Thank you for the demonstration. I was in search of one via handheld drills. I saw it being used on a sailboat to widen a hole in the fiberglass for installation of a new instrument and wanted to learn more about these step bits.
The Irwin Unibit works greak. Bought one to do some drilling in plastic drums - perfect drilling, with no cracks around the holes, and no drill lockup/binding issues.
Trivia, my great uncle Cal Oakes invented the UniBit, sold the rights/patent many many years ago (I think to Irwin) He was quite eccentric, as an inventor should be.
I bought a Blue point set, they come in a three pack,and only go up to 7/8 I think.I’ve only used them a couple times,the steel seems decent that their made of,only time will tell.
klein and milwaukee and others highlight those sizes because electrician commonly use 7/8. 1 1/8. 1 3/8. Because those sizes are for emt conduit / rigid conduit as that correspondes with 1/2. 3/4. And 1 in. Connectors
Brilliant thank you. I just got the gold step bits that you just showed, for a super reduced price. So 😊 happy. They work well. How would you sharpen them?
I'm no expert on drilling, but the step drills seem to be the best for thin material. You don't get that "jammed up" or stopping just at the point of breakthrough like with a twist drill. But, like you said, the material can't be over the thickness of each step or the hole will be partly one diameter and partly another.
I have appreciated the insights you bring to tools and their selection so thank you for posting your thoughts :) Do you have any insights on fine/precision wire strippers (16-28 Ga). I have been using some Teflon-coated fine wires and those are defeating the tools I would usually use.
Not really. It’s great for enlarging knockouts or holes to be covered with fender washers when mounting stuff. They can still into boxes for the most important conduit sizes 1/2,3/4, and 1”. All require 7/8,1 1/8, and 1 3/8” wholes sizes for connectors.
I know a lot of European carpenters- they all told me that surprisingly, carpenters- all over the world often use freedom units. It actually makes the work easier and more precise. Who woulda thought?
Thank you for the demonstration. I was in search of one via handheld drills. I saw it being used on a sailboat to widen a hole in the fiberglass for installation of a new instrument and wanted to learn more about these step bits.
Wow Québec love Canada Merci 😊
Thanks!
Using this to enlarge the area for my M18 Frankenstein Subcompact Impact Wrench this afternoon. Thanks for sharing
The Irwin Unibit works greak. Bought one to do some drilling in plastic drums - perfect drilling, with no cracks around the holes, and no drill lockup/binding issues.
Nice! I've never really used step bits much but I know they're pretty useful for certain things.
Trivia, my great uncle Cal Oakes invented the UniBit, sold the rights/patent many many years ago (I think to Irwin) He was quite eccentric, as an inventor should be.
I bought a Blue point set, they come in a three pack,and only go up to 7/8 I think.I’ve only used them a couple times,the steel seems decent that their made of,only time will tell.
Awesomeness! Love the fact you can put a countersink all in one motion.
klein and milwaukee and others highlight those sizes because electrician commonly use 7/8. 1 1/8. 1 3/8. Because those sizes are for emt conduit / rigid conduit as that correspondes with 1/2. 3/4. And 1 in. Connectors
Brilliant thank you. I just got the gold step bits that you just showed, for a super reduced price. So 😊 happy. They work well. How would you sharpen them?
I call them Christmas 🎄 trees cause they look like they are.
Do they make extensions for the step bits/Uni bits ?? I can’t find one.
I'm no expert on drilling, but the step drills seem to be the best for thin material. You don't get that "jammed up" or stopping just at the point of breakthrough like with a twist drill. But, like you said, the material can't be over the thickness of each step or the hole will be partly one diameter and partly another.
I call them Christmas trees
Great review🤝
Thanks! 👍
The Milwaukee ones are high dollar and they don’t stay sharp long in mild steel
Great video explaining braindead simple concepts to those of us with an IQ of 50!
I have appreciated the insights you bring to tools and their selection so thank you for posting your thoughts :)
Do you have any insights on fine/precision wire strippers (16-28 Ga). I have been using some Teflon-coated fine wires and those are defeating the tools I would usually use.
I haven't used one yet, but Knipex has a unique designed one for stripping small wire.
So there is avery limited use of this step drill bit. Right?
Not really. It’s great for enlarging knockouts or holes to be covered with fender washers when mounting stuff. They can still into boxes for the most important conduit sizes 1/2,3/4, and 1”. All require 7/8,1 1/8, and 1 3/8” wholes sizes for connectors.
NOT a good idea for a hole deeper than the depth if each step on the bit.
These are really meant for sheet metal.
Do your wallet a favor - run a pilot before your step bits.
Hole saw pilot bit always work good
Seriously why can't Americans use metric? Those numbers are so confusing, use millimeter in this case is make much more sense.
I know a lot of European carpenters- they all told me that surprisingly, carpenters- all over the world often use freedom units. It actually makes the work easier and more precise. Who woulda thought?