john wrote:


SteveB wrote:
I bought a bunch of drill bits at yard sales recently. Some only have
flutes about a third of the way up the shaft, then clear shaft.
They're as long as normal bits, so they haven't been resharpened until
becoming that short. Can someone explain these to me?

Steve

They could be spotting drills or just a special ordered drill. Spotting
drills are used to locate or spot a drilled hole. They are made with
short flutes so they will be still and not wander when they first touch
the metal.


John



I have seen something similar used in places that work primarily with
thin material and sheetmetal type stuff. The work piece is never very
thick so you don't need full length flutes, but still have enough length
on the bit to reach places that a stubby bit would not. I suppose it
makes them more rigid and perhaps less expensive. There is a generic
name for them that is escaping me right now.