The $70 drill bit set that let me down hard last month

I picked up this set of cobalt drill bits at a tool supply place in Portland for about 70 bucks. Thought I was getting a deal since my old ones were all chipped up. First couple holes in some mild steel went fine, but the third one snapped clean off when I hit a tiny weld seam. Ended up spending another 40 on a single decent bit from a local shop that actually did the job. Has anyone else had bad luck with those multi-packs versus just buying one good bit at a time?

2 comments

2 Comments

taylor.susan3d ago

Read a test from some engineering blog that said those cheaper multi-packs often skip the stress-relief step in manufacturing, so one little stress point and snap, there goes your bit.

lilyb273d ago

Those multi-packs are tempting but they're usually a gamble, especially at that price point. Cobalt is marketed as the big selling point but the heat treatment on cheaper sets is often inconsistent, so you get one bit that's too brittle and it snaps when it shouldn't. I've had way better luck buying individual bits from a reputable brand (like Norseman or even the higher end DeWalt stuff) as I need them. My go-to is keeping a few single bits in the common sizes I use most, and I've had the same set for years without a single breakage.