Hot take: I used to think all drill bits were basically the same until I ruined a $40 piece of oak last Saturday

I grabbed a cheap bit from a random bin and it just shredded the wood, so now I only buy titanium-coated ones from a real hardware store. Has anyone else learned this lesson the hard way with a specific material?

3 comments

3 Comments

webb.val1mo ago

Oh man, I'm gonna totally disagree with you here. I've had way better luck with the cheapo bits from the discount bin than the fancy coated ones. I mean, I grabbed a 20-pack for like five bucks and they go through pine and even some hardwoods just fine as long as I don't push too hard or let them get too hot. Maybe it's just me but I think the titanium coating is more marketing than magic, and I've snapped two of those expensive ones trying to go through a stud.

the_sarah1mo ago

Oh geez, I gotta push back a little on that @webb.val. I've had the exact opposite experience lol. Those cheapo bits always snap on me halfway through a project, especially when I'm drilling into anything harder than pine. The titanium ones might cost more but they last way longer for me, like 10x more holes before they go dull. Guess it depends on what you're drilling and how careful you are with the speed.

ellis.charles27d agoProlific Poster

Snapped two expensive ones myself last month trying to go through a stud in my garage! I feel your pain. The cheapo 20-packs are perfect for when you're drilling into softer stuff and don't want to cry if one breaks. I keep a stash of the discount bits for quick holes and save the nicer ones for when I'm doing something finicky. Honest, I've been using the same cheap set for like a year now and they still cut through pine like butter.