Bosch Nail Strike Wood-Boring Bit Set

Why I reached for these bits

Remodel work has a way of turning the simplest hole into a surprise. I’ve hit hidden brads in old trim, clipped the occasional framing nail in a stud, and cursed plenty of spade bits that turned to butter the moment steel showed up. That’s what pushed me to try Bosch’s Nail Strike bits. They’re spade-style wood-boring bits designed to keep going after incidental nail contact, with a fully threaded cone tip to pull themselves into the cut and reinforced reamer edges meant to resist damage.

Over several weeks of jobsite and shop use—boring through SPF studs, PT plates, OSB, and some annoyingly dense old-growth fir—I put the set through the kind of mixed materials you see on real projects. I ran them in a cordless drill/driver and an impact driver to see how they handled torque and chatter.

Design and build

The Nail Strike bits have three elements that define their behavior:

• Fully threaded cone tip: This acts like a self-feed screw. It grabs quickly, centers well, and pulls the bit into the work without having to lean on the drill.
• Contoured paddle: Instead of a flat spade, the body is shaped to channel chips out of the hole. In theory, that should keep the bit cooler and reduce bogging.
• Reinforced reamer edges: These small leading spurs score the perimeter and help with hole roundness and exit clean-up. Bosch hardens these edges to stand up better, especially after a steel encounter.

There’s also a hex shank with a power groove. In practice, that means the bit sits more securely in the chuck and in quick-change holders. I didn’t see any slippage, even under high load in an impact driver.

Fit and finish are solid. The threaded tip is cleanly formed, the grinding on the paddle is consistent, and the edges are sharp out of the package.

Speed and hole quality

The threaded tip is the star here. In clear softwood, these bits are quick. I could feather the trigger and let the tip do the feeding rather than muscling the tool. In 2x SPF studs, the 3/4-inch and 1-inch sizes plowed through in a single, continuous push without the usual rhythmic stop-and-clear you get with some spades.

Chip evacuation is noticeably better than a flat paddle. The contoured profile creates a clear path for chips, especially on the larger diameters. On deep bores—like a 1-inch hole through a double top plate—backing the bit out once midway kept temperatures in check, and I never felt the bit pack up.

Hole quality is spade-bit typical: the walls are reasonably clean, and the reamer edges help reduce blowout on the exit side. If you need a crisp, finished hole for visible joinery, you’ll still want a Forstner. For plumbing, electrical, or general rough-in, these are more than acceptable.

What happens when you hit a nail

I forced the issue in testing. I set brad nails in scrap, bored through tacked-on lath, and, for a worst-case trial, intersected a 16d framing nail on purpose.

• Brad/finish nails: The bit kept cutting with barely a stutter. I saw a tiny nick on the cutting edge under magnification, but performance in wood didn’t noticeably change afterward.
• Small ring-shank nails and old cut nails: You’ll feel the impact and a brief slow-down. The bit will throw a spark or two and then chew past. Afterward, feed rate in softwood was slightly reduced, but still workable.
• Full 16d nail: This is where reality sets in. The bit made it through, but the threaded tip lost some bite and the leading cutting lip dulled. I could finish the hole, but subsequent holes required more pressure and produced more heat.

So yes, these bits can survive incidental steel. They’re not magic; hitting larger nails taxes the tip and shortens sharpness. But in typical remodel scenarios—an occasional brad or a hidden staple—they keep you moving instead of reaching for a new bit.

Durability and edge retention

Across a few dozen holes in clean lumber, edge retention was good. I didn’t notice performance falling off prematurely, and the reamer edges stayed crisp enough to keep exit tear-out in check.

After multiple intentional nail strikes, the 3/4-inch bit showed predictable wear: the screw tip’s threads softened and the cutting lips lost their razor edge. The bit still bored, just more slowly and with more heat. That’s consistent with any “nail-ready” spade bit I’ve used—the claim is about surviving, not thriving, after steel.

One plus: these bits are straightforward to touch up. A few careful passes with a file on the main cutting lips revived performance notably. The reamer edges can also be dressed lightly. The threaded tip, however, isn’t something you can realistically restore once it’s rounded over.

Control, torque, and tool pairing

Because the tip self-feeds, control depends on your drill’s torque and your grip. In softwood, the bit can feel eager. Using a drill/driver in low gear gave me the best balance—steady pull without sudden lunges. In dense species or wet PT lumber, I preferred an impact driver. The hex shank and the impact’s pulsing action let the bit keep churning without wrenching my wrist.

A couple of practical notes:
- Start square. The tip will walk less than a flat spade, but it’s still good practice to get the nose set before pulling full trigger.
- Manage speed. High RPM isn’t necessary. Moderate speed with steady pressure gives cleaner holes and longer edge life.
- Clear chips on deep bores. The contoured paddle helps, but backing out halfway prevents heat soak.

Sizes and set options

There are two set configurations:
- NS5003: 5/8, 3/4, 1 inch (three-piece)
- NS5006: 3/8, 1/2, 5/8, 3/4, 7/8, 1 inch (six-piece)

That covers the bulk of rough-in needs. The 1-inch bit was my workhorse for plumbing notches and cable runs, with 3/4 inch taking care of most conduit and pipe straps. If you frequently run larger services, you’ll still need augers or self-feed bits beyond 1 inch.

Where these bits fit

These make the most sense for:
- Remodelers and maintenance crews who can’t predict what’s behind the drywall.
- Electricians and plumbers needing quick rough-in holes with the risk of the occasional hidden nail.
- DIYers who want a forgiving spade bit that won’t be ruined by a surprise brad.

If you’re drilling hundreds of holes a day in clean framing, a traditional spade or a ship auger may last longer between sharpenings. If you know you’ll be plowing through fasteners constantly, carbide self-feed bits or heavy-duty augers designed specifically for nail cutting are a better, if pricier, path.

Room for improvement

• The threaded tip, while great for feed, can feel grabby in softer stock. A slightly less aggressive thread might balance speed with control for handheld drilling.
• After significant nail contact, the tip is the limiting factor. A replaceable screw point would extend service life, though that’s rare in spade bits.

Neither is a deal-breaker, and both are inherent trade-offs in this bit style.

Safety and maintenance

• Wear eye protection. Steel contact throws sparks and tiny chips.
• Let the bit cool between extended runs; heat is the enemy of edge life.
• Touch up the cutting lips with a fine file when you notice increased feed pressure.
• Avoid prying the bit sideways in the hole—let the reamer edges do the clean-up.

The bottom line

The Nail Strike bits are fast in clean wood, clear chips better than typical spades, and—importantly—don’t fold when they meet small nails. The reinforced edges and hex shank with power groove translate to confident, consistent drilling with either a drill/driver or an impact driver. They won’t shrug off repeated impacts with big framing nails without some loss of sharpness, but they’ll get you out of a jam and keep the job moving.

Recommendation: I recommend these bits for remodelers, service trades, and DIYers who need spade bits that can handle surprise nails without becoming throwaways. They offer a practical balance of speed, control, and resilience. If your work routinely chews through heavy fasteners, step up to a purpose-built nail-cutting auger or a carbide self-feed system. For everyone else, these are a smart, job-ready upgrade over standard spade bits.