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Drilling through steel requires the right drill bit. With so many brands and types of drill bits available in the market, it can be challenging to determine which one is the best for the job. In this article, we will explore the results of a series of tests conducted on several drill bit brands to determine their performance on mild and spring steel.
The article will provide an overview of the drill bit brands and prices, followed by the results of the first test, which involved drilling through mild steel. The article will then delve into the microscopic examination of the drill bits before moving on to the second test, which involved drilling through spring steel. Finally, the article will conclude with thoughts on the drill bit performance and provide key takeaways from the tests.
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Overview of Drill Bit Brands and Prices
In this article, we will be discussing various drill bit brands and their prices. The first test conducted was to determine how fast the drill bits can make a hole in mild steel. The DWT brand performed extremely well against the competition, finishing in only 10.53 seconds. The Somata brand, made of M35 Cobalt, came in second place, finishing at 15.84% slower than the DWT. Irwin, another brand made in China, finished in 11.41 seconds, just under a second slower than the DWT.
The DeWalt brand, made in China and Germany, claims to offer four times the life in stainless steel due to its Pilot Point. It finished in 11.15 seconds and came in second place behind the DWT high-speed steel bit. The Bosch brand, made in China, performed very well, finishing in 11.41 seconds and tying with Irwin for third place.
The LW brand, made in China, struggled with mild steel and experienced a lot of damage during testing. Milwaukee, made in China, claims to deliver fast chip removal and finished in only 12.55 seconds, still very sharp after the test. The Warrior brand, sold at Harbor Freight and made in China, finished in 15.12 seconds, while the CLE line brand made in the USA finished in 10.99 seconds, coming in second place behind the DWT high-speed steel bits.
The Drill Hog brand, made in the USA, finished in 10.63 seconds, just 1/10th of a second slower than the DWT. The Sentry brand, made in the USA, handled mild steel well but was not as fast as some of the other brands, finishing at 16.98%.
In the second test, drilling through a piece of spring steel, the DWT brand needed more than twice as long at 26.4 seconds and became stuck at breakthrough. The Somata brand took about three times the amount of time it took for mild steel, finishing at 44.6 seconds. The Irwin brand performed very well on spring steel.
In conclusion, the DWT brand high-speed steel bits performed extremely well against the competition, while the Viking Drill and Tool brand, made in the USA, finished in first place but had the highest price tag at $200. The least expensive DWT bits finished in second place, while the Drill Hog and CLE line brands also performed very well at just under 11 seconds.
First Test: Drilling Through Mild Steel
In this test, various drill bit brands were tested for their ability to drill through mild steel. The test was conducted using a half horsepower drill press with 20 lbs of weight on the pulley, which provided approximately 175 lbs of downward force on the drill bit. The RPM was set to 600 for the 3/8 in or 9.5 mm drill bits, and cutting oil was used to protect the drill bits.
The following table summarizes the results of the test:
| Brand | Material | Price (for set of bits) | Time to Finish (seconds) | Visible Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Viking Drill and Tool | M42 Cobalt | $200 (29 bits) | 9.96 | None |
| DeWalt High-Speed Steel | High-Speed Steel | $15 (14 bits) | 10.53 | None |
| DeWalt Pilot Point | High-Speed Steel | $34 (14 bits) | 11.15 | None |
| Irwin | High-Speed Steel | $29 (15 bits) | 11.41 | None |
| Drill Hog | M42 Plus Steel | $150 (29 bits) | 10.63 | None |
| CLE-Line | M42 Cobalt | $80 (29 bits) | 10.99 | None |
| Kware | M35 Cobalt | $140 (29 bits) | 11.2 | Leftovers |
| Bosch (Top Pick) | M42 Cobalt | $38 (19 pieces) | 11.41 | None |
| Milwaukee | High-Speed Steel | $70 (29 bits) | 12.55 | None |
| Somata | M35 Cobalt | $28 (15 bits) | 15.84 | Leftovers |
| LW | M42 Cobalt | $40 (15 bits) | >2.5 minutes | Brittle |
As shown in the table, the Viking Drill and Tool set of bits finished first with a time of 9.96 seconds, while the DeWalt High-Speed Steel set of bits finished second with a time of 10.53 seconds. The DeWalt Pilot Point set of bits finished third with a time of 11.15 seconds, followed closely by the Irwin set of bits with a time of 11.41 seconds.
