Drill machines are quite useful when working with any household project. On top of that, an understanding of the drill bits is also required when drilling through plastic or metal surfaces.
While it’s true that the regular drill bits will pierce through most surfaces, hardened steel poses a challenge for them. Using standard drill bits for stainless or hardened steel risks the chance of damaging it. And so, you will need drill bits constructed with more robust materials and better heat resistance.
Today, we will talk about the best drill bit for hardened steel and ways in which to pick out the right one for you. So without further ado, let’s jump right into it!
Why Is It Important to Use Best Quality Drill Bit?
When it comes to drilling bits, you need to buy the ones that are specialized for your desired purpose. While multipurpose bits are suitable for projects that deal with masonry or PVC, hardened steel requires technical bits.
- Durability
As with any tool, durability is a crucial factor. If you’re frequently using your drill bits, you will want one that can survive through extended periods of use. High-quality bits will pierce through materials quicker without chipping off or breaking.
- Time
If you’re using specialized bits for your desired purpose, then you will be able to make the holes much faster. The best quality bits will almost pierce through most objects effortlessly without the need to apply excessive pressure.
Moreover, the longer you need to keep drilling to pierce through an object, the duller your bit will get. And so, a fair drill bit will save your time and also last you for a long time.
- Heat Resistance
The constant friction between the drill bit and your surface generates the right amount of heat. As a result, your drilling machine and the drill bit will start to heat up when used for long periods. Invest in a drill bit that has good heat resistance as it will last you longer.
5 Best Drill Bit for Hardened Steel Reviews
After investing long hours into our research, we present our top 5 drill bit selections. Based on strength, durability, and heat resistance, you will surely enjoy working with any one of these bits.
Drill America - DWD29J-CO-PC 29 Piece M35 Cobalt Drill Bit Set
First up, we have this 29-piece drill bit set from Drill America. Made with top quality materials, this is certainly in the list of the best drill bit for drilling hardened steel.
Imagine having to drill a hole for which you don't have the right drill bit size, annoying, right?
Drill America's 29-piece set is the right solution to your drilling issues. Within the set, you will receive bit sizes as small as 1/16 to 1/2 inches. Between each of the dimensions, there is an increment of 1/64 inches, aiding the set's flexibility.
Constructed with Cobalt steel and a Gold Oxide finish, you can expect these bits to perform at high intensities. The coating also improves the wear resistance of the drill bit, enhancing the durability.
- 29 Piece set offers a broader range of measurements
- Gold Oxide finish reducing friction
- High quality wear resistance to enhance longevity
- Cobalt steel pierces through hard metal easily
- Super sharp and can pierce through materials almost instantly
- 135° split point tip reduces the thrust when drilling (6 pros instead of 5. Merge two)
- Becomes dull very quickly, resulting in a frequent sharpening
Bosch CO14B 14 Pc. Cobalt M42 Drill Bit Set
When it comes to drilling bits, you can't go wrong with a selection from Bosch. Having quite the experience in hardware, they will provide you with some of the best quality materials.
This 14 piece drill bit set features a Cobalt steel build. Bosch has engineered the steel to make an M42 alloy, which is significantly more challenging than other Cobalt bits. The alloy contains 8% cobalt and 92% different materials that focus on strengthening the metal.
Furthermore, the quality of construction gives you longer service time with the added benefit of not sharpening them frequently. For those who have a lot on their plate and can’t make time to sharpen their tools, this is a godsend.
In addition, all the bits within the set have a unique web-helix design to pierce through materials faster. The thick spirals allow shavings of the materials to move out quickly while also increasing your drill's stability.
- No-skate tip gives you accurate first-time drills
- M-42 Cobalt alloy is more challenging than other cobalt constructed bits
- High heat resistance
- Web-helix design increases stability and moves material out faster
- Can drill through titanium, steel, cast iron, and many more
- Prolonged use might cause the bits to chip away
DEWALT Titanium 21-Piece Drill Bit Set
For those of you who love working with wooden or metal projects, the DEWALT 21-piece drill bit set is the way to go. If you're looking for smaller or larger measurements, you can switch up to its 100-piece accessory set, which contains screwdrivers as well!
Most people struggle with accurately drilling the hole on the first go. This is where the pilot point design of this bit set comes into play.
With bit points explicitly designed, you will receive clean and accurate holes on the first try. Not only would that save your time but also reduce the stress on your drill machine.
What's more, the titanium coating of the bits gives off a nice golden color. Other than just making them look tough and premium, the titanium finish has other responsibilities too. The core material is well protected by the coating, resulting in increased wear resistance.
DEWALT brings in an innovative clip latch system to secure your drill bit to the drill system. This is comparatively safer and sturdier than your traditional spin shank drill bit. Also, you achieve more control when using the drill machine because of it.
