An inexpensive set that performs well and can drill through basic metals.
An inexpensive set that performs well and can drill through basic metals.
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.
Not rated for masonry use.
This kit offers a large quantity of strong drill bits in a variety of size options all for an affordable price.
This kit offers a large quantity of strong drill bits in a variety of size options all for an affordable price.
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.
Small bits can break under stress.
A set made from cobalt-steel alloy that includes a variety of sizes.
A set made from cobalt-steel alloy that includes a variety of sizes.
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.
Some customers feel like these bits dull too quickly.
A highly rated set of drill bits made of quality craftmanship that helps make any home project just a bit easier.
A highly rated set of drill bits made of quality craftmanship that helps make any home project just a bit easier.
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.
Some were dissatisfied with how the product was packed.
A nineteen piece set of drill bits that is easy to use and reviewed by both experts and those new to DIYing.
A nineteen piece set of drill bits that is easy to use and reviewed by both experts and those new to DIYing.
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.
Case broke easily for some buyers.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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