The old saying goes “you buy cheap, you buy twice”, and in most cases this is true. It takes a few hard lessons to know if you’re saving money by buying the cheapest drill bits or driver bits on offer. If a cheap drill bit breaks after a couple of uses and you’re forced to buy another one, is it worth it? The contents of the best drill bit set are down to you and what you need it for. If you want a little kit to get you out of a jam, there are a few basic things to look out for. The one that often gets left out is a screwdriver. It sounds simple, but a lot of “advanced” kits supply you with hundreds of bits but nothing to drive them with. Then come carbide-tipped drills which can for instance drill into screws. They can handle heat better than HSS bits.

Struggling to find what you need? Just get in touch and our friendly team will be happy to help you out! Other drill bits & sets Now onto the driver bits. There are 29 assorted driver bits, with a useful little set of hex bits, Torx, Phillips and PoziDriv. There’s also a set of three depth stops and a countersink bit for when you need to be tidy. And for nut drivers, there’s a decent set of them when you come up against small bolts. The big blue Japanese tool brand Makita have been at the forefront of professional and DIY tools for well over 100 years. Aside from making excellent tools and equipment, they make one of the best drill bit sets I’ve had a chance to own. The 100 piece “trade” accessory set contains everything you’d need for getting the job done at home or even at work. Boasting titanium oxide-coated drill bits for extreme hardness and corrosion resistance, these are serious drill bits that shouldn’t go blunt on you after just a couple of uses. The star of this 50-piece show here is the impressive collection of 24 drill bits. You get six masonry bits, 11 high-speed steel (HSS) bits and five wood drill bits in a well-thought-out range of sizes. So, if you’re planning on getting a kit and nothing else to leave at home in case of an emergency, look for these items in your set. These are my personal go-to tools if I could only choose a few: A screwdriver, a craft knife, a tape measure, a spirit level, a small selection of quality drill bits, a hammer, and a set of pliers. Buying Drill Bits – Quality or Quantity?

My Top Recommended Drill Bit Sets

The material a drill bit is made from determines its relative strength and suitability for drilling into different densities of material.

The plastic used to make the case itself needs to be rigid, but not brittle. Some low-quality drill bit set cases are made from hard plastic that easily shatters. Look for cases made from plastics like high-density polyethylene. They’re hard-wearing but won’t snap. One of the first names in tools, Bosch are constantly getting new and improved products into the hands of DIYers. Supplied in a handsome box and filled with quality drill and driver bits, the X-Line titanium drill bit set is incredibly handy to have around the house or in the shed. Some drill bit sets are designed for DIYers or tradespeople who already have the basics with them and need a more specialised set of accessories to get the job done. They leave out the entry-level kit because for the prepared user, a screwdriver or tape measure is just taking up more space.It’s fine for me to tell you to buy the best quality drill bit set, but how can you tell if a drill bit is any good? There are a few things to look out for in a quality drill bit:

Before I get on to the contents, it’s worth mentioning the excellent little box that they all come in. Rather than a simple folding plastic case, this one feels like a miniature toolbox on its own. There’s a carry handle on the top, and when you open it up the bits are held in place with foam rubber. I know I prefer pulling drill bits out of soft foam rather than brittle plastic holders. The grind on the tip of the drill bit is uniform. The normal grind angle is around 60°, but it’s more important that the grind is equal on both cutting surfaces. Cheap drill bits might be uneven. High Speed Steel (HSS) bits can handle soft woods, hardwoods, most plastics, and many metals. These are the most versatile and reasonably priced general-purpose twist bits. Traversing the soft to hard scale, steel and carbon steel bits are the best choices for general woodwork.The tough blow moulded case holds an incredible number of accessories without taking up much room at all. You get a comprehensive range of drill bits, six masonry, six HSS and six wood drill bits covering a decent range of sizes. Where this set really comes into its own is with the enormous range of 50 driver bits though. You get everything from two different lengths of common bit shapes to an amazing range of Torx bits.