Just a small question to the US members if these bits are any good / how tough are they?.

I live in the UK (Scotland) and cant get these types of drill bits, but they look very handy and wouldnt mind getting a few.

Im close to buying a couple on ebay from a US seller and just thought id ask before i buy.

The type of drill bit is a GREENLEE D'Versibit Flexible Drill Bit Kit.

Theres been a few times when i thought that these bits would have saved a lot of time.

Thanks

These bits are great, i wish every competor of ours would use them, the bits will work, don't get me wrong, and they may be a help at times, but you have to remember this is blind drilling, and these bits if not used correctly can do some pretty good damage, just take care when using them.

I used them for a while. When the screw tip got dull (not replaceable) it was worthless. Then another went through a wall I didn't intend it to go through. I've never used them since. It's one of those things that seems like a great idea, but has some big downsides.

I wish my competitors would use them too!

Dave

Yeah,someone I knew once, not me of course, actually drilled right through the roof decking and shingles on an old baloon framed house with one of these bits. I, I mean he was just installing the wiring for a ceiling fan, idiot.

My dad was installing a box with a hand driven flexible 5' drill bit. Went right through the side of the house, through the aluminum siding.
Ian A.

Good tool but it has a learning curve to use it. Like as said before this is blind drilling with a flexible shaft bit. It can be a lifesaver when you can't disturb plaster or disaster going through a wood floor. Learn to use it on jobs that don't matter so much you can get the feel for them. Rod

Well, I use them quite a bit (pardon the pun!), as we do LV wiring (audio/video, comp. ntwkg., etc.) as well as power wiring.

It is of utmost importance to know where the tip of the bit is at all times.

The aiming handle is a good accessory. They do require a few screw-ups before you get good with them.

Don't ask about MY learning curve!

THese are a favorite of mine, however if you don't know how to use them, you'll cause more damage than good.

Drill bit $45
I don't know how many floors, baseboards, and once through a wall, and into the whole next door. Almost bought extremely expensive painting.

Thousands in damages over the years, refuse to use them now, preffer to open walls.

I have a personal story about these.

I once installed two sconces on an exterior wall, about seven feet apart, and it seemed like a good place to try out my new 5-foot flexibit.

I didn't have the extension rod, but I thought if I got through four studs from one direction, I could drill through the last stud from the other side, then try to hook the end of a fish in the last cavity. I know, dumb idea.

But when I was done drilling, I fed in the fish -- and it went straight through all six studs! I'd hit a 1/4" bullseye at five feet while grappling that unwieldy, whipping contraption!

I was so proud of my new-found skill (translation: "cocky") that I went on to drill another hole for some speaker wire through just three first-floor ceiling joists. I swear, that son-of-a-gun made a right-angle turn somewhere and broke out right in the middle of the dining room ceiling.

Ya win some, ya lose some.

I have picked them up and even thought of buying one but every time I hear a story about drilling through a water pipe or something ugly, that memory makes me put it back on the hook. Drywall isn't that hard to patch ;-)

Thanks for all the mixed replies , ive ordered 2 of them (3/8 kit & 3/4 bit) so in a few weeks ill have some fun. Just as well the garage ceiling isn`t plasterboarded i`ll practice on it



[This message has been edited by sanUK (edited 07-12-2005).]

I haven't had the nightmares that these others have had. I also bought the handle/director device that they sell and that helped to keep the bit centered. They are unwieldly in some cases and I've had a 3/4" bit break off the end in a top plate once(it is still there, in a wall in River Forest).

Never been a fan of these things myself. Aside from the aiming issues, they always seem to break right where the bit and shaft come together. My choice would be a nice sharp set of auger bits in various sizes. The torque of almost any size drill also seems to make the shaft torque and twist and misbehave in all kinds of directions. When the bit really starts to bite, that flexible shaft becomes the weak link unable to handle the torque required to drill deep holes

Maybe I am just lucky. I use mine all the time. A couple of close calls but that can happen drilling any hole with any bit. I'll use anything that makes my job easier.

I've used them sparingly. Once I was drilling down from the attic (10' ceilings in the living room) through the top plate with ease. Then came the fire break, like you've heared, drilling blind. I drill into a hot romex conductor. Ya you guessed it, after the sparks and #$@% stopped flying. I choose what I feel is a very useful help, drill a second hole next to your first hole in the top plate and use it as a portal for you to spot your bit in the center of the fire break ensuring that your not drilling a hot condutor.

Good luck, Bert

Has anyone got a link, so we can see what one of these drill-bits looks like?
Thanks
Alan

Alan,
Try www.milwaukeetools.com Look under 'accessories;' these are known as 'bell hanger bits.
I'd give the direct link, but Milwaukee sends you off to another site, which...and so on, and the link gets to be about 1000 letter long :-(

The primary maker of these things is Greenlee, but darned if I couldn't find them in their catalog!

Allan....most Home Depot's have these bits. Check the Greenlee tools section. They look like any other long installers bit but the shaft is flexible. They also offer a optional handle for the shaft of the bit to keep it bent as you drill.

Check here.... http://www.smarthomepro.com/9067.html


edited for link and clarity.

[This message has been edited by Sandro (edited 07-13-2005).]

[This message has been edited by Sandro (edited 07-13-2005).]

... Used one the other day,..and took out a cat5 line for phone... the customer knew when the phone rang and every phone rang BUT the kitchen one... had to re-feed the kitchen phone... all for 2 lousy hi-hats...
Russ

They also make great cotton candy.
then you can't get the bit out of the wall !!!!!!!!!!!
the aming is the hardest part to learn