- Pilot point to accurately drill upon the first contact
- Clip latch for a better fit with the drill
- Titanium coating increases wear resistance and durability
- Tapered web to prevent the bit from breaking
- Comes with a tough plastic case to accommodate all your bits
- Not all the bits are equally long-lasting
- Needs frequent sharpening to perform at max efficiency
DEWALT 14-Piece Titanium Drill Bit Set (DW1354)
Not everybody wants a heavy-duty 21-piece set. For lightweight use, DEWALT also has its very own 14-piece variant. Providing the same high-quality service, you will not be dissatisfied with the DW1354 set.
Right out of the box, you will notice the hard plastic case which displays all the bits. The box-like organizer design is much better when compared to cylindrical drill bit containers. It keeps your bits arranged based on size increments and makes it easier to place them back once used as well.
Furthermore, DEWALT's tapered web design is well known for its ability to increase longevity. All of their products feature this tapered web design, and quite frankly, it does a great job of boosting the durability of the bits.
- Titanium pilot point drills upon the first contact and avoids walking
- Titanium coating provides twice the service time as Black Oxide
- Enhanced durability and longevity
- No-spin shanks prevent bits from slipping out
- A durable case that keeps all your bits organized
- The durability of the bits differ from one size to another
- Doesn’t work well with hard metal surfaces
EnerTwist 246-Pieces Drill Bits and Driver Set
In concluding our list, we have this heavy-weight from ENERTWIST. This large 246-piece set will undoubtedly be all you need when working on your next project.
For starters, you will notice the extremely organized and durable case the bits come inside. The case comes with clips on the top, which will allow you to walk around with it without having to worry about spilling your drill bits.
Moreover, the holders within the box allow for easy organizing and also prevent misplacing of the bits. In addition, the core material has been coated with HSS titanium that further enhances its durability.
Other than receiving high-quality drill bits specialized for various surfaces such as wood, metal, cement, you also receive screwdriver heads. This makes it a complete package for any household repair.
- Comes with both drill bits and screwdriver heads
- HSS titanium coating enhances overall strength and durability
- Hard plastic case to keep your bits organized
- Pierces all sorts of materials such as wood, plastic, cement, and metal
- Laid out placeholders to avoid misplacing of equipment
- Sponge cushion between the two sides of the case to prevent the bits from falling off (6 pros instead of 5. Merge two, which seems relatable to some extent)
- Drill bits tend to chip off when used for prolonged periods
What to Look for Before Buying
So what is the best drill bit for hardened steel? To answer this question, you will need to prioritize your preferences. Drill bits come with tons of features, and you need to know the basics to buy the right one.
Build Material
The material construction of the drill bit needs to be well picked out for your chosen purpose. Knowing the characteristics of each of these materials will allow you to gain maximum performance.
Carbide
Essentially high carbon steel is a carbide, which is specifically used for its toughness. Drill bits made of Carbide will be able to withstand high temperatures and provide you with long service times.
However, this will not be ideal for those of you who use your drill for prolonged periods.
Cobalt Alloy
An alloy is undoubtedly made to be much stronger than usual metals. The cobalt alloy used in drill bits makes them highly resistant to any form of wear and tear.
And so, they are the right pick when you’re drilling through hardened steel. The heat-resisting capacity of the alloy is also higher when compared to other materials, and so durability will not be an issue.
High-Speed Steel
Although it is required for lightweight use, it has gained quite popularity. The drill bits constructed with high-speed steel are usually much more affordable and work perfectly with wood, lightweight metals, and plastic.
Type of Coating
Each drill bit has a coating on top to increase their efficiency. Here are a few coatings you should be looking into.
- Black Oxide
Black Oxide is renowned for its friction-reducing capabilities. This, in turn, directly increases the performance and durability of your drill bit. Black Oxide coatings will prevent your drill bits from wearing out fast.
- Titanium Nitride
Compared to Black Oxide, Titanium Nitride is priced higher but also performs better. The toughness of the coating will enhance your bit’s durability by almost two times.
Frequency of Use
Not all drill bits are made for everyday use. You should consider how frequently you will be using the drill when choosing the right bit. Some bits are significant for everyday heavy-duty usage, while others aren’t.
Using one that isn’t suitable for prolonged periods of use can cause your bit to break or become dull quickly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Cobalt and Titanium are both ideal materials to go for when your purpose is to drill through hardened steel. Carbide will work too, but chances of your bits breaking are higher.
Sharpening your drill bits is easy if you use a bench grinder. You can also sharpen it by hand, but that would be quite time-consuming.
Yes. Ideally, you should choose a bit that exceeds the thickness of the surface you are drilling through.
M35 Cobalt alloys contain 5% cobalt in their composition, whereas the M42 variants contain 8%.
Drill bits with a tapered design will work better when piercing through hardened steel as they are sharper near the top.
Final Verdict
The best drill bit for hardened steel will make a hole through it without much effort. Paying close attention to material construction allows you to choose a durable bit. However, you should also prioritize your frequency of use as most drill bits are not entirely heat-resistant.
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