What drill bit do I use for this simple turned nightmare job?

[MISWFL]

You have to look at the item or the packaging. Made in China is bad, IMO. Made in the USA with global components is probable just as bad. I try to go back in time, by buying old stuff before made in China was a thing in the US. Made in Japan and Taiwan is usually good. My strategy is to buy when I see quality items at a great price, like at flea markets and garage sales, even if I have no need for it then. Buying at the moment usually means getting garbage quality at crazy high prices, especially since after the US "changed" in 2020.

 

[Josh B]

I also have a decent trust, or respect of heat treated items from Mexico, Thailand, and Viet Nam.
I see them as "not being afraid of the heat", yes I have worked with it too, and well recall what it was like, thankfully I worked the night shift

 

[Roert42]

Next question...how do I avoid Chinese drill bits?
I try to stick to names like Vermont,Irwin and Drill Hog. Am I on the right track?

There is a lot of tooling made in the USA, but I wouldn't simply assume that just because it's a name brand. I doubt drill bits you find in a box store would be made in US. Even if a manufacture does sell made in US tooling, I would expect them to have a cheaper made in China version to sell at the box stores.

If I'm buying my tooling onesie twosie I just get them from McMaster, in my experience they only sell high quality tooling and it seems they source as much as possible as Made in USA. If I was buying a whole drill index full, I will shop around for something reasonably priced.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I try to avoid China anything anymore. Often unfortunately not really possible, but I try. Mostly you have to look at packaging anymore. A lot of big manufacturers source from multiple places. Vermont I don’t think is as good as they used to be. Irwin is usually decent quality. Milwaukee, Bosch, and Diablo have really upped the game, all three produce some pretty good quality and I’ve seen a surprising amount of their stuff not made in China. Diablo, well, most of their stuff seems to be Swiss or USA, which was a nice find.

 

[oldgeek]

I'd be curious to take a small nail and lightly tap it with a hammer in the hole and discern what it sounds like.

A small carbide bit in a hand drill is a good way to break a bit.

Hertel bits are good also.