That $20 paddle bit set from Harbor Freight nearly ruined my kitchen remodel

Tbh I thought I was being smart saving cash on a cheap paddle bit set. The first hole went fine but the second one caught a knot in the stud and snapped the bit in half, sending the drill flying into my drywall. Cost me an extra $60 to patch the wall and buy a proper Milwaukee bit. Has anyone else had a cheap tool blow up on them mid-project?

2 comments

2 Comments

finleym437d ago

Honestly, this feels a little overblown to me. Your mileage may vary, but a single bit catching a knot and snapping doesn't mean the entire $20 set is dangerous or a scam. Cheap bits are usually just softer steel that dulls fast, not necessarily explosive failures waiting to happen. In my experience, a lot of these freak accidents come down to pushing too hard or hitting the wrong angle, not the price tag. I've used those blue Harbor Freight paddle bits on plywood before and they worked okay for what they cost. A busted drywall patch for $60 is annoying, sure, but it's also a pretty standard DIY learning moment.

mark_price6d ago

Slow your feed rate down, that fixes most catch and snap issues.