DeWalt 29-Piece Pilot Point Industrial Cobalt Alloy Steel Drill Bit Set

The short story

I put the DeWalt cobalt set to work on a mix of stainless and mild steel projects and came away impressed by how predictably it starts, how cleanly it cuts, and how long it holds an edge—especially in the sizes I reach for most (1/8 to 3/8 inch). It’s not flawless, but if you routinely drill metal, the combination of pilot-point accuracy and cobalt toughness makes this a dependable everyday kit.

What you get and how it’s built

This is a 29-piece, 1/16–1/2 inch set in 1/64-inch increments, housed in a hard plastic index that snaps shut securely and keeps each size labeled and easy to grab. My set is clearly laser-etched HSS-Co and “Made in Germany,” and the grind quality is consistent across the range. The bits have a gold finish; DeWalt lists a titanium coating, which looks and behaves like TiN in use. The substrate matters more: cobalt alloy is the reason these hold up in stainless and resist tempering under heat.

Note that the shanks are straight up to 1/2 inch. If you only own a 3/8-inch-chuck drill, you won’t be able to use the larger sizes; plan on a 1/2-inch chuck for the top end of the index.

Tip geometry and starting accuracy

These bits use a pilot-point profile blended with a split-point grind. In practice, that means:

• Starts are noticeably more controlled on flat metal without a center punch.
• On curved or uneven surfaces (conduit, tubing), I still prefer a light punch, but I could get away without it for 3/16 inch and smaller.
• The split-point relief reduces thrust and helps the bit “pull” into the work rather than skate.

Compared to a standard 118-degree jobber bit, wandering was reduced to near-zero on a drill press and minimal by hand. On sheet stainless, I found the pilot point especially helpful in keeping holes where I intended.

Performance in metal

I tested across common shop scenarios:

• 304 stainless, 3/16-inch plate: With a 1/4-inch bit at ~700 RPM on a drill press, using cutting oil and a light peck cycle, each hole took about 12–15 seconds from break-in to breakthrough. Edges were clean with modest burr, and the bit stayed cool enough that discoloration was confined to the cutting lips after a run of 20 holes.
• 1018 mild steel, 1/4-inch angle: A 3/8-inch bit at ~450 RPM cut smoothly by hand with a corded drill. The pilot point helped avoid walking on the web, and chips evacuated well with a modest peck.
• Stainless fasteners: I used a 5/32-inch bit to enlarge a pilot in a grade 18-8 bolt. With oil and conservative pressure, the bit tracked true and showed no chipping at the lips afterward.

Across these tests, the standout trait is predictability. The cutting action feels steady rather than grabby, and I didn’t need to overfeed to get the bit to bite. Heat management still matters—these are cobalt, not magic—and when I respected speed and lubrication, edge life reflected that. After dozens of holes, the frequently used mid sizes still passed a fingernail test sharply.

Aluminum and softer metals pose no challenge here, though the pilot point means you’ll want to clear the flute more often on gummy alloys. On cast iron, the split point kept chatter in check; dry drilling worked fine, as it should.

Speeds, feeds, and technique

If you’re used to blazing through mild steel with high-speed steel bits at too high an RPM, you’ll shorten the life of cobalt unnecessarily. What worked best for me:

• Keep RPM conservative. Rough guide: 1/8 inch ~1,800 RPM in mild steel, halved for stainless; 3/8 inch ~600 RPM in mild steel, ~300–400 in stainless.
• Use cutting oil in ferrous metals, especially stainless.
• Employ a peck cycle (brief retracts) on deeper holes to clear chips and let the tip breathe.
• Clamp the work. The pilot point helps, but a secure setup matters more than any geometry.

With those fundamentals, the bits deliver the kind of clean, round holes you buy cobalt for.

Durability and sharpening

Edge retention is where cobalt earns its keep. The small and midsized bits in this set held their apex after repeated stainless runs. The gold coating will discolor near the lips with heat; that’s normal. Importantly, the underlying cobalt alloy keeps cutting even as the coating wears.

Sharpening is feasible. The tips are ground with a split point that you can replicate on a bench grinder or a guided sharpener if you’re comfortable with 135-degree geometries. The pilot-point aspect means you want to preserve a slight center projection; if you over-flatten that, the bit will still cut but you’ll lose some anti-walk benefit. I touched up a 1/4-inch bit after a week’s use and restored bite easily.

Case and organization

The index is compact and sturdy. The latch hasn’t popped open in my bag, and the bit wells grip shanks firmly without fighting you during removal. Size markings are clear and don’t rub off like printed trays sometimes do. My only nit: the high-contrast yellow lettering is great in the shop, less so once it picks up cutting fluid—wipe it down if you rely on the markings mid-job.

Where it falls short

• Large sizes need a 1/2-inch chuck. Not unique to this set, but worth flagging if you only own a 3/8-inch drill.
• Pilot point trade-offs. On thin sheet, the pilot can “break through” just before the main lips engage, occasionally leaving a slightly more pronounced exit burr than a flat 135-degree split point. It’s minor and easy to deburr, but noticeable.
• Coating confusion. The gold, TiN-style finish isn’t the main event—cobalt is. If you’re buying strictly for “titanium coating” durability, set expectations: coatings help with lubricity and initial wear, but heat control and technique dominate tool life.
• No reduced shanks or step bits included. This is a straight jobber set; if you need to jump hole sizes on thin sheet or run large diameters in a 3/8-inch drill, you’ll want a separate step bit or reduced-shank set.

Who it’s for

• Fabricators and mechanics who drill stainless or hard steels regularly and need predictable starts without constantly center-punching.
• DIYers upgrading from consumer HSS sets that dull quickly in metal.
• Anyone who appreciates a full 1/64-inch increment index for precise clearance and tap-drill sizing.

If you mainly drill wood and plastic, this is overkill; a standard HSS set will serve you and be easier to sharpen freehand. If you routinely work hardened steel or tool steel, step up to specialty coatings (TiAlN) and rigid setups, or consider carbide with the appropriate fixturing.

Value

You’re paying for cobalt substrate, a well-executed tip geometry, and a complete size range in a robust index. Given the performance in stainless and the time saved by accurate starts, the cost makes sense for metal-focused users. Add the 30-day money-back guarantee if you’re on the fence—that’s a safe runway to determine if the geometry and edge life fit your work.

Recommendation

I recommend the DeWalt cobalt set for anyone who drills metal frequently and wants consistent starts, clean holes, and reliable edge life—without babying their bits. The pilot-point/split-point grind does what it claims, especially in handheld work; the cobalt alloy holds up under the heat loads of stainless; and the complete index means you’re not hunting for odd sizes mid-project. It’s not the only way to outfit a metalworking kit, and it won’t replace step bits or carbide for specialized tasks, but as a backbone set for ferrous work, it’s a solid, frustration-reducing upgrade.