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Why use a stepped drill bit here?

A

Andy Kev.

Nordic Pine
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I have just watched a YouTube clip of a chap building a wall mounting for a Bosch table top drill:


At around 8:36 mins he uses a stepped drill bit (which I had never seen before) and I can't for the life of me work out why. Info from dealers says that they are principally used in drilling metal, so I'm mystified. Can anyone interpret his actions?
 
Andy Kev. said:
At around 8:36 mins he uses a stepped drill bit (which I had never seen before) and I can't for the life of me work out why. Info from dealers says that they are principally used in drilling metal, so I'm mystified. Can anyone interpret his actions?
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Great for drilling thin metal sheet and plastics as they don't snatch as with a twist drill, not much good for wood though.

My only thought is that perhaps he's using it as a sort of self-countersinking bit, as these bits will leave a small chamfer before engaging with the next step.
 
Andy Kev. said:
I'm mystified
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So am I. A couple of years ago I bought a pack of 3 from Lidl. I don't remember why I bought them and they are still in the original packaging, unopened. I can't foresee any occasion on which I might use them.
 
I think it's that you can get a large diameter hole using a small capacity chuck,you get a good choice of diameters on the same spindle for a good price,and they're not as brutal as flat bits.
Jack of all trades that you're supposed to avoid because it's not the proper way but you dont because mostly they work so well.
I've got some from Aldi
Somewhere......

The type of tool you may only ever use once but if it works you would be glad you had.
I have an adjustable hole cutter that I only have ever used once to cut 8" discs from some 1 /2" nylon chopping boards to make new pads for my honeycomb press.
If struggle to find it in a hurry if I needed it ever again
 
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I have 2 sets of three and a couple of larger ones and they get used regularly. A very accurate and handy way of opening out existing smaller holes in thinner material though you usually have to drill from both sides if thicker than 2 or 3mm. One of mine goes to 60mm, all cheap versions and they so far have been excellent
 
Two drill types on view: a tank cutter, Sue Perb gadget for metal disc creating. Quick and dirty, who needs a lathe? Fantastic at its stated usage. I had need of cutting lots of overflow tank sides for 1.5" connectors at one point, easy peasy.
The "Conecut" I have in both cone and stepped permutations (mercy buckets Mr Lidl) they get dogs' abuse at the heritage railway I volunteer at, metal.and timber (think 70-year-old hardwood) and they just keep working!
 
Thanks for all the replies. It looks like it might be useful to have one in the armoury. On the other hand, I can't see myself rushing out to get one.
 
Andy Kev. said:
Thanks for all the replies. It looks like it might be useful to have one in the armoury. On the other hand, I can't see myself rushing out to get one.
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What Sam said Andy, only a fiver or so a set when they come into Lidl and Aldi which is quite often so not much to speculate.
 
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If you ever need to make a hole in a plastic box so you can insert a waterproof cable grommet, they are ideal for the purpose. I don't expect to wear mine out, but that's true of almost all of my tools.
 
It looked to me the gent used the step drill to enlarge the fly cutter pilot hole so that he could follow through the entire thickness with a regular drill bit. The sides of the bit fitting into the short step so that it was centred and would drill cleanly.

I have a cheap set of step drills that I get occasional use out of drilling sheet metal and plastic. The single cutting edge keeps the cut smooth and gradual so it is easier to control in thin materials. No chattered holes and the drill bit doesn't dive into the hole when almost done.

Pete
 
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