Michael Anderson
Reviewed in the United States on March 15, 2025
First time I used one the spring broke.
Scott
Reviewed in the United States on February 12, 2025
Used two of these extractors and they both broke off in the bolt with little effort.
Rich S
Reviewed in the United States on September 17, 2024
Clarke Brothers makes small hand tools for woodworking, so I expected these to be better quality than they appear to be. They will drill centered holes as advertised, but it takes a lot of force to get a hole of any depth, and I had to stop almost constantly to clean the chips out, they just jam up instead of ejecting. Overall, they work but not well.
Sandy Moose
Reviewed in the United States on August 15, 2024
Very happy with this selection of centering bits as it allows me to do most any work I need to on wooden doors and jambs. The case is rugged enough and quite useful for keeping my bits together and clean from dust and debris. Every size I'm likely to use in the field!
J. B.
Reviewed in the United States on July 8, 2024
I've used Vix bits for years, they also have their share of issues. But, I was hoping that this set would be as good as the Vix bits. Some of the bits, the smaller ones, were similar to Vix. The centering shroud had a taper at the nose. But, the larger bits, the nose was just a piece of closely fit tubing. For the exact right size of counter sink, this will work, but if the counter sink is just a bit too small, the nose will not center.Virtually everyone of the bits will get jammed with the chips, so that I'd have to dissemble the bit to clear the wood chips. The Vix bits will do this occasionally, but I was having to do this on almost every hope.Finally, the 1/4" bit has a stepped down bit in it, so there is realistically no way to replace the bit when it breaks.These will do the job for some holes, but it takes more work than it should.
Tobi
Reviewed in the United States on July 26, 2024
If you are the occasional woodworker that wants a variety pack of self centering bits, This is may be okay. I generally use the ROCKLER brand for the standard common sizes (like for shelf pins) but I needed a set with smaller sizes when I need to predrill for precise holes like in cabinet hinges so I thought I would give these a try since the whole kit retails for about $25 and each of the specific sized bits from ROCKLER are about $12-15.I am only giving this set 3 stars because it is only okay. There is a lot of inconsistencies in the manufacturing that makes some of the bits very stiff to plunge through the sleeve. Even the few that moved smoothly had vastly different spring pressures.The zip up pouch is nice. Its better than nothing, but it doesn't hold the bits in an organized fashion and it doesn't prevent the bits from crashing into each other. Yes, the sleeves should protect the drill bits, but I still prefer that brill bits not store in a big pile.
Bruce Benefield
Reviewed in the United States on July 25, 2024
I have a bad habit of getting screw holes for hinges slightly off center which of course pull the hinge slightly out of alignment, I blame middle age eyes. I’ve only used these once to set some closet door hinges and they worked like a charm. Basically they drill the pilot hole to get you started, the bit only goes about 1/2 inch but that’s enough to set the screw straight. I did experience some clogging but it was a minor inconvenience. The real test is when I start hanging cabinet doors on kitchen cabinets with smaller holes. If clogging is an issue I’ll modify this review. At this point I’d recommend.
trektek
Reviewed in the United States on July 19, 2024
I'm just someone who puts around the house, I'm not a hard core or a extremely experienced repairman/handyman. For the most part I only do what needs to be done, with some small projects here and there. I have done some woodworking and thought this Clarke Brothers Self-Centering Drill Bit Set would serve me well. And I wasn't wrong.My first project using the Clarke Brothers Self-Centering Drill Bit Set is to replace/install a new interior door for my home. The door itself came with holes pre-drilled for the hinges, but since my house is older, they don't line up with the holes from the previous door's hinges. I found that a bit curious as the door fit perfectly in all other respects. Perfect opportunity to try these out. And.....this is pretty awesome! Centered holes for the hinges without any real issues. The shavings/chips did bind the bit once, but it wasn't a big deal to clear, and other than that it was smooth sailing. This is my first experience with these types of bits, the "self-centering" aspect, and I actually had never heard of them before stumbling upon them on Amazon. Also, not familiar with the Clarke brand/line of tools, but after my experience with these I'll have to keep a lookout for more of their products.Overall a very excellent experience. The main question I guess would be would I order these again? That answer would be an emphatic yes I would. Likewise with recommending them to others, I would absolutely do that.A+++++