- Twist. Twist drills are the most basic type of drill bits used for general purposes. There are numerous sizes and types, each with its unique uses.
- Screwdriver. Screwdriver bits are the most common type picked for drilling metal. ...
- Masonry. Masonry bits are specifically designed to work on extremely hard surfaces like concrete, brick, and stone instead of softer metals.
- Spur Point. Spur point bits are specifically made for drilling through thin materials like sheet metal, brass, and copper.
- Tile Bit. Tile drill bits are specifically designed to use with standard power drills for drilling through ceramic tile and porcelain.
- Flatwood. Flatwood bits are made for drilling through soft materials (plywood, particleboard, and other types of wood).
- Hole Saw. Hole saw bits are designed to bore through a wide range of different materials. ...
- Specialty Bits. Specific bits are designed to cut through a single type of material for a specific purpose. ...
What is the best drill bit for drilling steel?
- BEST OVERALL: IRWIN Drill Bit Set, M35 Cobalt Steel, 29-Piece
- BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Neiko 10193A Titanium Step Drill Bit Set
- BEST UPGRADE: 230 Pieces Titanium Twist Drill Bit Set
- MOST DURABLE: Hymnorq Metric M35 Cobalt Steel
- BEST FOR HOBBYISTS: Bosch CO14B 14 Pc. Cobalt M42 Drill Bit Set
What drill bit should you use for metal?
Your Complete Guide to Drill and Screwdriver Bits
- Twist Drills (Wood, Metal, Masonry) Twist bits are the most common kind of drill bit. Most standard drills will usually come with a few differently-sized twist drill bits.
- Boring Bits. Sometimes, you’ll need to drill a bigger hole than a standard bit will allow. ...
- Brush Bits. ...
- CRV Screwdriver Bits. ...
- Socket Bits. ...
- Be Prepared. ...
What is the best drill bit set for steel?
What is the Best HSS Drill Bit Set for Professional Use?
- My RECOMMENDATIONS. ...
- Number (Wire Gauge) Series:
- CHAMPION General Purpose HSS Wire Gauge Series, 60 Piece Drill Set. ...
- Fractional Series:
- Viking Drill and Tool 29 Piece Fractional HSS Premium Drill Set. ...
- Letter Series:
- Chicago Latrobe High Speed Steel NUMBER Jobber Drill Set. ...
- Combination Set:
Who makes the best drill bits?
Drill America makes M42 cobalt bits that held up really well in drilling through anything we threw at them. After testing with a multitude of materials, we selected their jobber bits as our best drill bits for hardened steel. The bits feature the expected 135° split point, which gives you a nice, steady, and productive drilling speed.
What type of drill bit is used for metal?
Cobalt drill bits are used for drilling hard metal and steel. They dissipate heat quickly and are highly resistant to abrasions, making them better for drilling into hard metals than black oxide- or titanium-coated drill bits.
How do you know if a drill bit is for metal?
You can distinguish an HSS bit by its black color -- a conventional steel bit is chrome. If you're drilling through hardened metal, even an HSS bit can wear out quickly, and you may need one made from tungsten carbide or titanium.
What is the strongest drill bit for metal?
Cobalt (HSCO) includes between 5 and 8% cobalt in the base, making it an excellent option for drilling into harder steel and stainless steel. Carbide is the strongest drill bit for metal and is typically reserved for professional-grade tools.
Is cobalt or titanium drill bits better?
Cobalt drill bits are more expensive, but offer longer life, and are more resistant to heat than titanium drill bits. Cobalt drill bits are also tougher and can drill holes in the hardest metals.
Why won't my drill bit go through metal?
Regular drill bits are not designed to cut through metals. Therefore, they can easily wear away. So you need hard bits which can drill through metals without being damaged.
What Colour is a metal drill bit?
Usually, drill bits that are for metal can be distinguished by their black color. They are also usually made from tungsten carbide, cobalt or titanium, which should be noted on the packaging if you're buying new.
How do you drill a hole in metal?
In general, it's a good idea to drill through metal using as slow a speed as possible using a drill bit for metal. Hard metals like steel and larger drill bits require even slower speeds. With a small twist bit (1/16 in. to 3/16 in.), you can drill through most metals at 3,000 rpm.
