On Mon, 20 Oct 2014 14:18:53 +0100, "Dave Plowman (News)"
wrote:

In article ,
MM wrote:
I bought two 8mm ones last week and started to use them yesterday with
my dowelling jig They were, of course, cheap. But totally useless. One
was slightly "warped", i.e. it didn't rotate true. And neither one was
any good at actually penetrating soft pine. I had to switch to using a
standard twist drill that has been used several times, so wasn't new.
Also, the wood wasn't knotted.

Has anyone else had a bad experience with drills from Wilko? I'm
currently thinking of ordering a De Walt product in the hope that this
will be better.

Strangely I've seen this too with these type of drills - the set I have is
branded Black and Decker. One of them is bent. And none what I'd call
sharp. I've never had a bent HSS drill, so I'd guess it's down to how
they're made? Softer steel which can bend - whereas HSS just break?

Obviously inferior quality steel and/or manufacturing process. The
stores don't give a damn as long as they can sell 'em to some mugs
(i.e. me in this case). Time to speak to a few carpenters, cabinet
makers I reckon. See what they recommend. Of course, there's always
flat bits intead... hmm.

MM