Drill bits question....

[Canucker]

how many boards do you generally drill before you toss the bit for a new one? Yeah I know every layout pretty much has a diff. number you need to drill...so I guess I'm really just asking for an estimate.

[John Lyons]

Thousands of holes for me.
Carbide bits. Usually break being carelss/fumble
with the board while drilling before they get dull.

[davent]

It would be nice if you could find "short-shaft" carbide bits, we only need enough shaft to pierce a 1/16" PCB. A nice short shaft would be so much more robust then the 1/2" or so of the typical carbide offering which are extremely fragile in the tiny sizes we use. They break (carbides) before they get dull but i keep using the stubby bits, it's just a little more difficult to start a hole on target.

Don't know of a Canadian source for individually sized/priced carbide bits, only massive sets.

dave

[John Lyons]

Yes, that would be nice to have stubby bits Dave.
Meant to post this link before.
http://drillcity.stores.yahoo.net/10pacresdril.html
At a dollar a bit you can't really beat it.

[davent]

Thanks John, that's where i got the ones i'm using but their shipping cost to Canada is pretty scary. At the time my brother was making frequent trips stateside so i was having all my contraband shipped to his friend in PA and he'd haul it back north from there, huge savings on shipping!

dave

[John Lyons]

If you ever need anything from the states Dave, don't hesitate to ask. 

[davent]

Thanks very much John, will keep that in mind!