If you have a power drill, then you know how valuable it can be around the home. Whether you’re drilling holes for screws or other purposes, this versatile device can make any home improvement project that much easier. However, a drill is only as good as the bits you use inside of it, which is why we are focusing our attention on drill bit sets today. No matter if you are working with wood, plastic, or metal, the right set will allow you to punch holes without any issues. Not only are we going to look at some of the best sets on the market but we’re also going to go over the various factors you should consider when picking out the right one for your needs.
Picture | Name | Editor Rating | Price |
---|---|---|---|
DEWALT DW1354 14-Piece Titanium Drill Bit Set | |||
Damaged Screw Extractor Set | |||
Black & Decker 71-912 Drill and Screw Bit Set | |||
DEWALT DW5207 7-Piece Premium Percussion Masonry Drill Bit Set | |||
PORTER-CABLE PC1014 Forstner Bit Set | |||
IRWIN HANSON Spiral Extractor and Drill Bit Set | |||
Makita T-01725 Impact Drill-Driver Bit Set |
When determining the strength and quality of a bit, it’s important that you see what kind of material it’s made of first. There are three primary metals used for drill bits, and they each have their own pros and cons. Let’s break it down.
This is the most common bit material and it works well on wood, plastic, and most metals. If you are looking for something versatile and cost-effective, HSS bits are the way to go.
If you’re planning on working with metal, then you need a bit that won’t get chewed up in the process. Cobalt bits are designed to withstand the extra heat and wear and tear that comes from drilling through metals such as steel, so we highly recommend this material for that kind of action.
There are two types of carbide, and they are both heavy duty. The first is designed to pierce through the heaviest metals, which means that you need a specialized drill press to use it. The second is built to go through rock and masonry, which also means that you need to use a particular type of drill. If you’re not planning on making holes in either material, then you won’t need carbide bits.
To ensure that your bits won’t break down that easily, you want to buy ones that come with a special coating. These coatings will reduce the amount of heat on the bit and will give them a much longer shelf life. If you plan on drilling on a consistent basis, then you need coated bits.
This is the most common bit coating, and it works well to protect high-speed steel. In some cases, you can get a mixture of both black and gold for better protection.
If you work with metal, then a titanium-coated bit will be much more robust than anything else. For best results, get cobalt bits with this kind of coating.
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Kicking us off is this set of titanium-covered bits from DeWalt. As we mentioned above, if you want to keep your drill bits in pristine condition for longer, then you want to get ones that have either a black oxide or titanium coating. This will ensure that the metal doesn’t heat up too much and will keep them sharper for much longer.
In addition to the titanium, these bits are unique in that they come with proprietary pilot points. These are designed to punch holes into metal faster while also reducing walking when drilling. Overall, when trying to get through steel, a pilot point is much better than a standard split point tip.
Other features of these bits include no-spin shanks that will stay in the chuck much better and a tapered web to reduce the chances of breakage. Finally, they come with a 30-day money back guarantee if you don’t like them.
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With most drill bits, the primary purpose is to make a hole in a particular material. With these bits, however, they are designed to drill holes in one thing; screws. There are plenty of reasons that you have to extract a screw from somewhere, and these bits will make that process easy. Whether it’s stripped, rusted, or otherwise broken, these extractors will enable you to take out any screws or bolts quickly.
Not only are these bits easy to use but they are durable and reliable as well. They are made of high-speed steel, and they come with two sides. The first is to drill the hole, and the second is to extract the screw. Some extractors don’t come with a drilling side, which means that you would have to use a separate drill bit to create the hole. Overall, these are far more convenient. Also, they are helpful to have around, just in case.
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Most drill bit sets come with bits that are designed to punch holes into material. This set from Black + Decker, however, is made with both screwing and drilling in mind. As such, you get a wide selection of screwdriver bits that can be used either manually or with a drill. In fact, the set does have a screwdriver inside so that you don’t have to buy one separately.
As far as drilling goes, this set has six different twist bits that have 118-degree points. This means that they can punch through wood, plastic, or thin metal with ease. They are also made of high-speed steel to last longer, and they come in a variety of sizes. Finally, this whole set comes with a two-year warranty, so you know it’s built to last.
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When trying to drill holes in stone or brick, you have to make sure that you use specialty bits and a specialized drill. Regular handheld drills won’t be able to work through such tough material, so you have to use a hammer drill instead. Also, you will need bits like these from DeWalt if you hope to create long-lasting holes.
What makes these bits so great for masonry projects is that they are made of heavy-duty rock carbide. This is one of the strongest materials you can find, which is why they can punch through all kinds of stone with ease. They also have sharper tips to reduce walking and wider flutes to ensure that you remove debris quickly while drilling. There are seven size options, and they come with a one-year limited warranty.
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Because wood is such a versatile material, there is a wide selection of bits that can create all kinds of specialty holes. In this case, a Forstner bit is designed to drill flat bottom holes into wood with ease. As you can see, the shape of the bit is unique and will help you get wider, smoother holes overall.
What makes these bits high quality is that they are made of hardened carbon steel. They also have a wider tooth design to allow for more debris removal while drilling. In fact, these are so durable that they can work with both wood and sheet metal.
The other cool thing about this set is that it comes with a heavy-duty plastic carrying case. The case has clear markings for each bit, and it’s impact resistant in case you drop it by accident. Finally, these bits come with a 30-day money back guarantee.
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We’ve already seen one extractor set, but here is another, albeit less convenient option. Unlike the set above, these extractors require you to drill with a standard twist bit before using the extractor, so it does take a little bit longer to remove screws and bolts. However, because you are using high-quality cobalt drill bits, they are somewhat more reliable and you can work with harder metals without any problems.
What we like about this set (in addition to the cobalt construction) is that you can use the twist bits for standard drilling as well as extracting. While the set above was highly convenient for screw removal, this is a much more versatile set that can work on a variety of materials and purposes. The tips are 135-degree split point, meaning that they won’t walk while you’re trying to drill. Overall, if you want a more hardcore screw extractor set, this is your best option.
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Much like the Black + Decker Set above, this kit from Makita is designed with multiple purposes in mind. However, in addition to getting standard twist bits and screwdriver bits, you also get spade bits for drilling holes into wood. Overall, if you value versatility and convenience, then this is a great kit to buy.
What we like about the bits is that they are made of high-speed steel with a black oxide finish. This means that they will last longer and won’t overheat as easily. They also come with 135-degree split point tips so that they work well on all materials, including metal. That being said, only the twist bits are so versatile; the spade bits are designed for wood only. In the end, this is a great kit to have for light home improvement projects and casual DIY people.
Because each of these kits is designed for different purposes, it’s impossible to determine which one is the best. However, if you’re looking for an all-around drill bit set that can work on a variety of materials with ease, then we highly recommend the DeWalt 14-Piece Titanium Drill Bit Set. These bits are made to last and will work with wood, metal, and plastic without hesitation. We also love the masonry bits and the Forstner bits for specialty purposes as well.
I believe there is a handyman in all of us as long as you have the right tools. I started this blog to help anyone who is interested in fixing things to learn their way around the different tools and to know how to perform different DIY tasks. I have been doing this for years and believe I am a master of this art.