Are titanium drill bits good for metal?
Titanium bits are suitable for drilling iron, steel, aluminum, magnesium, and wood. Titanium bits are great for general purpose drilling in a production environment because they drill quickly.
Are titanium or black oxide drill bits better?
As we've mentioned earlier, titanium drill bits can yield the desired results on tougher surfaces such as metals. But the black oxide ones are more suited for relatively softer materials. Hence, keep in mind the surfaces you'll be working on while making a choice.
Which is better carbide or cobalt?
Carbide drill bits are generally more expensive than cobalt but can withstand higher temperatures and have greater wear resistance. This leads to longer tool life, often offsetting the cost difference.
Do cobalt drill bits break easily?
Like other HSS bits, they are corrosion-resistant, which means they should retain their condition in all storage and usage conditions they're likely to experience. However, cobalt can be brittle. If your cobalt drill bits aren't cared for properly or are dropped, they can break – which can prove costly.
What are cobalt drills used for?
Cobalt drill bits are particularly successful in cutting through hard metals such as stainless steel and cast iron, although they can be used for softer materials, too. Cobalt drill bits are not made of pure cobalt, but rather a steel alloy with 5 to 8 percent cobalt.
How do you tell the difference between a metal drill bit and a wood drill bit?
0:000:52Metal vs. Wood (Lip & Spur) Drill Bit - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd it suited for a wood. This little dipper centers the drilling bit and flap or the other one forMoreAnd it suited for a wood. This little dipper centers the drilling bit and flap or the other one for this one is needed to create a small point on the metal. In order the drilling bit not to wander.
How can you tell the difference between a concrete and metal drill bit?
0:002:35different between concrete,wood & metal drill bit - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo for concrete is for concrete okay bill for example you want to install the wall plug. So you useMoreSo for concrete is for concrete okay bill for example you want to install the wall plug. So you use this type of drill bits.
How can you tell the difference between a wood and metal bit?
The main difference between a metal and wood drill bit is in geometry. The wood bit has a spur in the center that will penetrate the wood and keep the bit stable during drilling. The metal bit is a twist bit with conical cutting tips followed by spiral flutes.
How can you tell the difference between a wood and steel drill bit?
As for how to tell them apart - wood drill bits have two distinguishing features: a spar (also brad) and a lip. The spar helps in keeping the bit centered when starting the hole and prevents wandering of the bit on the surface of the wood.
What type of drill bit is used for metalworking?
There are two types of drill bits that you can count on for metalworking projects: titanium and cobalt. Titanium drill bits are high-speed steel drill bits (HSS) that have a titanium oxide coating. They are very hard, and corrosion-resistant.
What are cobalt drill bits made of?
As the name suggests, cobalt drill bits are made of cobalt steel. Unlike titanium drill bits, they can be sharpened. Cobalt drill bits are very hard, highly heat-resistant, abrasive and ideal for drilling through cast iron, stainless steel and titanium.
Which is harder, titanium or cobalt?
Titanium drill bits are harder than cobalt, but because they are coated, they can't be sharpened. Cobalt drill bits are made of cobalt steel, and they can be sharpened. They are also highly resistant to heat and are very hard and abrasive.
Can you drill through steel?
Drilling through steel is not an everyday home repair activity, and drill bits for metals are the most expensive. Regular drill bits can't cut through steel, so you need a heavy-duty, hard drill bit to do the job. There are two types of drill bits that you can count on for metalworking projects: titanium and cobalt.
Can you use titanium drill bits on wood?
Whether you can use metal drill bits for wood or not depends on the wood type and the type of drill bit used. Most metal drill bits increase splintering and tear-out when you use them for wood. However, titanium drill bits tend to be fine for this application.
What type of metal do bits drill through?
Bits that drill through metal are further classified by the types of metal they puncture. For example, some bits are capable of drilling through ferrous metals, such as cast iron, and others through nonferrous metals, such as copper and tin.
What is the purpose of a metal drill bit?
Metal drill bits are usually coated with titanium or black oxide. This coating reduces friction, which keeps the drill bit from heating up and eventually breaking. Because the coating reduces friction, it also increases drill speed .
What kind of drill bit does the Hulk use?
