Best Drill Bits For Metal

An optimal drill machine needs the right bits to penetrate the varying job pieces. There is a specific category of top drill bits for metal, plastic, and wooden subjects. 

You cannot use wooden or plastic drill bits for penetrating metal surfaces, as that would compromise the tool and the drill bit. 

Special drill bits for metal have ideal coatings and are made up of material that can withstand friction, resistance, and heat, which are common interaction properties while drilling through the metal pieces. 

If you are a handyman or a professional who works more often with metal drilling applications, then getting a good set of drill bits is a priority. So, here are the five best drill bits for metal to help make the job easy for you. 

Drill America - D/A29J-CO-PC 29 Piece M42 Cobalt Drill Bit Set

https://www.amazon.com/Drill-America-Piece-Cobalt-Round/dp/B00B0326OE

This is a Cobalt-Made Drill Bit Set with a gold oxide coating with 135 degrees of cutting angle. The set has 29 M42 drill bits, ranging from 1/16” to ½”. There is an increment of 1/64” in every bit more than the previous sized ones. 

The use of cobalt makes these drill bits capable enough to penetrate tough materials such as titanium, steel, and Inconel. The gold oxide finish on these drill bits acts as a lubricant for smooth drilling applications and resists wear & tear. 

It is manufactured with respect to the Aerospace Standard 907, and the speed is 30% more than the usual M2 steel bits. It has a rounded box that fits all the bits as a cluster. Well, this makes it easy for you to carry the drill bits around with you to the job site without letting them consume too much space in your toolbox. 

Pros:

• The 135-degree split-point tip helps with self-centring
• Comes with a belt loop for easy carrying
• All-sized bits available for diverse applications
• Durable and long-lasting
• Withstands high working temperatures due to friction

Cons:

• No distinguishing labels or marks on the drill bits
• No O-ring to seal the moisture out

Hymnorq Jobber Twist Drill Bits

https://www.amazon.com/Hymnorq-Jobber-Fractional-Premium-Stainless/dp/B07YPP76TT

This set of 15 drill bits is made of M35 cobalt steel and has a bronze oxide finish. It also boasts a 135-degree cutting angle string. The Rockwell hardness quotient is 67 for these bits, as cobalt blended with molybdenum creates a heat-resistant alloy and strengthens it. 

It operates at 12 times faster speed than the average HSS drill bit. With the 135-degree cutting angle string, you can ensure that the drill bits won’t slip away from the centre or while drilling a metal surface. It helps drill through the toughened metal surface with minimal pressure. 

You can use it for drilling tough metal such as steel or cast iron. But, it is also ideal for drilling safely through soft metals such as aluminium or copper. You just have to adjust the RPM of your drill machine, depending on the job piece you are operating on. 

Pros:

• Made up of steel alloy mixed with 5% of cobalt
• Consists of the self-centring split point
• Chamfered shank ends for easy gripping to the drill machine
• Intense spiral design for drilling through thick material
• Distinguishable marking on each drill bit

Cons:

• Sharpness of a bit dulls away after a few drills
• Carrying case could have been more durable

IRWIN Drill Bit Set, M42 Cobalt Alloy Steel

https://www.amazon.com/Cobalt-M-42-Metal-Index-Drill/dp/B07CKK789M

Hansong brings you an M42 cobalt-made drill bit set with a gold oxide finish and straight shank. It drills metal surfaces without heating up so quickly. The durability quotient is high, ensuring that these bits hold their edge even after it has been used for many drills. 

It might not be the fastest drill bit set, but it still has the upper hand over most M35 bits. It uses 8% cobalt in the steel blend, whereas M35 uses just 5%. Hence, the hardness quotient is higher with it. 

If you are a professional and usually drill a lot, then the case these drill bits come in will be a big deal for you. It is because you must be able to easily access these drill bits to work efficiently. Irwin brings you its three-tier swing case to help you access any of these drill bits easily by recognizing their sizes marked on the front. 

