Avoid clogs and dissipate heat with cobalt bits that last at least twice as long as high-speed steel. The flutes clear chips to improve coolant flow and prevent damage to the bit and the hole. They also speed up drilling since you don't have to stop to clear the bit manually.

With flutes that spiral in the opposite direction of other bits, these are primarily used to remove stripped screws. Choose a bit that’s slightly smaller than the diameter of the screw’s head. Set your power tool to rotate in reverse. Slowly drill in the center of the screw head, maintaining constant pressure. As the bit penetrates, it will catch onto the screw and reverse it out of the hole. If the screw is badly stripped, you might need to punch a starter hole. Also known as reverse-flute bits. High-speed steel is the versatile choice for drilling most metals.

Ready for turning in your lathe, these rods are precision ground and held to strict diameter and straightness tolerances. Also known as drill rod. With far less alloy content than other tool steel, W1 is the most machinable we offer. These rods are often used to make hammers, files, and reamers—tools that don't require the dimensional stability of A2 or O1. These rods are also decarb-free, which means any surface flaws created during the manufacturing process have been removed. This makes them even more machinable and leads to better results from heat treating or finishing. Heat treat the surface for extra wear resistance. Or, quench this steel in water to boost its hardness and strength, giving it a sharper, more durable edge for small tools.

These rods, also known as drill blanks, have an undersized diameter for machining your own drill bits. They're hardened for increased abrasion and impact resistance. M2 tool steel offers a nice balance of wear resistance and machinability. It has a high molybdenum content, which allows it to maintain sharp cutting edges even at elevated temperatures.