A drill press is an improved version of the common hand drill. Most carpenters and masons prefer the benchtop model for the ease of operating and organizing the surface. However, we also have the floor-standing model which does not require any support.
Also, a drill press is more precise with positioning and is efficient for holding your wood or metal, unlike a hand drill. If you choose the right drill bits for your drill press, you’ll improve your efficiency and speed of project operation.
Are you up to shopping for the best drill bits for drill press? Check out our top pick suggestions for you.
Table of Contents
- High-Quality Drill Press Drill Bits: Comparison Table
- 9 Drill Bit Ideas for a Drill Press
- 1. Craftsman 9-64085 Professional Cobalt Drill Set
- 2. IRWIN Drill Bit Set (80181)
- 3. Bosch B14616 brad point drill bit set
- 4. KOWOOD Forstner Bit Set
- 5. Meichoon Forstner drill bit set
- 6. Autotoolhome High-Speed Steel
- 7. WEN DB15 Titanium-coated Drill Bit Set
- 8. IRWIN Drill Press Adjustable Wood Drill Bit
- 9. WSOOX Square Hole Drill Bit
- How to Choose the Best Drill Bits for Drill Press- Buyer’s Guide
- Frequently Asked Questions about Types of Drill Bits for Drill Press
- Which Is Best? Our Final Verdict
- Conclusion
High-Quality Drill Press Drill Bits: Comparison Table
We give a detailed, unbiased review in this section about the various types of drill bits and their special features. However, if you won’t read with us to the end, we have a comparison table that gives a summary of all types of drill bits. Have a look.
9 Drill Bit Ideas for a Drill Press
If you choose the appropriate drill bits, you don’t have to complain about them breaking or bending. They are made of various metals and metal coating, with unique tipends that ensure high accuracy and smooth holes.
It also depends on the speed of your drill press motor. Speed determines the effectiveness of the drill bits depending on the bit’s diameter.
So, here are some of the best drill bits you can invest in for your workshop’s drill press. Check this out.
1. Craftsman 9-64085 Professional Cobalt Drill Set
Number Of Pieces: 21
Finish: Black Oxide
Special Features:
– 1/16-inch to 3/8-inch drill bit range
– Includes plastic carrying case
– Designed for heavy duty use
These are high-quality cobalt drill bits in the range of 1/16 inch and 3/8 inch. The set is well-packed in a plastic carrying case for ease of portability and storage.
With a split-point end, the bits make accurate drills on contact and reduce the incidences of walking. Besides, you can use them on ordinary and hard metals to make holes.
We appreciate that these drill bits are 21 pieces in a set, which is economical to purchase. What’s more, they are also strong and durable products of cobalt, titanium, and black oxide finish.
Section Updated: March 3, 2022
Overall Rating – 4.4 of 5 Stars
- Value for money
- Well-packaged in a plastic carrying case
- Durable and high-quality
- Cobalt-finish
- Bit blades break overtime
2. IRWIN Drill Bit Set (80181)
Number Of Pieces: 60
Finish: Titanium Nitride, Black Oxide
Special Features:
– 118° chisel-point tip
– Engineered with premium high-speed steel
– Ideal for automotive, maintenance and repair
These are sturdy bits crafted with premium high-steel speed and with a bright finish. They have 118ochisel points that tailor them for general purposes.
If you are looking for high precision, Irwin drill bits produce exact-size holes though not with fractional measurements. Plus, the spiral flutes make chips clear away as the steps leave a clean hole.
These drill bits are handy for automotive, stationary press, and portable drills. Wealso like that within the 60 pieces per set, you can get a variety and easy match in case of any breakages.
Section Updated: March 3, 2022
Overall Rating – 4.4 of 5 Stars
- Packaged in a strong plastic case
- High-quality drill bits
- Well-numbered for identification
- General-purpose application
- Smaller size bits not numbered, may be confusing
3. Bosch B14616 brad point drill bit set
Number Of Pieces: 5
Special Features:
– Designed to drill smooth, clean holes in wood
– Tip provides easy positioning and accurate starts
– Extra-wide flutes
With brad point drill bits, working on plywood, ceiling, soft or hardwoods becomes super easy. It has a fluted end with a spur tip which makes smooth and clean holes by clearing away the chips during boring.
