When I buy an SDS bit its lovely and shiny and the size is clearly marked. After a while slight surface rust appears making it had to see what size the drill bit is. I normally I rub a little bit of water on the area where the size is marked to help me see the size of the bit. Do any readers have any suggestions for making the size of older drill bits more clear? Thanks for read.
Unless it's an "engineering" type of job, (in which case you probably wouldn't be using SDS anyway!) the exact size not that critical is it?
Water is not the best way to remove rust !!!! Try a piece of "Scotchbrite" or steel wool with 3in1 oil or WD40.
Buy a set of bits in a moulded case wot has the drill sizes clearly marked on it... Jeepers, this has to be the most finicky Q yet posted on SF! Ok, ok, ok... First wire-brush the engraved size on the drill so's it's spanking. Then spray the engraved size with a light-coloured spray colour - white, silver, red, pick, orange, pale blue, bright yellow, dark turquoise, medium sepia... and allow to dry. Then go over the size with some fine-grade paper - ooh, 220 grit, or 260, or 320, or 400, or 5-something, or 600. But - sand using a solid block to hold the paper so's the engraved bit ohIcan'tbearsed...
or you can buy drill bit size guides like this: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Metric-Dr...Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM&hash=item27ccf60538
Take a hacksaw(really) and slightly cut a number of lines along the widest part of the shaft(the raised part adjacent to the three grooves). 7mm= IIIIIII 6.5mm = IIIIII/ In future, lubricate used drills after every use, or keep in a waxed roll. Mr. HandyAndy - Really
I still can't see any need for that much accuracy in sizing of SDS drill bits! After all it's quite easy to see whether the bit is about the size you need, and you can always measure the width of the bit if it's that critical for some reason.
Well if you drill holes for a 6mm rawlplug with a 6.5 or 7mm bit, your stuffed. Mr. HandyAndy - Really
I have a 5.5mm drill bit for my red plugs and a no 8 screw. It's the cleanest drill bit. Easy to find. Most often used! When I need to know a critical size (for example, rawl bolts, sleeve anchors etc), I simply rub the area the engraved size is to clean it and double check. You know the size roughly by eye, and just need to confirm.
Like Lectrician, I use a long 5.5mm bit for red plugs. I've got other size bits, but the 12, 14, 16 , 18 , 20, 22 and 25 are self explanatory. I've got stubby 6 & 8mm bits that came with some bit of kit, but all I do is lend them to other trades when they can't find theirs.