Overview

This 7-piece center drill set gives you all seven standard sizes in M2 high speed steel, ground to a 60-degree included angle. Center drills serve two functions on the lathe: they start a precision hole in the end of a workpiece to guide subsequent drilling, and they create the 60-degree countersink seat that a live center or dead center seats into when turning long stock between centers. This center drill set covers sizes 1.0mm through 5.0mm — the full range used in mini lathe and bench lathe work.

Key Features

• 7 sizes in one set: 1.0mm, 1.5mm, 2.0mm, 2.5mm, 3.0mm, 4.0mm, and 5.0mm body diameters — covers workpiece diameters from 3/16" up to 5"
• 60-degree included angle: matches the standard live center and dead center seat geometry used on virtually all lathes
• M2 high speed steel construction: hardened for wear resistance and heat tolerance in steel, cast iron, aluminum, brass, and copper
• Combined drill and countersink: single-pass operation creates both the pilot hole and countersink in one step, eliminating tool changes
• Organized plastic storage case: each bit sits in a dedicated slot — no loose rattling that would damage the ground flutes in transit or storage
• Straight shank: held in any standard drill chuck with 1-13mm or larger capacity

Specifications

Compatibility

Center drills mount in a standard drill chuck — they do not insert directly into a taper socket. Any machine with a drill chuck installed can use this set. Compatible machines include:

• Sieg C2 / SC2 / C3, Harbor Freight 7x10 (#93212), 7x12 (#44142): mini lathes — install drill chuck in MT2 tailstock, then use this center drill set
• Grizzly G8688, G0602, G0765 (7x14), G0704: mid-size mini lathe and mill — G0704 mill uses drill chuck in R8 spindle
• LittleMachineShop HiTorque 7x16, Micro-Mark 7x16, Autobox 7x14 and 8x16: MT2 tailstock mini lathes
• South Bend 9", Atlas / Craftsman 12x36, Jet BD-X Series, Logan 200 / 400: bench lathes with MT2 tailstock drill chuck
• Sieg X2 / SX2, LittleMachineShop HiTorque mini mill, Harbor Freight #44991, Autobox MD100930: mini mills with drill chuck in R8 spindle
• Drill presses (MT2 or MT3 spindle): bench-top and floor models — any drill chuck that accepts straight shank bits

Not sure if this fits your machine? Message us — we will confirm before you order.

What's in the Box

• 7x HSS center drill bits (sizes 1.0mm, 1.5mm, 2.0mm, 2.5mm, 3.0mm, 4.0mm, 5.0mm body diameter)
• 1x Plastic storage case with individual bit slots

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do I hold these in my machine — do they fit directly in a MT2 or MT3 tailstock socket?
A: No. Center drills have a straight shank and must be held in a drill chuck. Install a drill chuck in your tailstock (or drill press), then insert the center drill into the chuck as you would any straight-shank bit. If you need a drill chuck for your tailstock, see our MT2 Tailstock Drilling Kit.

Q: What RPM should I run center drills at?
A: For the smaller sizes (#1-#3 / 1.0-2.0mm), use higher spindle speeds — 800 to 1500 RPM on a mini lathe in steel. For larger sizes (#5-#7 / 3.0-5.0mm), 400 to 800 RPM. Use cutting oil or coolant. The #1 tip is the most fragile — do not force it or bury it more than half the body diameter deep. Reduce speed or increase feed gradually if the tip deflects or chatters.

Q: What is the difference between this HSS set and a carbide center drill set?
A: M2 HSS is the standard material for center drills and handles the full range of materials a hobby machinist encounters (aluminum, brass, mild steel, cast iron). Carbide center drills cost significantly more and are mainly used in production CNC applications with flood coolant. For mini lathe and manual drill press work, HSS is the correct choice and will last through many jobs with proper speed and feed.

Q: Can I use these as countersinks in a drill press for sheet metal?
A: Yes. The 60-degree angle works as a countersink for #6 and #8 flat-head machine screws. Choose the size whose body diameter matches the screw head diameter. Keep RPM moderate and use light feed pressure — the center drill tip is not designed for heavy countersink passes.