Identifying random drill bits

In the workplace yes things should be put where they belong but we're talking about home shops here. It doesn't bother me one bit to sit down and go thru that tub of drills. I have a seperate tub that I throw the ocasional dull drill bit in, about once a year I set up my drill grinder and sharpen them.
 
That's a habit I'm trying hard to develop. Trouble is that the bits in question are those I have acquired from a variety of sources and were not labeled or delineated in any way when I got them. If I can figure out what sizes these are, I'll keep them in the correct indices from now on.

Harry

ranch23 said:
Makes a good case for .... putting things away when you're done using it.
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After working on multi-spindles for several years, I got in the habit of micing each and every drill bit.

Sometimes you have to know the exact dimensions. No guesswork., and it doesn't take long to mic them.
 
I plan to buy a handful of drill indexes to store them,
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I would use divided drawers or boxes large enough to store at least a dozen bits of each size. You'll wind up, after measuring and sorting, with a dozen or two of one size and few of some others. When you want a bit later, you'll be able to see all of your stock in one place, and can choose a new one, or one ground for brass, or maybe an old one that's "good enough" or is expendable. You can buy one index and fill it from the stock drawers.
 
Bill Gruby said:
I use a set of calipers. I turn the bit backwards till the calipers read straight across the flutes of the bit.
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i also use calipers, but I lay the bit lengthwise parallel with the jaws. That way you get about 40mm of contact along the flutes. Hopefully enough to ensure the major dia is detected. Another problem with taking readings from the shank is the possibility of jaw marks/burrs/spin scores, giving false readings.

Cheers Phil
 
Great idea. Thank you. I did some measuring this afternoon while I was taking a break and you're correct, of course. There were at least nine size "D" bits in the lot, and several more duplicates. Add to the duplications that the bits are about half screw machine length and half jobber length and the number of indices would add up fairly quickly.

Thanks again,
Harry

Alan Douglas said:
I would use divided drawers or boxes large enough to store at least a dozen bits of each size. You'll wind up, after measuring and sorting, with a dozen or two of one size and few of some others. When you want a bit later, you'll be able to see all of your stock in one place, and can choose a new one, or one ground for brass, or maybe an old one that's "good enough" or is expendable. You can buy one index and fill it from the stock drawers.
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