Guy at the flea market taught me more about drill bits in 5 minutes than YouTube ever did

I was at the flea market in Tucson last Saturday looking at old tools and this older guy selling them just started talking my ear off. I mentioned I was tired of my bits burning through metal and he laughed and said I was using the WRONG speed. He grabbed a rusty bit off his table and showed me how to read the wear pattern, said if the chips are blue I'm spinning too fast. Then he handed me a dull bit and told me to look at the cutting edge, said most people sharpen them at the wrong angle. I stood there for like 10 minutes while he explained how to adjust the drill speed based on the material thickness. It was free advice from someone who clearly had done this for 40 years. Has anyone else had a random stranger give them better tool wisdom than any tutorial online?

2 comments

2 Comments

grant.margaret20d ago

Oh man, I remember reading something about how most people run their drills way too fast for metal. That guy sounds like a goldmine of practical knowledge, did he give you any tips on lubricant for drilling?

hayes.elliot19d ago

Wait, you're telling me there are actually people who still run drills dry on metal? That's like trying to cut steak with a butter knife. I had a buddy who ruined a whole set of bits before someone finally told him about tapping fluid.