Drill bit set - HSS or not?

[Richard_C]

I've just been given a nice set of drill bits by a friend who was clearing out his deceased father's garage. They are very old - probably 40 years plus - and he lived in the USA for a while.

All brand new, opening the box released the nostalgic smell of the machine machine oil from when they were packed. Steel box says Huot St Pauls, but as far as I can see they specialised in the index boxes not the bits. 1/16 to 1/2 in 64ths. Almost too nice to use, but no point owning them and not using them. But should I only use them on wood I wonder.

Very bright steel throughout, shafts are lightly marked with the size and on the bigger ones 2 sets of letters: US and HS. Its HS, not HSS. So I wonder, was that how HSS was named back then, or maybe still is now in some countries?

 

[Myfordman]

Wood drills have a spike point to dig into the wood to stop them wandering. A metal drill will have a 118 degree tip ie much blunter than a wood drill.
Almost certainly will some form of HSS as CS would not last 5 mins.
Tools are meant to be used, it you blunt one then just sharpen it like any other tool.

 

[Gordon Tarling]

To me, 'HS' has always meant the same as 'HSS', so they should be decent drills and capable of drilling most metals, as well as wood.

G

 

[Richard_C]

To me, 'HS' has always meant the same as 'HSS', so they should be decent drills and capable of drilling most metals, as well as wood.

Thanks, I've never seen HS before and the shiny-ness sort of misled me. I will use them as HSS.