Dewalt just announced new titanium nitride-coated Impact Ready step drill bits. The beauty of step drill bits is that they can go from no-hole to large-hole very quickly as there’s no need to swap between 2, 3, or even more intermediate drill bit sizes. And the beauty of impact drivers are their small size and inherent ability to deliver high reactionless torque.
These step drill bits are optimized for use with cordless impact drivers, but they can also be used with any rotary drills or drivers that can accommodate 1/4″ hex shafts.
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Features:
- split point starts drilling on contact
- spiral flutes for faster drilling
- Ti-coated for longer life
- said to be 40% faster than other models
- “competitively priced”
Dewalt designed the new step drill bit for professionals – carpenters, glaziers, electricians, and HVAC pros – and anyone else needing to drill 1/8″ to 1-1/8″ burr-free holes in sheet metal materials.
These new bits will be available starting in July 2012.
Sizes:
- 1/8″ – 1/2″ (DWA1783IR)
- 3/16″ – 1/2″ (DWA1784IR)
- 3/16″ – 7/8″ (DWA1786IR)
- 7/8″ – 1-1/8″ (DWA1789IR)
- 3pc Set (DWA1790IR)
Buy Now(via Amazon)
Harold
Reactionless? Do they violate Newton’s Third Law? Haha, just giving you a hard time.
Obviously, you meant that impact drivers have an inherent ability to virtually eliminate the torque transfer back to the operator’s hand.
Stuart
That’s just the buzzword everyone’s been using, and I cannot come up with a better one or two-word alternative.
But yes, you’re right, it essentially just means that there is no developed counter-torque. If a drill or non-impact screwdriver jams up, the tool will rotate in the opposite direction. Such is never so with an impact driver.
Jason
One of the hottest items for 2012
AndrewC
“reactionless torque” – I like that term. I always found it hard to explain to people the benefits of an impact driver over just a regular drill/driver.
Fred
For people who use step drills often, it seems like they would wear down quicker than the two bits needed for your pilot & final hole. With a quick connector, the amount of time saved (or not as some step drills seem to take a while) seems negligible.
Am I missing something? Maybe I have just not been in a situation where one was the best way to go.
Kurt
I use my dewalt 7/8- 1 1/8 step bit in a impact almost everyday putting holes in panels, meter sockets, hoffman boxes etc. 2 years going strong, faster than our maxxis punch, greenlee hydrolic punch, and any other drill bits/step bits! Only issue is its dangerous….throws metal EVERYWHERE. Stays sharp due to low rpm. This is the only bit i push like hell to keep the rpm low as possible
JML
The “classic” Unibits have a straight flute, while the new DeWalt (and the similar Ruko, from Germany) have a spiral flute. That obviously changes the cutting edge, but what else does it do?
By the way, I suggest staying away from the double-flute tree-bits like these, as sold by Sears. I found they chatter badly and don’t cut holes as nicely as the Unibits.
JML
Here’s a picture of the Ruko.
http://img.directindustry.com/images_di/photo-g/step-drill-bit-459466.jpg
Stuart
Spiral flutes => faster chip removal, which can sometimes lead to faster drilling.