3 ms·

I've used most of those alternatives in my life. Here is my advice: The best way to avoid being caught without the right drill bit is to have MULTIPLE sets. Th

I've used most of those alternatives in my life. Here is my advice: The best way to avoid being caught without the right drill bit is to have MULTIPLE sets. They're dirt cheap and never go bad (unless you leave them exposed to the weather). Get a spare drill while you're at it. Hell, get two; they're dirt cheap. All this fiddling about with inferior or not-quite-right-for-the-job tools makes for great HN reading, but is rather pointless in the real world. Also: Drill a pilot hole first. The only cases where I'd say older is better would be places where the quality has gone so far downhill that it impacts the work. Things like: - nails - screws - chisels - axes - knives (although there are still plenty of good knife makers today) - heavy equipment like drill presses, lathes, pipe benders, etc

walterbell 4y ago
Where would one find older screws? What do you think of SPAX and GRK screws?
- eropple 4y ago
  Not OP, but modern screws, bought from reputable suppliers, are absolutely fine. SPAX and GRK are extremely strong in both dimensions; they won't snap when you haul on them with an impact drill and the holding force is extremely...hold-y. If you buy wood screws on Amazon, maybe they have thinner-than-spec threads and get weird. Maybe. I've done it (I can't get, say, oval-head slotted brass screws here too easily, so the internet's the option) and never had problems when I've drilled pilot holes and countersunk them correctly, even on fairly large pieces.
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]