Impact Drill Bits

[Stuey]

Review of Dewalt Impact Drill Bits, via ToolGuyd

While I wont discontinue the use of conventional bits in a standard drill, these impact bits are awesome! The price is a bit high, and availability scarce, but I've found that they're damn good bits.

I've ran out of ideas of how to test them, so I'll give them to an electrician buddy of mine for a 2nd opinion.

 

[toolnut]

What's the advantage of these impact bits??

 

[pmohr]

What's the advantage of these impact bits??

Seems to me to be covered pretty thoroughly in the linked review

 

[Stuey]

What's the advantage of these impact bits??

Greatly reduced risk of breakage when used in impact drivers.

 

[bchee]

I didn't realize they were that scarce. I would trust German-made bits

 

[Stuey]

Are they HSS with a special coating, or an entirely new alloy?

If I had to guess, I'd say the bits are composed of a special alloy with a topical coating. Still, if it turned out that the bits are just coated HSS, that wouldn't make them any less superb. As you can tell, I'm a huge fan of the single-piece construction.

 

[Mike83]

I have a set of Dewalt 1/4" hex drill bits, not the impact ready ones in the review, and they are the worst, dullest bits I've ever used. Just a heads up so that there is no confusion since they look the same!

 

[mx5.7]

What have you used them on so far?

 

[Stuey]

What have you used them on so far?

I mentioned this in the review, but it's worth repeating. Soft wood, hard wood, sheet alum, PVC, and medium duty sheet steel. I didn't try SS yet or other stubborn materials since I don't have any onhand.

 

[speed bump]

Whats medium duty sheet steel? Honestly almost any drill bit is going to work pretty well in wood, PVC, Aluminum, or sheet metal but its ability to drill in steel is what sets drill bits apart.

 

[Stuey]

Whats medium duty sheet steel? Honestly almost any drill bit is going to work pretty well in wood, PVC, Aluminum, or sheet metal but its ability to drill in steel is what sets drill bits apart.

The steel was whatever I had laying around, leftovers from various projects. I don't remember the alloys, but I know it's not super hardened tool steel. The various thicknesses were from 24ga to 16ga or so. For what it's worth, they plowed through steel studs with relative ease as well.