When you need to drill through hardened metals such as wrought iron or stainless steel, look no further than the Drill Hulk’s cobalt metal drill bit set. The set comes with a dozen ⅛-inch twist drill bits made from high-speed steel and cobalt for durable performance and heat resistance.
What are Hymnorq bits made of?
The downside is they are not suitable for drilling the hardest types of metal, including titanium and high-carbon steel. Made from cobalt steel combined with molybdenum for added durability, the Hymnorq bits are friction and heat resistant. This set features 13 bits that range in size from 1/16 inch to 1/4 inch to cover your metal drilling needs.
How to make a drill bit work better?
Use a lubricant as you drill. A drop of three-in-one oil or cutting fluid will lubricate the drill bit, making drilling easier and reducing wear and tear on the bit. The friction generated by the bit drilling through the metal can cause the bit to heat up and break. This is especially true with larger bits.
How to use a drill bit?
Tips for Buying and Using Drill Bits for Metal 1 Use a center punch to create a depression in the metal before drilling. This will reduce the likelihood of the bit slipping off the material to be drilled. 2 Use a lubricant as you drill. A drop of three-in-one oil or cutting fluid will lubricate the drill bit, making drilling easier and reducing wear and tear on the bit. 3 The friction generated by the bit drilling through the metal can cause the bit to heat up and break. This is especially true with larger bits. By drilling slower and taking breaks every few minutes to let the bit cool down, your bit will last longer.
What metals do Amoolo drill bits work on?
These drill bits won’t work on iron, stainless steel, and other hardened metals.
What coatings can I use to make drill bits?
Coatings made of titanium, black oxide, diamond, and zirconium can also boost the drill bits’ durability and ease up on friction. There are also different bit shapes that make it possible to work with metallic surfaces.
What are drill bits made of?
Drill bits that are cut out for handling metal surfaces contain special coatings or are made of certain materials that can handle the friction, heat, and resistance the bit faces when tasked with drilling into metal. Bits made of soft carbon tool steel are not built for this kind of work and can break under pressure or result in damaged tools ...
What are step drill bits?
Step drill bits, like the ones in this CO-Z set, are ideal for thinner sheet metals, as well as softer objects like wood. They’re coated in Cobalt and are all different sizes with a spiral flute design. Dozens of reviewers have used these bits for handling plastic and sheet metal on cars, drilling through thin metal tiles, and creating drainage holes in metal planters. One satisfied purchaser wrote, “The step drills cover multiple sizes and they seem tough, rugged, and can penetrate various metals with ease.”
What are bit made of?
Bits made of soft carbon tool steel are not built for this kind of work and can break under pressure or result in damaged tools and injury. When it comes to bits that can handle this kind of intense drilling, you’ll want to be searching through bits made from High-Speed Steel (HSS) and Cobalt High-Speed Steel.
Do you need a drill bit for metal?
Unless you’ve purchased a well-equipped kit with your drill, you most likely need a more specialized set of bits if you’re interested in drilling holes in metal. Drill bits that can be plowed into metal aren’t going to be the same as the ones you turn to for getting through wood or plastic.
Makita B-65399 Impact Gold Titanium Drill Bit Set – the best for drilling stainless steel!
Makita has everything you need for any home project and then some! All of their products come with a warranty and many boast titanium nitride (TiN) coating, which is twice more durable than non-coated bits.
DEWALT Cobalt Drill Bit Set – the best for drilling accurate holes!
Say goodbye to deep, dark drill drawers because the DeWalt Cobalt Drill Bit Set makes it easy to find what you are looking for. The patented bit-bar design was made specifically for easy removal of drill bits and proper placement that will make your storage space more organized.
Neiko 11402A Stubby Drill Bit Set for Metal – the best for reaching tight spaces!
The Neiko set for metal is a perfect solution to reaching tight spaces and short areas. Made with premium molybdenum M2 high-speed steel, these bits are designed for durability. A quarter-inch hex shank makes the bits compatible with most drills and drivers, enabling them to work in both large and small areas quickly.
Drill America KFD29J-PC 29-Piece Heavy-Duty HSS Drill Bit Set – the best for versatility!
From titanium to plastic, no job is too big or small for this Drill America 29-Piece Key-Headed HSS Drill Bit Set.
