Bosch 14pc Black Oxide Drill Bit Set

A straightforward, reliable set for everyday drilling

I put this Bosch black oxide set to work across a week of typical shop and household tasks: building a small pine shelving unit, hanging hardware in drywall, drilling pilot holes in plastic jigs, and punching through a few pieces of light-gauge steel tubing. Nothing exotic—exactly the sort of work these bits are meant for. The short take is that the set is consistently dependable, easy to start, and big enough in range to cover most day-to-day holes without rummaging for a specialty bit.

Build and design

These are standard twist bits with a black oxide finish. The finish helps reduce friction and seems to shed pitch and light rust better than bright steel bits. The cutting lips are cleanly ground and, importantly, the tips are split. That “no-skate” geometry makes a real difference: on wood, drywall, and plastic I could start right on a pencil mark without a center punch. On steel, I still prefer a light punch, but the bits didn’t wander the way conventional chisel points do.

On the larger sizes, Bosch uses a three-flat shank. In both keyed and keyless chucks, that flat profile locks in without the occasional slip you get with perfectly round shanks under heavier load. It’s a small design detail that prevents some frustrating mid-hole freewheeling, especially in metal.

The size spread runs from 1/16 up to 1/2 inch, with the usual suspects in between: 1/8, 3/16, 1/4, 5/16, 3/8, etc. For general work, that’s plenty. If you run a 3/8-inch chuck drill, just remember to check your chuck capacity before reaching for the 1/2-inch bit.

Performance in wood

In softwoods (2x pine studs and a few offcuts of poplar), the split tips grabbed immediately and tracked straight. Tear-out on the exit side was minimal for a twist bit, especially up to 1/4 inch. Past that, I got cleaner exits by backing the workpiece or easing off pressure as the point broke through. Compared to cheaper house-brand bits I keep around for rough work, these cut smoother and required less force, which tells me the grind and finish are doing their job.

In plywood and MDF, the bits behaved predictably. The 1/8 and 3/16 sizes made crisp pilot holes for screws with a clean top edge. For shelf-pin accuracy I’d still reach for brad-point bits, but for general construction and hardware mounting, these are absolutely fine.

Performance in plastic

I drilled holes in ABS project boxes and a couple of acrylic scraps. Running the drill at a slower speed with light pressure, the bits evacuated chips cleanly and didn’t melt the plastic. The split tip helps here as well; less pressure means less heat. If you push hard or spin too fast, any twist bit will start to melt acrylic—these are no exception—so technique matters more than tool. Used properly, the holes were round and reasonably clean with modest burrs that deburred easily with a countersink.

Performance in light metal

This set is aimed at “light-gauge metal,” and that’s the right expectation. I drilled mild-steel angle (about 1/8 inch thick), a few pieces of thin-wall steel conduit, and some aluminum bar. With a dab of oil, the bits cut steadily with a nice curled chip. The three-flat shanks on larger sizes were a welcome touch—no slipping in the chuck while opening holes to 3/8 inch.

Heat management is the limiter. Black oxide bits aren’t cobalt; if you bear down and spin fast in steel, they’ll dull faster. I kept the drill at moderate speed, applied cutting fluid, and let the bit do the work. After a dozen or so holes, cutting performance was still solid, and the edges showed only minor polish. I’d reserve stainless or heavy section steel for a cobalt set, but for brackets, sheet, and light structural pieces, these bits handled the job just fine.

Accuracy and hole quality

The split point makes it easy to hit your mark. In wood and plastic, I could place holes without a center punch and see little to no walking. In metal, a light punch improved consistency, but even freehand holes landed where I expected. Measured holes tracked close to nominal size, which matters when you’re drilling clearance holes or piloting for machine screws.

Chip evacuation is adequate. Flute polish isn’t mirror-slick, but it’s smooth enough that chips don’t pack up unless you’re drilling deep in gummy aluminum without pecking. A simple pecking routine—drill a bit, back out, clear chips—kept things moving.

Durability and sharpening

Over a week of mixed materials, I didn’t baby these bits. The small sizes (1/16, 5/64, 3/32) are always the first to break if you side-load them, and that’s true here as well—use a light touch and let the bit advance. The mid-range and larger sizes held their edge respectably. You can expect black oxide to dull sooner than cobalt in aggressive metal work, but the tradeoff is lower cost and better all-around versatility for wood and plastics.

The grind is standard enough that touching up edges on a benchtop sharpener is straightforward. If you routinely resharpen your bits, these respond well to a quick tune and go right back into service.

Usability details

• Starts are confident. The “no-skate” tip earns its keep on drywall and painted surfaces where a standard bit wants to wander.
• The three-flat shanks matter once you get to 1/4 inch and above, especially in keyless chucks. Less time re-tightening mid-hole.
• Heat management is key in metal. Slow the speed, add cutting oil, and the bits reward you with cleaner holes and longer life.

If there’s a nit to pick, it’s simply the limitation inherent to black oxide: push too hard in steel, and you’ll see edge wear sooner than with a cobalt set. That’s not a flaw of this set so much as a reminder to match the bit to the job.

Where it fits in a kit

I think of this set as the everyday driver. For rough construction, cabinetry prep, hardware installation, plastic enclosures, and general shop tasks, it does what you ask without fuss. I keep cobalt bits ready for stainless, hardened fasteners, and heavy section steel; I keep brad-points for furniture joinery; and I keep a step bit for sheet metal. But most drilling isn’t specialized, and that’s the niche this set fills.

Value-wise, you’re getting 14 commonly used sizes with competent grinds and helpful features at a price that makes sense. It’s not a disposable set, but you won’t feel precious about using it on a jobsite either.

Tips for best results

• Wood: high speed, light pressure, back up your exit side to reduce tear-out on larger sizes.
• Plastic: slow speed, very light pressure, and clear chips often to avoid melting.
• Light steel: moderate speed, steady pressure, cutting fluid, and peck to manage heat. Use a center punch for precise starts.
• Small bits: keep the drill aligned and let the bit advance; side load is what snaps them.

The bottom line

The Bosch black oxide set hits the sweet spot for general-purpose drilling. The split tips start true, the three-flat shanks keep the larger bits locked in, and the size range covers most of what I do in wood, plastic, and light metal. If you need to regularly attack stainless or heavy steel, step up to cobalt; if you’re after flawless exit holes in hardwood veneers, add brad-points to your kit. For everything else, these bits are a reliable, low-drama choice.

Recommendation: I recommend this set as a primary, all-around drilling solution for homeowners, DIYers, and pros who need a dependable “daily” set. It offers clean starts, solid cutting performance, and sensible features at a fair price. Pair it with a few specialty bits for edge cases, and you’ll be covered for the vast majority of drilling tasks.