Nothing is more frustrating then a broken drill bit. You’re in the middle of a project, and then you need to bore through a steel bracket or drive a screw into a solid piece of hardwood. The bit bend.
The end chip. And the project come to a sudden stop. To solve that issue, Warrior Tools designed their Cobalt line of drill bits.
These bits is supposedly affordable for the weekend warrior, yet tough enough for professional. In a market filled with both overpriced pro-brands and cheap knock-offs, that’s quite a bold promise. People are drawn to the Warrior Cobalt because of special type of steel used to make them.
Reviewing Warrior Cobalt Drill Bits
The Problem with Standard Drill Bits
It’s called cobalt steel. Cobalt steel is an alloy that does not lose it hardness even at high temperatures. When your bits becomes warm due to friction, regular high speed steel gets softer.
And that prevent the bit from staying sharp. A soft bit doesn’t cut as well because it will roll instead of cutting. This result in ragged holes and stripped screw head.
What Makes Cobalt Steel Special
These bits are manufactured using an M35 cobalt steel alloy that has about five percent cobalt in it. That little bit make a big difference in how long the bit last without being too brittle to snap sideways under lateral pressure. So how do these bits work?
Split Point Design and Precision
That’s partly explained by understanding there construction. They’re made with a thirteen degree split point design. That give the point the ability to self-center as soon as it touch the material.
You don’t need a center punch or to make a pilot dimple for each hole you want to drill. It bite right away. That cuts down on the “walking” of the drill bit, where it kind of skids across surface until it finally gets into position.
So less walking equals more accurate holes plus less damage to surrounding material. The engineering really matters in cutting edges. Budget bits tend to be dull and need a lot of downward force.
Performance in Wood and Metal
These cobalt bits from Warrior has sharper geometry that cut through plastic, metal and wood with less force. You’ll feel the difference the first time you pick up and start drilling. It’s almost like there is less resistance when you pull on the trigger.
The bit doesn’t bog down so fast. That matter because too much force can lead to breaking the bit or kicking the drill back at you. Always let the bit do the work instead of forcing it.
Heat Resistance and Durability
For example, I’ve also used them to drill pilot holes in deck boards and framed nail holes. They perform very consistantly in pressure treated lumber. It’s impressive how long they stay sharp too.
They show no signs of wear even after drilling many hole. That’s the difference between a good bit and a great one. One that only lasts through one project is just a consumable.
One that lasts months? That’s an investment. It sounds like Warrior aims somewhere in the middle there.
It has professional grade durability but without the professional grade price. The other thing that differentiate them are heat resistance. Friction creates a lot of heat while drilling through steel, aluminum etc… If you use standard bits they’ll quickly lose their temper.
With the cobalt alloy, the bit retain its edge even as it heats up. For most residential jobs you don’t have to pause to dunk the bit in cold water to keep it cooled off. That keeps things moving smoothly.
Drill several holes into a sheet metal enclosure or a metal railing without fear that the bit will fail half-way through.
Sharpening Challenges and Trade-offs
As always, there is trade offs when buying a tool. The cobalt bits are more difficult to sharpen than your standard steel bits.
Even then, once they are dull enough that you want to try sharpening them, you can’t simply use a standard bench grinder or you risk overheating them. You will need to have a bit of feel for sharpening these guys at the right angle and be careful with it. This isn’t really a problem for most people as the bits last such a long time.
But if you intend on sharpening them yourself you should know what you’re getting into in terms of the additional care needed. You could of known that sooner.
Bit Varieties and Value Proposition
The bits are available in many combinations too.
There’s Robertson and flat head Phillips square drive, Robertson, and Phillips square drive. Depending on your screws, each will fit best. Warrior Cobalt offers a nice assortment, which allows you to match the bit to the fastener.
Having that option add strength to the overall offering as they’ll be a solid addition to every toolbox. You do not need to purchase multiple set of bits for different tasks. One set does most everything you’d need to do.
It’s difficult to pass up on the value proposition. Are you paying less than a premium price for the best of the pro line? No, but you’re also not paying over the top for your average hardware store line either.
The quality is squarely in between. You get the good stuff like precise grinding and cobalt steel without the sticker shock. This is the sweet spot for the do it yourselfer or home owner.
You want tools that can do the job and stand the test of time. So how do the Warrior Cobalt Drill Bits fare? To put it simply, they perform as promised; they are accurate and long-lasting.
They eat through tough material and hold their edge when they get hot, unlike cheaper options that will kill your bit. The split point makes for accurate drilling the first time every time. You’ll pay a little more initially compared to generic drill bits.
But the amount of time you won’t waste changing out dull/damaged bits does add up. Being in the midst of something and needing a tool you know will work is essential. These bits give you that confidence.
What was once a frustrating experience becomes an easy finish. It’s worth the few extra bucks.