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Best Metalworking Drill Bit Sets

Updated April 2022
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Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
DEWALT Titanium Pilot Point Drill Bit Set
DEWALT
Titanium Pilot Point Drill Bit Set
Customer Favorite

An inexpensive set that performs well and can drill through basic metals.

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Customer Favorite
Bottom Line

An inexpensive set that performs well and can drill through basic metals.

Pros

Made from steel. Has a tip made from very strong titanium. Good bits for the money. Decent durability on the bits. Can handle heavy use. Strongly built and well-engineered. Can also work on wood or other materials.

Cons

Not rated for masonry use.

Best Bang for the Buck
Hurricane 230 Pieces Titanium Twist Drill Bit Set
Hurricane
230 Pieces Titanium Twist Drill Bit Set
High Quality, Low Price

This kit offers a large quantity of strong drill bits in a variety of size options all for an affordable price.

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High Quality, Low Price
Bottom Line

This kit offers a large quantity of strong drill bits in a variety of size options all for an affordable price.

Pros

Easily cuts perfect, smooth, round holes. Built with high speed steel for a strong and durable build. Works well for both experts and amateurs. Has 19 different sizes. Comes with a durable, plastic storage box.

Cons

Small bits can break under stress.

Irwin Industrial Tools Metal Index Drill Bit Set
Irwin
Industrial Tools Metal Index Drill Bit Set
Best for Everyday Use

A set made from cobalt-steel alloy that includes a variety of sizes.

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Best for Everyday Use
Bottom Line

A set made from cobalt-steel alloy that includes a variety of sizes.

Pros

Effective at taking out bolts. Nice well designed holder. A good set for standard projects. Bits do not tend to get as hot as others while drilling. Makes holes fast and easily. With lubricant they work well on hard metals.

Cons

Some customers feel like these bits dull too quickly.

Viking Drill & Tool Super Premium Jobber Drill Set
Viking Drill & Tool
Super Premium Jobber Drill Set
Durable Build

A highly rated set of drill bits made of quality craftmanship that helps make any home project just a bit easier.

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Durable Build
Bottom Line

A highly rated set of drill bits made of quality craftmanship that helps make any home project just a bit easier.

Pros

Built of durable and heavy duty high speed steel. Comes with 29 pieces. Sharp, and effortlessly cuts through multiple materials. Offered in three different packs. Sturdy case included.

Cons

Some were dissatisfied with how the product was packed.

STROTON Cobalt Twist Drill Bits Set
STROTON
Cobalt Twist Drill Bits Set
Simple Yet Solid

A nineteen piece set of drill bits that is easy to use and reviewed by both experts and those new to DIYing.

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Simple Yet Solid
Bottom Line

A nineteen piece set of drill bits that is easy to use and reviewed by both experts and those new to DIYing.

Pros

Designed to withstand cutting through different materials at a fast pace. Solid, sturdy, and built for longevity. Sharp and cut through items easily. Easy to use. Sizes range from one mm to ten mm.

Cons

Case broke easily for some buyers.

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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.About BestReviews 
HOW WE TESTED

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

First Reviewed
November 13, 2021
51
Models
considered
8
Hours
researched
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Buying guide for Best metalworking drill bits

Bob Beacham
Written by Bob Beacham

Updated April 2022

Trying to work out which drill bits are best for metal can be confusing. While designs are largely similar, a number of materials and coatings are used in their manufacture.

A lot of the problem stems from the fact that the metals you might drill vary considerably in terms of hardness. For example, a drill bit capable of making a hole in aluminum might hardly put a scratch on steel.

Durability and price are also important to consider in deciding which metalworking drill bit set to buy.

metalworking drill bits
Drilling metal creates a great deal of heat. Allow time for the drill bit to cool before trying to change it.

Key metalworking drill bit set features

Metalworking drill bit materials and coatings

High-speed steel (HSS): The most common drill bit material, it is relatively hard, affordable, and easy to manufacture in different forms. As a result, it is used for all kinds of cutting tools. Several of the other types of metalworking drill bits also have HSS at their core.

HSS is great for drilling wood and plastic, and it can also drill through non-ferrous metals (those that don’t contain iron) such as aluminum and brass. However, HSS is softer than other drill bits for metal and wears quickly.

Tungsten carbide (often just called carbide): This is a tungsten-and-carbon composite fused to a HSS core to increase drill bit hardness. Carbide drill bits can produce acceptable performance in non-ferrous metals, but while popular for masonry drills, the material is not often used for metalworking drill bits.

Black oxide: This coating is created by a chemical reaction between high-speed steel and sodium at high temperatures. The resulting drill bit can be 50% harder than HSS. Black oxide drills are a good general-purpose choice, capable of efficient drilling of a wide variety of materials, including non-ferrous metals.

Titanium (or TiN, titanium nitride): This is another form of coating applied to a HSS drill bit. It is technically a ceramic, rather than a metal. Like carbide and black oxide, it increases the drill bit’s hardness. Titanium also reduces friction between the drill bit and the material being drilled, so it offers good heat dissipation — and, since overheating is a major cause of wear, greater durability. Titanium drill bits can drill both non-ferrous and ferrous metals (steel and cast iron).

A note of caution: Titanium drill bits are often gold in color. However, cheap sets sold as metalworking drill bits might have gold plating but don’t actually contain any titanium nitride. Buy from recognized brands to avoid disappointment.

Concerns with coatings: The main drawback with tungsten carbide, black oxide, and titanium is that each is a coating. Resharpening is possible, though the coating will eventually wear through, leaving only the HSS core. Often, these drills are considered disposable.

