Bit Oops

kyleb

kyleb

Final Approach
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Marietta, GA
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Drake the Outlaw
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Was at Lidl this afternoon, and as usual browsed their miscellaneous crap aisle. Where I found an extensive set of drill bits for $4.99 or so. Great deal, so I bought it.

When I unpacked the set at home I found the gotcha. Why in the world would anyone stock sets of METRIC bits? :rolleyes2:
 
kyleb said:
Why in the world would anyone stock sets of METRIC bits? :rolleyes2:
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Because, believe it or not, people do use metric here as well as US customary?

Why would anyone buy any dimensional tools without first checking if they are metric or US customary?
 
AKiss20 said:
Because, believe it or not, people do use metric here as well as US customary?

Why would anyone buy any dimensional tools without first checking if they are metric or US customary?
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I'm 60. I've built 2 airplanes, rewired and replumbed a couple of houses. Repaired way too many cars, mowers, bikes, and appliances. In all that time and all those projects I can't think of a single instance where I needed a metric bit. YMMV.
 
kyleb said:
I'm 60. I've built 2 airplanes, rewired and replumbed a couple of houses. Repaired way too many cars, mowers, bikes, and appliances. In all that time and all those projects I can't think of a single instance where I needed a metric bit. YMMV.
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They are quite handy when one needs to drill & tap for a metric bolt or heli-coil such a hole. I have three metric bits, all of which I've used exactly once ;)

I also have a full set of letter drills, which i have never used. I thought about getting rid of them, but having them is the only way to keep from needing them.
 
kyleb said:
I'm 60. I've built 2 airplanes, rewired and replumbed a couple of houses. Repaired way too many cars, mowers, bikes, and appliances. In all that time and all those projects I can't think of a single instance where I needed a metric bit. YMMV.
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It is pretty unusual to see metric bits.

My plane is almost all metric. Have done a lot of work on it. Don’t own a single metric drill bit. Probably won’t need one unless I need to tap some threads.

All that said, I can’t see you could not look to see what size bits you’re buying.
 
Jim K said:
They are quite handy when one needs to drill & tap for a metric bolt or heli-coil such a hole. I have three metric bits, all of which I've used exactly once ;)

I also have a full set of letter drills, which i have never used. I thought about getting rid of them, but having them is the only way to keep from needing them.
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I used two metric bits just last week. One was for a keensert. I like keenserts better than Helicoils.
 
Nobody realize that Lidl is German? They source many products in Germany and other European countries.

As Aldi sources German products,.
 
kyleb said:
I'm 60. I've built 2 airplanes, rewired and replumbed a couple of houses. Repaired way too many cars, mowers, bikes, and appliances. In all that time and all those projects I can't think of a single instance where I needed a metric bit. YMMV.
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I’m 34 and have used them in the machine shop countless times.
 
kyleb said:
I blame me. But I'm still SHOCKED, Shocked, I tell you...

And the truth is, the metric bits will be fine for pilot holes, drilling sheetrock for anchors, and poking holes in my thumb. So they won't gather too much dust.
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How did you end up with a set of metric thumbs?
 
AKiss20 said:
I’m 34 and have used them in the machine shop countless times.
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Exactly. When one is designing some machinery he often needs a certain hole size somewhere between fractional, number or letter sizes. Been there, done that. I have the first three series and have used them extensively, and am finally about to buy some metric drills.

If you're going to do the job right, you will need fractional, number and letter drills. Check the chart:
1756786969933.png

One doesn't know what some stuff is good for until he's used it.
 
Dan Thomas said:
When one is designing some machinery he often needs a certain hole size somewhere between fractional, number or letter sizes
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That or you’re just operating in the metric world and interfacing with equipment designed in metric. It was always so nice when I could design in metric instead of dealing with us customary. While my day to day life is mostly us customary for obvious reasons, my professional life is 100% metric, converting only when needed after all the hard work is done.
 
kyleb said:
Was at Lidl this afternoon, and as usual browsed their miscellaneous crap aisle. Where I found an extensive set of drill bits for $4.99 or so. Great deal, so I bought it.

When I unpacked the set at home I found the gotcha. Why in the world would anyone stock sets of METRIC bits? :rolleyes2:
Click to expand...

If we had just converted to the metric system in the 70's like we were supposed to, none of this would be an issue.

Born in 1974, I've literally been waiting my whole life for us to convert. Sadly it looks like it isn't going to happen in my life time.
 
RussR said:
If we had just converted to the metric system in the 70's like we were supposed to, none of this would be an issue.

Born in 1974, I've literally been waiting my whole life for us to convert. Sadly it looks like it isn't going to happen in my life time.
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When the space aliens invade, we’ll be the last ones standing because they won’t be able to figure out the imperial system in order to subjugate us. ;-)
 
RussR said:
If we had just converted to the metric system in the 70's like we were supposed to, none of this would be an issue.

