That characteristic also makes them an excellent candidate to sharpen rather than replace. Because the cobalt is part of the steel blend, its benefits run through the entire bit instead of wearing away like a coating. Cobalt (Steel Blend)Ĭobalt drill bits are made from an alloy of 5% – 8% cobalt. You’ll want to look elsewhere for concrete/masonry and you’re better off using your inexpensive black oxide bits for plastics and composites. Titanium is a good choice for metal and wood drilling. Another is that you’ll need to pay more for these. One of the downsides is that the titanium nitride is just a coating and you lose the benefits as the coating wears off the cutting edges. Titanium drill bits tend to drill faster than black oxide and chips move through the flutes better. This type of drill bit lasts longer than black oxide. The added benefit comes from increasing the surface hardness and creating a thermal barrier that reduces heat buildup. Titanium nitride is a coating you can use instead of black oxide that does the same job of resisting corrosion and friction. Also, don’t expect to cut through metal other than softer steels under 1/8-inch in thickness. The downsides are that they don’t stay sharp as long as some of the other twist bit options out there and you lose the benefits as the coating wears off the cutting edges. It’s a good general-purpose design that’s suitable for wood, softer metal, plastics, and composites that don’t cost an arm and a leg. However, the 5-piece set covers the most common sizes you may need without turning to a rotary hammer.īuy at Acme Tools What are the Best Drill Bits Made of? Black Oxide (Coating)īlack oxide is a coating over the steel drill bit to add corrosion resistance and reduce friction between the bit and the workpiece.

The cost may leave you buying just the specific sizes you need as needed-and that makes sense. These bits run considerably more than black oxide, titanium, or even cobalt bits on average. We also frequently pop them into impact drivers to quickly get through various materials. We use these when drilling through combinations of wood, metal, tile, composites, and-of course-concrete. The carbide tips on the Daredevil Multi-Purpose Drill Bits are tough enough to cut through almost any material. Just like SDS-plus and SDS-max bits, these use tungsten carbide cutting tips. For that, our Pros consistently turn to Bosch Daredevil Multi-Purpose Drill Bits. When you start looking for the best concrete drill bits and the best masonry drill bits, the need for handling multiple materials arises. Hammer drills, however, more than suffice for drilling smaller diameter holes. SDS-Plus and SDS-Max rotary hammers do best for drilling on concrete and masonry materials. Pick up the Jobber Length Drill America D/A29J-CO-PC kit for just $120. The circular design of the case facilitates easy selection of the desired bit. This collection includes 29 bits housed in a durable plastic case. Ideal for drilling through hard, high-tensile materials like stainless steel or titanium, we selected the D/A29J-CO-PC set. That gives you additional stability, though this requires a 1/2-inch chuck for operation. Additionally, Drill America retains the full diameter on its larger bits. They adhere to the National Aerospace Standard 907 and drill as much as 30% more quickly than traditional M2 high-speed steel bits. The jobber length bits are ideal for handheld drills during field operations. These bits boast a 135° split point design, ensuring consistent and efficient drilling. During extensive tests across numerous metals, we chose their jobber bits as the top choice for drilling through hardened steel. Best Step Bits: Irwin Unibit Cobalt Step Bits – Buy from Menardsīest Drill Bits for Wood Milwaukee Shockwave Titanium Drill Bitsĭrill America produces M42 cobalt bits with a reputation for durability in various materials.Best Auger Bits: Bosch Daredevil High-Speed Auger Bits – Buy from Menards.Best Spade Bits: Bosch Daredevil Spade Bits – Buy from Amazon.Best for Tile and Glass: Bosch GT3000 8 pc Glass Set with Case – Buy from Acme Tools.

Best for Brick & Cinderblock: DeWalt Percussion Masonry Drill Bit Set – Buy from Acme Tools.Best for Concrete: Bosch Daredevil Multi-Purpose Drill Bits – Buy from Acme Tools.Best for the Money: Ryobi Black Oxide Drill Bits – Buy from Home Depot.Best for Metal: Drill America D/A29J-CO-PC 29-pc Cobalt Set – Buy on Amazon.Best for Wood: Milwaukee Shockwave Titanium Bits – Buy from Acme Tools.Our Pro team has extensive experience using these bits in just about every type of setting. So whether you’re into woodworking, DIY projects, plumbing, electrical, or something else, we have you covered.

Ryobi masonry drill bit