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 lift chips out of the hole, you don't have to stop drilling to clear these bits manually. They improve coolant flow to dissipate heat and prevent clogs that can damage the bit and ruin the hole. High-speed steel is good for general purpose drilling in most metals.

Wear and heat resistant, these stay sharp longer than precise-cut bits made of plain steel. The sharp center point keeps the bit from wandering during drilling to cut accurate straight and overlapping holes, even across the grain. Also known as brad-point bits.

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.