Born in 1974, I've literally been waiting my whole life for us to convert. Sadly it looks like it isn't going to happen in my life time.
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The Mendenhall Order changed the fundamental standards of length and mass of the United States to metric in 1893. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mendenhall_Order

And, before that, there were pirates...
www.nist.gov

Pirates of the Caribbean (Metric Edition)

To save his own life, Joseph Dombey had an idea
www.nist.gov www.nist.gov
 
I call it "Paying the idiot tax." I've paid my fair share.
 
Fun Fact: If you create an .STL file for 3d printing using imperial dimensions, some (many,most?) slicers assume that the dimensions are in mm and you get a teenie tiny little thing on the print bed and you have to multiply the size by 2540% to get what you want.
 
Speaking of drill bits…

Dad lives in a (really nice) senior place that has a workshop he oversees. He bought a set of number bits and within a month one was missing so he emailed the shop users and said he didn’t care how it happened but could whoever it was return it.

Five bits showed up.

A 21st century Loaves and Fishes story…
 
Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe said:
Fun Fact: If you create an .STL file for 3d printing using imperial dimensions, some (many,most?) slicers assume that the dimensions are in mm and you get a teenie tiny little thing on the print bed and you have to multiply the size by 2540% to get what you want.
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Spinal Tap says “Hi!”
 
robin ardoin said:
I got a steal of a deal on a Crescent wrench at a yard sale last week. Once I got home and inspected it more closely, I realized it was metric. No wonder it was so cheap.
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Probably a left-handed one, too.

And the metric ones are pronounced “Croissant wrench.”
 
kyleb said:
Was at Lidl this afternoon, and as usual browsed their miscellaneous crap aisle. Where I found an extensive set of drill bits for $4.99 or so. Great deal, so I bought it.

When I unpacked the set at home I found the gotcha. Why in the world would anyone stock sets of METRIC bits? :rolleyes2:
Click to expand...

They go with the left handed Phillips driver.

6MM (with the help of a hammer) = 1/4" there problem solved

DJTorrente said:
I call it "Paying the idiot tax." I've paid my fair share.
Click to expand...

Yeah.... we all can understand this one.
 
robin ardoin said:
I got a steal of a deal on a Crescent wrench at a yard sale last week. Once I got home and inspected it more closely, I realized it was metric. No wonder it was so cheap.
Click to expand...
I have one that is metric on one side (300 mm) and imperial (12 in) on the other!!!! Like getting two wrenches in one!!!
 
Y’all saw clamp day. I shoulda taken a pic of drill bit WEEK.

In all seriousness, I do need a set of metric 3MT drill bits, if anyone has a set they’re not using laying around… just sayin.
 
robin ardoin said:
I got a steal of a deal on a Crescent wrench at a yard sale last week. Once I got home and inspected it more closely, I realized it was metric. No wonder it was so cheap.
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I was travelling in Sweden and visited a hardware store in my free time... because why wouldn't I....
They had a really nice metric crescent wrench...very nicely made. I bought it as a gift for my dad. Thought he'd get a kick out of it.
I think that he thought it was stupid.
 
1 - I don't think it's possible to have too many different kinds of drill bits. Said as someone that just bought a 1/8" stubby masonry bit.

2 - You just may have bought a metric bit before without knowing it. I'm convinced that some low end hole saws are actually made to metric and just labeled the closest US size.
 
Albany Tom said:
1 - I don't think it's possible to have too many different kinds of drill bits. Said as someone that just bought a 1/8" stubby masonry bit.

2 - You just may have bought a metric bit before without knowing it. I'm convinced that some low end hole saws are actually made to metric and just labeled the closest US size.
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Ugh. I just got a snap bushing assortment. I needed one 1/2" bushing to finish the wiring in the RV wing. I didn't look closely enough at the listing, because the ones labeled '1/2"' have a small "(11mm)" underneath. I wouldn't have minded a 13mm bushing, but 11mm...wtf? Useless. It measures .425 in 'Merican.
 
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Jim K said:
Ugh. I just got a snap bushing assortment. I needed one 1/2" bushing to finish the wiring in the RV wing. I didn't look closely enough at the listing, because the ones labeled '1/2"' have a small "(11mm) underneath. I wouldn't have minded a 13mm bushing, but 11mm...wtf? Useless. It measures .425 in 'Merican.
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I've had it happen with knockout punches, too. Not for 1/2" pipe, not for 3/4" pipe, but some lovely and useless size in-between.
 
Many years ago I had a set of left hand drill bits. That is to drill into the metal the drill had to be set on reverse. Great for drilling out broken bolts.

Also great fun when someone asked to borrow a drill bit...
 
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