It is worth noting that the DeWalt High-Speed Steel set of bits, which cost only $15 for a set of 14 bits, performed just as well as some of the more expensive sets of bits. The LW set of bits, on the other hand, struggled with mild steel and experienced a lot of damage during the test.
Overall, the results of this test suggest that the price of the drill bit set does not necessarily correlate with its performance. It is important to consider the material and design of the drill bit when making a purchase, as well as the specific task it will be used for.
Microscopic Examination of Drill Bits
In the quest to find the best drill bits, a series of tests were conducted to determine which ones perform the best. One of the tests involved drilling through mild steel, and the results were impressive. The DeWalt brand of high-speed steel drill bits was able to drill through the mild steel in just 10.53 seconds, making it the fastest among the brands tested. Even under microscopic examination, the DeWalt drill bit showed no visible damage, proving its durability.
Another brand that performed well in the mild steel test was the Irwin high-speed steel drill bits. It finished in 11.41 seconds, just a fraction slower than the DeWalt. Under microscopic examination, the Irwin drill bit also showed no signs of damage.
Moving on to the spring steel test, the DeWalt high-speed steel drill bit struggled and became stuck at breakthrough, taking 26.4 seconds to complete the task. However, the Irwin high-speed steel drill bit performed well on the spring steel, proving its versatility.
The Somata M35 Cobalt bits, designed for hard materials such as stainless steel and cast iron, took longer to drill through mild steel, finishing in 15.84 seconds. Under microscopic examination, there were leftovers stuck on the leading edge of the drill bit tip. However, the Somata drill bit was able to drill through the spring steel in 44.6 seconds, showing its strength in harder materials.
The Drill Hog brand, made of super premium solid Cobalt M42 plus steel, was able to drill through the mild steel in just 10.63 seconds, proving its strength and durability. Under microscopic examination, the Drill Hog drill bit showed no signs of damage.
Overall, the DeWalt and Irwin high-speed steel drill bits performed well in the tests, showing their versatility and durability. The Somata M35 Cobalt bits proved to be strong in harder materials, while the Drill Hog brand of Cobalt M42 plus steel showed its strength and durability in drilling through mild steel.
Second Test: Drilling Through Spring Steel
In this test, the drill bits will be tested on their ability to drill through spring steel, a very hard material. The RPM will be lowered to 340, and 5 lbs of weight will be added to the rope and pulley setup, resulting in around 220 lbs of downward force on the drill bit.
The DeWalt high-speed steel drill bit, which performed well in the first test, was able to drill through the spring steel, but it took more than twice as long as it did for the mild steel, clocking in at 26.4 seconds. The DeWalt Cobalt bits, which are designed for hard materials, were not tested on the spring steel.
The somata brand, made of M35 Cobalt, took three times the amount of time to drill through the spring steel compared to the mild steel, clocking in at 44.6 seconds. The Irwin bits, made of high-speed steel with a titanium coating, performed well on the spring steel, taking 50 seconds to drill through.
It is important to note that drilling through spring steel is asking a lot of regular high-speed steel drill bits, and the performance of the drill bits on this material may not necessarily reflect their overall performance.
Final Thoughts on Drill Bit Performance
After conducting a series of tests on various drill bit brands, it is clear that the performance of drill bits can vary significantly. While some brands claim to last 15 times longer than their competitors, the actual performance may not always match up to these claims.
In the first test, which involved drilling through mild steel, the DeWalt high-speed steel bit performed exceptionally well, finishing in just 10.53 seconds. The Irwin and Bosch cobalt bits also performed admirably, finishing in 11.41 seconds and 11.41 seconds respectively. The DeWalt Pilot Point bit, which claimed to have four times the life in stainless steel, came in second place with a time of 11.15 seconds.
When it came to drilling through spring steel, the performance of the drill bits was not as impressive. The DeWalt high-speed steel bit took over twice as long to drill through the spring steel compared to the mild steel, finishing in 26.4 seconds. The somata carbide bit, which is designed for hard materials, took even longer at 44.6 seconds.
Overall, it is important to consider the specific material being drilled and choose a drill bit that is designed for that material. While some brands may claim to offer superior performance, it is important to conduct tests and evaluate the actual results before making a purchasing decision.
