purchasing a varibit

[yano]

I'm looking at buying this set of "varibits"

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=8873

Alternativly, I'm also considering this single bit:

http://www.galesburgelectric.com/leva309ho1to.html

Any reason why I should go with one over the other? I'm inclined to trust the single bit more, though its more pricy, it is Lenox brand.

[smallbearelec]

I have been promising a "tool crib" in the Cave for a long time. Sorry, I haven't had time to update the stock list lately. But I did get these puppies in and just had to respond to this post.

Instead of paying a second shipping fee to someone else, come for the rest of what you need for your pedal and get the bit as well!

Regards
Steve Daniels
www.smallbearelec.com

[dosmun]

The 3 for $19 is a great price but I have to believe that they are pretty low quality for that price.

[yano]

steve:

how much will you be offering these bits for? and what kind are they? (brand wise?)

[StephenGiles]

I thought you were referring to a woman for a minute!!!!

[Paul Marossy]

A woman?  :?

My "uni-bit" is one of the best investments that I ever made! I have gotten a lot of mileage out of mine.

[StephenGiles]

I've gotten (GOTTEN - WHAT KIND OF A WORD IS THAT?) a lot of miles out of my dear wife! Bless her, she had her veins done yesterday morning, out of hospital by 4.30pm, and almost 3 miles of walking today.
I wonder if we have those varibits in the UK, seems a useful piece of gear if you ask me.

[gez]

I wonder if we have those varibits in the UK, seems a useful piece of gear if you ask me.

Yes, we do! If you give me a day or two I'll find the details and link you to the company (you can buy on-line).

Amazing little gizmos. Easy to use, slice aluminium like butter and you hardly need any revs on the drill. They de-burr at the same time so you end up with very neat, professional looking holes.

[StephenGiles]

Thanks gez.

[TheBigMan]

I wonder if we have those varibits in the UK, seems a useful piece of gear if you ask me.

Yes, we do! If you give me a day or two I'll find the details and link you to the company (you can buy on-line).

Amazing little gizmos. Easy to use, slice aluminium like butter and you hardly need any revs on the drill. They de-burr at the same time so you end up with very neat, professional looking holes.

I agree.  I picked one up from eBay, and they are essential for drilling aluminium.  It's amazing how little filing and deburring you'll have to do compared to using HSS bits.  Now I need to get an odd sized one as well, just got the even sized one.

[gez]

Amazing, I actually managed to find something first time in my 'filing' system!  Usually I hunt around for a day or two and then come to the conclusion I must have binned it.

Here you go Stephen, the Unibit PM-15000:

http://www.agriemach.com/product_info.php?products_id=743

[Peter Snowberg]

....It's amazing how little filing and deburring you'll have to do compared to using HSS bits.

That's one thing I really love about unibits. I often use mine to clean up holes made by standard drills.

Take care,
-Peter

[TheBigMan]

....It's amazing how little filing and deburring you'll have to do compared to using HSS bits.

That's one thing I really love about unibits. I often use mine to clean up holes made by standard drills.

Take care,
-Peter

It wasn't until after I posted that I thought of that, but things like LED clips and so on which are odd sizes like 1/4" (that's odd if you're European guys, we use metric over here  :wink: ) then I'll often do what Peter said and use the Unibit to debur the hole.  The only thing is that there are a few things the unibit can't handle, most notably the standard circular power socket that everybody uses.

[gez]

The only thing is that there are a few things the unibit can't handle, most notably the standard circular power socket that everybody uses.

The black plastic jobbies?  I haven't had a problem with the above bit.

[niftydog]

I call 'em step bits.  Maybe in the UK they're called something other than unibits??!?

I have one and one only, it's done me for most of what I need.  I got one that was just large enough to make a hole for a panel mount male XLR connector.  V. handy!

If you're using it a lot, consider some spray lubricant.

I paid US$50 or thereabouts for it.  A cheapy will only disappoint, a good one will be in your tool kit for years to come!

[Paul Perry (Frostwave)]

If you're using it a lot, consider some spray lubricant.

....that's good advice. In fact, use some kind of oil whenever you drill metal. You get at least 5 times the life out of a bit if you do.

[javacody]

They are also known as vari-bits. I love mine. It does cut aluminum like slicing through butter. It does pretty good on steel junction boxes too, as long as you use oil and drill a pilot hole first.

I couldn't believe how clean of a hole they cut the first time I used mine. There was no filing or sanding needed, at all. I just cleaned up the box, and I was ready to paint. I paid $19 for mine on ebay.

[ErikMiller]

I'm looking at buying this set of "varibits"

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=8873

Alternativly, I'm also considering this single bit:

http://www.galesburgelectric.com/leva309ho1to.html

Any reason why I should go with one over the other? I'm inclined to trust the single bit more, though its more pricy, it is Lenox brand.

I have both an Irwin Unibit(tm) and a Harbor Freight cheaper version. The Irwin has better fit and finish, and can be run at higher speed, but they both do a pretty good job. For occaisional use, the Harbor Freight would be quite acceptable. I've done several boxes with mine and it's still going strong. Long haul production work goes to the Irwin.

I'm planning on ordering that 3-bit set from Harbor Freight just because one of the bits will cut a 3/4" hole, which I can use for 9-pin tube sockets.

And yes, use some cutting oil.

[TheBigMan]

The black plastic jobbies?  I haven't had a problem with the above bit.

It's probably because I've got a metric step drill 4mm-22mm which I often refer to as a unibit when it's not really.  Those sockets need a 12.6mm cutout which is near enough to 1/2" so an imperial sized one will handle it OK, I use a 1/2" HSS drill for those holes.