Drill bit set
If you are buying a drill bit set for drilling metal it is important to buy one made of the correct material for the jobs you intend doing.
Options
Drill bit sets come in a large variety of materials. And also in the number of drill bits they contain.
You can choose from HSS, titanium, tungsten, carbide and cobalt, to name just a few.
Ultimately the type of metal you intend to drill and the amount of money you wish to spend will determine which you chose.
HSS (High Speed Steel) would be considered entry level and will drill through most softer metals without a problem. Carbide would be considered extremely expensive. But will cut through very hard metals. However they would be best used in a pedestal drill setup.
Most popular
Are you looking for a high performance drill bit set at an affordably price? Then cobalt is without a doubt the way to go.
Cobalt drill bits contain a percentage of cobalt (typically 5% cobalt or 8% cobalt).
8% cobalt drill bits will drill some harder metals than the 5% cobalt bits. However they are more brittle. Therefore 5% cobalt drill bits are favoured as they will drill most metals including stainless steel with ease.
Metric sized drill bit sets
19 piece drill set
Contains drill bit sizes
| 1mm | 1.5mm | 2mm |
| 2.5mm | 3mm | 3.5mm |
| 4mm | 4.5mm | 5mm |
| 5.5mm | 6mm | 6.5mm |
| 7mm | 7.5mm | 8mm |
| 8.5mm | 9mm | 9.5mm |
| 10mm |
25 piece drill set
Contains drill bit sizes
| 1mm | 1.5mm | 2mm |
| 2.5mm | 3mm | 3.5mm |
| 4mm | 4.5mm | 5mm |
| 5.5mm | 6mm | 6.5mm |
| 7mm | 7.5mm | 8mm |
| 8.5mm | 9mm | 9.5mm |
| 10mm | 10.5mm | 11mm |
| 11.5mm | 12mm | 12.5mm |
| 13mm |
Imperial sized drill bit sets
21 piece drill set
contains drill bit sizes
| 1/16 | 5/64 | 3/32 |
| 7/64 | 1/8 | 9/64 |
| 5/32 | 11/64 | 3/16 |
| 13/64 | 7/32 | 15/64 |
| 1/4 | 17/64 | 9/32 |
| 19/64 | 5/16 | 21/64 |
| 11/32 | 23/64 | 3/8 |
29 piece drill set
contains drill bit sizes
| 1/16 | 5/64 | 3/32 |
| 7/64 | 1/8 | 9/64 |
| 5/32 | 11/64 | 3/16 |
| 13/64 | 7/32 | 15/64 |
| 1/4 | 17/64 | 9/32 |
| 19/64 | 5/16 | 21/64 |
| 11/32 | 23/64 | 3/8 |
| 25/64 | 13/32 | 27/64 |
| 7/16 | 29/64 | 15/32 |
| 31/64 | 1/2 |
Drilling Speed
If you are drilling though a metal with any metal drill bit it is important to drill at the correct speed.
A drilling speed chart will tell you the correct speed for the type of metal you are drilling. In addition it takes into account the size of the drill bit you are using.
Drilling at too high a speed will result in overheating and can make the drilling task harder and can even damage the drill bit.
You should not be overwhelmed by the speed chart. You will not be able to measure the speed your drill bit is rotating at unless you are using a precision pedestal drill. If you are using a hand drill it is advised to use one with a variable speed. And if in doubt start off at a slow speed.
Which is the best drill bit set?
The best drill bit set is one which does the jobs you require it to do without costing too much money.
As stated previously a cobalt drill bit set will drill most metals and if looked after will last a long time.
When deciding on which metal drill bit set you buy only buy from a reputible supplier. And preferably one which has lots of good reviews.
When you buy a drill bit that has been certified by a testing agency you will be able to see the hardness it is rated for. Anything above a rockwell hardness of 63 is very good.
If you buy from a company which offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee then you know they can stand over their product.
Top Tips
When you are drilling any metal it is very important to use a metal lubricant. This can be either a liquid or a paste.
A good quality drilling lubricant will make the job of drilling metal much easier.
It will reduce friction thereby helping to prevent overheating. This will not only assist in the drilling but will also help increase the life of your drill bit.
