Finally tried that new flexible drill bit from Harbor Freight

I was sure it would snap on the first tough pull through a joist, but it handled a run of RG6 through a tight spot in a 1950s Reno crawlspace without a hitch. The 48 inch length was perfect for getting around a duct I couldn't move. What other cheap tools have you guys been surprised by lately?

3 comments

3 Comments

ninab502mo ago

Those flexible bits are lifesavers in old crawlspaces.

thea_torres2mo ago

Actually, those are usually called flex bits. They're not really flexible like a hose, more like a long spring that can bend around stuff. The real lifesaver is having the right driver attachment so it doesn't just spin uselessly.

craig.reese8d ago

See, I gotta push back on that a little. I've had nothing but headaches with those flex bits (they just never seem to stay straight when you're trying to drill pilot holes for electrical boxes). And the whole "right driver attachment" thing? I've snapped two of those off inside walls because the bit grabbed and the attachment just twisted. Honestly, I'd rather spend the extra time cutting access holes or fishing a regular bit through studs with a flexible shaft extension (the kind that's more like a cable than a spring). At least then I know I'm not going to end up with a half-broken bit stuck where I can't even get to it.