Besides, the spur tip also provides accurate positioning. The bits are very durable and are made of carbon steel alloy with size ranges of ¼ inch, 5/16 inch, 3/8 inch, 7/16 inch, and ½ inch.
The five-piece set is affordable and good for both beginner and professional DIY homeowners. You can fix your furniture, cabinets, and ceiling with these high-precision drill bits.
Section Updated: March 3, 2022
Overall Rating – 4.2 of 5 Stars
- High-precision sharp tip end
- Pocket-friendly
- Strong and durable carbon steel alloy bits
- High performance on soft and hardwoods
- The tip may bend
4. KOWOOD Forstner Bit Set
Number Of Pieces: 14
Special Features:
– Fine kerf teeth improve accuracy
– Shank style reduces runout
– Designed for heavy duty use
Another excellent drill bit set for woodwork is KOWOOD Forstner. You’ll love the strong and durable carbide tips better than high-speed steel. Besides that, these drill bits are ideal for pocket and overlapping holes.
Also, their fine kerfs ensure that your holes are accurately positioned and even. What’s more, a set carries 14 drill bits with various fractional sizes. You don’t have to worry about replacements any soon. Plus, it’s a good investment at a pocket-friendly price even for beginners.
Although the 14 sizes make these bits versatile, it is hard to find extensions for the shanks for some sizes, especially when drilling deeper holes. However, the rest of the bits are sharp enough and tear through wood with ease.
Section Updated: March 3, 2022
Overall Rating – 4.4 of 5 Stars
- Sharp kerfs
- Little effort needed on a drill press
- Price affordable
- High quality and durable
- Difficult to find shank extensions for some sizes
5. Meichoon Forstner drill bit set
Number Of Pieces: 16
Special Features:
– Small incision resistance
– Made from Tungsten steel
– Designed for durability and long life
This is a general-purpose high-quality drill bit set with a straight flute. It is made of tungsten high-speed steel and the blade cuts with utmost accuracy, clean, and smooth holes.
Now, a single set has 16 pieces of drill bits with various boring diameters. What’s good about this is that it produces a smooth finish without broken edges with all the bits.
However, when you increase the drilling speed, it may get hot up to the smoke point, so that you have to cool it by sprinkling on some water. We like that it’s efficient and works with little effort on the drill press.
Lastly, this drill bit set is handy when making door hinges, spherical door installation, drawers, and other woodwork applications.
Section Updated: March 3, 2022
Overall Rating – 4.4 of 5 Stars
- High performance and small incision drilling
- Clean and unbroken edges
- Value for money
- Sharp kerfs for exact positioning
- Shafts not of equal size
6. Autotoolhome High-Speed Steel
Number Of Pieces: 8
Special Features:
– Made of high speed steel
– Large chip flute design
– Highest Cutting Hardness: HRC30
– Straight shank handle
This is one of the best drill bits for metal, although it can also be used for plastic, wood, aluminum processing, and other engineering operations. It’s made of high-speed steel which makes it perfect for cutting accuracy.
On the other hand, this drill bit is well-suited for mills with its 4-flute end mill cutter, and a set has 8 pieces with different fractional diameters (1/8”, 3/16”, 1/4”, 5/16”, up to 5/32 inches). The wide flute design makes chip removal easy, leaving a smooth and fine surface.
If you weigh out the benefits of this drill bit set, you’ll appreciate its durability, speed, and end products. However, you may have to dig deeper in your pockets for these long-lasting and highly efficient bits for your mills and bench drills.
Section Updated: March 3, 2022
Overall Rating – 4.5 of 5 Stars
- Fast and efficient
- A smooth and clean end surface
- High quality
- Versatile for metal, wood, and other surfaces
- The smaller inch diameter may break during tough projects
7. WEN DB15 Titanium-coated Drill Bit Set
Finish: Titanium
Special Features:
– The titanium coating maximizes the lifespan
– 135-degree split point minimizes walking and slips
– Perfect for drill presses and power drills
This is a good fit for power drills and drill presses. The titanium coating makes them strong, resistant to breaking and wear. For a set, the 15 pieces are worth every dime as you’re assured of long service before you buy any other replacements.
The spiral 135o flute typeminimizes walking and ensures on-pointaccuracy. It is also multi-purpose for metal, wood, and plastic.