Cobalt: These drill bits are not coated, but are formed as an alloy. So cobalt is added to HSS during production. As a result, cobalt creates the most durable metalworking drill bits, capable of being resharpened over and over again.

There are two types of cobalt drill bit: M35, which contains 5% cobalt, and M42, which contains 8% cobalt. The latter is harder but is also more brittle, so M35 is more common.

Cobalt undoubtedly produces the best metalworking drill bits, capable of drilling both non-ferrous and ferrous metals. However, it comes at a premium price. Professional woodworkers will probably want to make that investment, but do-it-yourself users will often find one of the other options perfectly adequate.

Metalworking drill bit shapes

  • Twist-drill bits: Most metalworking drill bits follow a fairly standard twist-drill pattern with two flutes running down the sides to help clear waste. Tip angles can vary. A 118° angle is probably the most common, and it is considered optimum for non-ferrous metals. Bits for drilling ferrous metals may have a 135° or 140° angle.
  • Stepped drills: These offer versatility when drilling thin sheet material. Each drill bit can contain between 6 and 12 different cutting diameters, in ever-increasing steps. It’s important to check the depth of each step, as this defines the maximum thickness of the sheet it is capable of drilling.
  • Hole saws: Hole saws are most often used for wood or masonry, but tungsten- and titanium-tipped models are available for cutting metal. They offer much greater diameters than twist or stepped drills, but depth of cut is restricted. Hole saws come in two forms. Some have a toothed ring, while others also have a small diameter twist drill in the middle. The middle ring helps position and guide the larger-diameter outer ring. Without it, hole saws can wander dramatically, so a drill press would be needed.
  • Milling machines: Even with hole saws available, the largest-diameter metalworking drill bits are seldom much more than an inch. To produce larger-diameter holes in metal of any thickness, particularly the various types of steel, you need to use a milling machine.

Metalworking drill bit sets

Metalworking drill bit sets vary enormously, from those that contain a half-dozen bits to those that offer over 100. The variety of hole sizes you need to drill on a regular basis will largely define which is most appropriate for you.

Occasional do-it-yourself users will probably find a 15- or 20-piece set that contains all the variety they need, and it may be the only set they ever purchase. However, for regular users and contractors, larger sets do frequently offer a better bang for the buck. They often contain more than one of each size, meaning there’s always a spare handy should a drill bit break.

metalworking drill bits
FOR YOUR SAFETY
Always wear safety glasses or goggles when doing any kind of drilling. Small metal fragments, called swarf, are very sharp.
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Accessory

Drill bit sharpener: Drill Doctor DD350X
It is possible to sharpen drill bits using a bench grinder, but a lot of skill is required to maintain the best angle. The Drill Doctor is quicker and easier, and it uses a diamond wheel to sharpen high-speed steel, carbide, black oxide, titanium, and cobalt twist drills. It can also sharpen masonry drills. It does not sharpen stepped drills or hole saws.

While many powerful hand drills offer sufficient performance to drill metal, where practical, a drill press provides greater control and accuracy.

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Pricing

Inexpensive

If you only need to drill aluminum or brass on an infrequent basis, HSS drill bits will do the job. There are 20-piece sets available for under $20.

Mid-range

Black oxide and titanium drill bits cost a little more. Again using a 20-piece set as a guide, expect to pay between $20 and $30.

Expensive

Cobalt drill bits attract a premium price. For a 20-piece set, you could pay anywhere from $30 to $80. Much depends on the type of cobalt. The number of drill bits also has a big impact, and professional sets can cost hundreds of dollars.

metalworking drill bits
DID YOU KNOW?
When drilling metal with a hand-held drill, never use hammer action. It will create a ragged hole and can damage the drill bit.
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Tips

  • Make a guide. Drilling metal is not as easy as wood or plastic. With wood or plastic, the drill bit will start to bite as soon as you apply pressure, helping keep it in place. That won’t happen with metal, so the drill bit has a tendency to wander. To prevent this, create a small indentation using a hammer and a center punch.
  • Or a pilot hole. For large holes, first drill a small hole called a pilot hole. It is easier to maintain accuracy, and since you’ve removed some material, the larger drill bit will run cooler.
  • Secure it. Use a drill press with a vise, or clamp the workpiece securely if drilling by hand. It is both safer and more accurate.
  • Slow it down. People often think the maximum possible speed needs to be used to drill metal. This is not the case. Slowing the drill down helps prevent overheating, and the bit will cut more efficiently.
  • Deburr it. Drilling metal creates a “burr” on the underside of the workpiece that’s jagged and can result in a nasty cut. Take a larger diameter drill bit or countersink, and twist it around the hole manually to carefully cut away the excess. This is called deburring.
metalworking drill bits
Heat makes drill bits wear more quickly. Maximize their life by using a lubricant. A few drops of three-in-one oil are usually sufficient. Specialist cutting oils are also available.

FAQ

Q. Is cobalt stronger than steel?

A. Cobalt on its own is very hard, but brittle. However, when cobalt is added to steel, the resulting drill bits are much better at drilling metals than steel alone.

Q. What is the best drill bit for aluminum?

A. Low-cost HSS drill bits are capable of drilling aluminum, but they wear fairly quickly. Tungsten-carbide tipped, titanium, and cobalt are all more efficient.

Q. Can I use metalworking drill bits for wood?

A. Yes. The drill bit pattern is usually the same, so drill bits for metal are equally good at drilling wood.

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