Final thoughts
Picking the right drill bit for your metal project is half of the battle. If you’re not sure what to use, this guide provides some recommendations on which bits are best suited for certain types of metals and tasks like drilling through steel or aluminum. Hopefully, that these suggestions will help make your next metal-related task a little easier!
What is the best drill bit for cutting carbon steel?
HSS is one of the most popular drill bits due to its all-round application and diverse applications. This tool is best suitable to cut non ferrous and ferrous metals, and it can also cut carbon steel should the need arise.
What are drill bits made of?
Most drill bits for metals are either high-speed steel or carbide. Also, they can be cobalt. Nevertheless, different drill bits have different properties and applications, which makes them distinct from each other. Observe below the different material types and their application.
What are uncoated drill bits?
Uncoated bits are particularly applicable to cutting plastic, woods, as well as soft metals like aluminum. Because the materials are generally of low density and strength, uncoated drill bits work perfectly.
Why do drill bits need coating?
Drill bit coating is also an important aspect to discuss. It covers the drill bits, and it helps to reduce friction, buckling, and wear. Most bits usually have titanium as coatings to reduce overheating and increase productivity.
What is a twist drill bit?
Twist drill bits are probably the most commonly used type of drill bit, usually for general and non-expert drilling applications. The primary feature that characterizes a twist bit is its helix profile shape, which allows for easy cutting for even non-experts.
What is carbide tipped drill bit?
The carbide tipped drill bit is a masonry bit that is particularly suitable for cutting hard materials. It has a longer shelf life, making it more durable and cost-effective than most metal drill bits.
Why is a drill bit nit?
The nit style of a drill bit is essential because they are responsible for carrying out cutting. More so, they also determine the type of cuts that applies to your metal.
How To Choose The Best Drill Bits For Metal?
The best drill machine comes with better quality tools that are more strong and durable to use. These bits are attached to the end of the power drill to work through materials like steel or wood. Its high power gives more strength to the machine to work.
Frequently Asked Questions
It is very easy to clean. You can clean it with a plain cloth. Regular cleaning is important to keep them strong and durable. You have to wait for a couple of minutes to cool down the tool. Then clean it with a soft cloth. If you want to remove the more hard particles on it, use any lubricant or apply a toothbrush on it to wash them easily.
What is the hardest drill bit material?
Polycrystalline diamond (PCD) is one of the hardest drill bit material, which can be used on the toughest materials, such as glass and ceramic. Actually, diamond tool generally used to grind away material on a micro level, it can last up 20 times as long as a bare tungsten carbide tool, but it also cost much higher than any other options.
What is the best drill bit coating?
3. Titanium Coated Drill Bit. Titanium is not only a popular aerospace and medical material, but also a versatile drill bit coating material, which can make the drill bit last longer. Due to its high corrosion resistance, good fatigue limit, heat limit, relatively light weight, and longer service life, titanium coated drill bit is perfect ...
What is a high speed steel drill bit?
HSS is a special type of carbon steel, maintaining structural integrity while bearing high temperature is a marking advantage of the HSS drill bit, what’s more, high speed steel bit has higher wear resistance and hardness, it can also work well at a normal temperature. HSS drill bits are suitable for most of the wood and metal drilling process, including CNC drilling. Titanium nitride and other types of coatings can be applied on the HSS tool to increase lubricity and reduce friction.
What is the cheapest drill bit?
1. Carbon Steel Drill Bit. – Low carbon steel: this is the cheapest option for making a drill bit, due to their poor tempers, low carbon steel drill bits are usually used for drilling softwood and some plastics, and require to be sharpened often to extend the lifespan.
What is a drill bit?
Drill bits are a common type of cutting tool used to create holes with a circular cross-section from the objects through removing excess materials, come in different drill bits sizes for various needs . What are drill bits made of?
What is a carbide tipped drill bit?
Carbide-Tipped Drill Bit. Carbide-Tipped drill bit is very hard, easy to dissipate heat and can hold an edge longer than other type bits. Similar to the cobalt drill bit, it’s very brittle as well and maybe broken up in improper use. Carbide bits are applicable for drilling fiberglass reinforced plastic and nonferrous heavy metals.