Pros:

• 135-degree split point for faster & easy drilling
• High-end corrosion resistance
• Three-tier swing case for easy accessibility
• Automatic indexing for easy identification
• Extra hard drilling ability to resist wear & tear

Cons:

• Too much flex in the mount and bit heads
• Not ideal for high-intensity jobs

Amoolo 1/8” Titanium Drill Bits (10pcs)

https://www.amazon.com/amoolo-Premium-Titanium-Impact-Plastic/dp/B085QC4V1G

These high-speed metal drill bits are coated with an HSS titanium finish, adding to their durability and resistance. Moreover, it is embedded with a spiral groove design that decreases the heat and friction for fast performance and cool application for a longer time. 

You don’t need to punch the centre before commencing with your drilling applications while working with these bits. This set consists of 10 drill bits of ⅛” each. There are different sets available with varying sizes of drill bits for your preference. 

The 135-degree split point is standard for all quality drill bits, and Amoolo has it. It helps maintain the centre position while you drill through the metal surface. It is compatible with drilling iron, steel, plastic, alloy, aluminium, wood and other soft metals. 

Pros:

• Enabled with press-in pin connection for better hold onto the machine
• Supports excellent chip and heat removal
• Operates with a low feeding force
• No walking or wobbling during operations
• Higher hardness quotient and enhanced durability

Cons:

• Comes with a sticky substance
• Not ideal for professional and high-intensity jobs

Milwaukee Red Helix Cobalt 29 Pc Drill Bit Set

https://www.amazon.com/Pc-Cobalt-Red-Helix-Drill/dp/B082345X45

Milwaukee is popular for its outstanding durability and prolonged longevity with varying tools. They introduced cobalt drill bits for penetrating metal and have a 35-degree helix angle, which tends to end at 15 degrees. The Quadedge tip of these bits prevents the buildup of heat due to friction and drills faster. 

The 135-degree split point helps you avoid making a pilot point before starting the drill. The split point at such an angle ensures no walking or wobbling over the job piece. You can obtain accurate holes over hard metal surfaces, wooden blocks and PVC sheets. 

You get 29 drill bits in this set that ranges from 1/16” to ½”. The tapered web technology enhances the core strength of these bits, and the variable helix works towards ensuring rapid extraction of material. 

Pros:

• 3-layered flat grip for holding the bit firmly in chuck
• Extreme durability is guaranteed
• Comes with an accessible storage case
• Cobalt twist drill bits support tough applications
• Faster drilling and better resistance to high operating temperatures

Cons:

• Price is a bit on the expensive side
• The thin drill bits could have been more durable

Tips to Choose the Best Drill Bits for Metal

Now that you have options to buy the best drill bits for your metal drilling applications, you must narrow down your choice to one among the five to get started with your project or job. So, the tips for choosing the best drill bits or a set of them are:

• Material- Make sure the material is either carbide, cobalt, or High-Speed Steel (HSS). Caride is rare and expensive to find, so settle commonly for cobalt. But, if you can assess the percentage of its blend in the alloy steel, opt for the one with a high percentage. 

• Point Type- The usual drill bits have a 118-degree drill bit point, which is only ideal for wood, drywall, and soft job pieces. But, when drilling metal surfaces, make sure to go strictly for 135-degree split point drill bits. It increases the tolerance potential and prevents walking or wobbling effects. 

• Length- The drill bits are available in five length standards which include jobber, taper, extra length, mechanics, and a screw machine. Different lengths are ideal for varying applications. If you buy a kit, you will have drill bits of all lengths. Consider getting them all in a kit to be flexible enough to work with one that the project demands.

• Coating- There are four common types of coating used on drill bits for metal surfaces: black oxide, titanium nitride, titanium aluminium nitride, and bright finish coatings. Black oxide and titanium coatings are most commonly preferred for the drill bit specific for metal drilling. 

Conclusion

These are the five best drill bits for metal applications that you can count on. Make sure you choose the bits, depending on the thickness of the metal job piece, to ensure that the bits do not experience damage. 

Beyond that, make sure that you are not drilling a flat surface by placing your drill bit at an off-angle, which might damage both the drilling machine as well as the bits.