Whether you’re a beginner or a pro in drilling, these bits will always give a clean and smooth finish to your drill press projects.
Section Updated: March 3, 2022
Overall Rating – 4.5 of 5 Stars
- Pocket-friendly
- High precision and accuracy
- Very durable
- Titanium coating finish
- The plastic case should be stronger to minimize damage to drill bits
8. IRWIN Drill Press Adjustable Wood Drill Bit
Shank Type: Round with Flats
Special Features:
– Can cut 19 different-sized holes
– Wedge type blade
– 6-1/2″ overall length with an 11/32″ shank
This is a unique drill bit with an adjustable cutting blade for various boring diameters. The diameters increase by 1/8-inch up to 19 different diameters.
This procedure is important in the commercialmanufacturer of locks, boring holes in pipes, and other similar projects. The whole thing works with a wedge-like blade that’s slowly adjusted by a screw point.
Although it is pricey, you cannot underestimate its value in terms of service and durability. It is also self-center adjusting and you can figure out and use your measurements.
Section Updated: March 3, 2022
Overall Rating – 3.6 of 5 Stars
- Good for its price
- Long lifespan
- Own measurement specifications
- Well-packaged for delivery
- You may have to replace the lock head screw for easy adjustability
9. WSOOX Square Hole Drill Bit
Number Of Pieces: 4
Finish: Black Oxide
Special Features:
– Hardness Up to HRC48~50
– The carbide drill bit tipped is sharp and wear-resistant
– Designed for heavy duty use
The last one on our list does exactly what the name suggests: makes square holes for decoration industries, construction, and renovation during home improvement. But, what are the unique features of this tool?
The key material is high-speed stainless steel (56HRC), with a long core and sharp continuous cutting blade. The blade is heat-treated so that it is very efficient, fast, and durable.
These bits work well with a mortise gauge or a mortising machine with a square hole drill. And perform a better job on woodwork.
Section Updated: March 3, 2022
Overall Rating – 4.1 of 5 Stars
- Sharp cutting edge
- Flute geometry design for easy chip removal
- Durable heat-treated blade
- Makes wood construction easy
- Needs additional clamp for use with a drill press
How to Choose the Best Drill Bits for Drill Press- Buyer’s Guide
Drill bits determine the kind of finish on your wood or metal surface. However, some may end up breaking their blades during the operation or leave your home with broken edges. So, what should you consider as the best drill bits? Have a look.
Flute geometry
Flute design and the tip end determine the ease of chip removal, accuracy, and finish. For instance, brad point bits with a spur tip have high accuracy and the tips prevent the bit from walking.
Construction material
Cobalt coated (HSCO) tends to be stronger than HSS. Cobalt-coated drill bits bore holes through wood, metals, and plastic. However, Carbide is the toughest and therefore not used with hand drills.Carbide and cobalt-coated drill bits are a perfect match for drill press projects.
Cost
Looking at drill bits, the more expensive option is the most durable. Cobalt, gold oxide, and titanium coated are better priced, and looking at performance and lifespan, they are worth the value.
Frequently Asked Questions about Types of Drill Bits for Drill Press
Q: What is the best drill bit for hardened steel?
A:Cobalt-coated drill bits are excellent at cutting through hard metals. They are also the most used in a hand drill and drill presses.
Q: What kind of drill bit is best for wood?
A:High-speed Steel does a great job with wood, for example, IRWIN Drill Bit Set. With a 118o chisel point and a spiral flute, it cuts across the grain with a lot of ease.
Q: How do I know what drill bit to use?
A:You should measure your chuck size and the shank before you decide on the appropriate drill bits.
The chuck should be smaller than the drill bit.
Which Is Best? Our Final Verdict
Of all our products, Craftsman Professional Cobalt Drill bit is our top pick. It is resistant to wear and damage, can be used to drill holes into soft and hard metals, and most of all, it’s very economical for the 21 pieces per set. You may not need to replace them anytime soon as they are very durable.
Conclusion
Drill bits come in various shapes and sizes for power drills and drill presses. Most metalwork needs drill presses for high accuracy and efficiency to reduce manual operations. If you need a set of the best drill bits for drill press, check out our top picks and get one for your home or commercial applications.