Sutton and P&N

[jack620]

I had a look at the Sutton range in Bunnings today and found the following:

• The ⅛" Viper drill bit was marked "New Zealand Made"
• The ⅜" Viper bit was marked "Australian Made"
• The double-ended rivet drill bits were marked "Made in Australia"
• The P&N M6 tap and drill bit set was marked "Made in China"

[Itms]

I had a look at the Sutton range in Bunnings today and found the following:

• The ⅛" Viper drill bit was marked "New Zealand Made"
• The ⅜" Viper bit was marked "Australian Made"
• The double-ended rivet drill bits were marked "Made in Australia"
• The P&N M6 tap and drill bit set was marked "Made in China"

I bought sutton tap and die. Was made in china. Auger made in taiwan. Holesaw are Chinese made too. I have bought them all recently. My new 2nd set of sutton heavy duty cobalt set has no country of origin on it, the older one did. Same with viper set said made in new Zealand 25 piece one i had for while. Sutton has in recent drills and sets not stating where they are made.
Quality seems same though

[clear out]

I needed a holesaw to drill 2 x 90mm holes in a plastic water tank.
I had a Starrett 86mm saw which had made an 88 hole.
I bought a cheap (under $10) P & N holesaw from mitre ten.
Made in China with a non standard single central pilot drill set up.
It was thinner gauge steel than the Starret and although marked 90mm on packaging only measured 89.
Worked ok, of the two holes after removing the top and bottom plastic burrs one fitted the other needed about 1mm carved out with a snap knife.
I’m happy with the result, cheap enough I could have spent $50 to $100 on a better saw from bunnies or Sydney/total tools but this did the job.
H.

[jack620]

It was thinner gauge steel than the Starret and although marked 90mm on packaging only measured 89.

The hole saw measured 89mm or the hole it made? In my experience they wobble like crazy and make oversize holes. Maybe they make them slightly undersize to allow for that?

[clear out]

It measures a fraction under 89mm.
It drilled one 90mm hole and one oval shaped one say 89mm x 90mm which was easy to make fit in plastic. Hand held drill with tank on its side.

I find the Starrett and other quality saws ok in a drill press normally with the sheet metal clamped and coolant/lube used.
Ive been known to replace the pilot drill with a plain pilot after predrilling the pilot hole exactly where I want it.
H.