DeWalt Impact Ready Titanium Nitride Coating Drill Set (5-piece)

Why this set earned a spot on my belt

I reach for an impact driver far more often than a drill these days, but drilling with an impact can be a mixed bag unless the bit is purpose-built. That’s exactly where this DeWalt impact-rated pilot-point set shines. Over several weeks of cabinet installs, light metal work, and a few weekend fixes, these five titanium-coated bits became my go-to for quick, accurate holes without the wandering, squeal, or premature dulling I’ve come to expect from generic bits in quick-change chucks.

Build and design

The bits are ground from one piece of steel and wear a titanium nitride (TiN) coating. The one-piece grind gives them a stout, cohesive feel—no braze lines, no stacked components—and the patented web taper translates to a noticeably stiffer core. In practice, that means less flex under load and fewer “chirps” when the bit catches an edge.

DeWalt’s pilot-point tip is the star of the show. It starts cutting the moment it touches the work, which keeps the bit from walking across the surface. I didn’t need a center punch on most wood or plastic jobs, and on mild steel a light punch was enough to keep things locked in place. The cutting lips follow the pilot cleanly, and breakthrough burrs are surprisingly tame for a general-purpose geometry.

These are impact-rated, and the shanks locked securely into my 1/4-inch quick-change chucks. I ran them in impact drivers and standard drill/drivers without any compatibility hiccups.

In the wood shop

In plywood, pine, and maple, the pilot point made for precise starts, even when I was reaching one-handed behind a cabinet rail. Entry holes were crisp and round with minimal fuzz, and blowout on the backside was modest even without backing the work. For cabinetry and hardware prep, that accuracy saves time—holes land where they should, screws pull straight, and you don’t spend the afternoon chasing misaligned hinges.

For larger holes with a hole saw, I predrilled a pilot to keep the arbor from skating across finished surfaces. The bit left a clean path and didn’t chip veneer, which is a small but welcome detail during installation work.

Tip: In hardwoods, let the pilot do the locating and don’t lean on the tool. Moderate pressure and higher RPMs produced the smoothest chips and the cleanest exits.

Metal and mixed materials

I put the set through mild-steel plate, steel electrical boxes, and aluminum angle. The bits tracked exactly where I started them, and with a drop of cutting oil and lower RPMs, they pulled consistent curls without glazing over. I still deburred the backside, but the rim was thinner than I typically see from standard twist bits, which speaks to the pilot’s controlled breakthrough.

In thin sheet steel, the pilot point helps with accuracy, but a step bit is still the cleaner option if you need burr-free holes at speed. For real-world maintenance tasks—mounting a junction box to channel or adding a bracket to a steel frame—these performed as well as any TiN-coated HSS set I own, with fewer start-up headaches.

Tip: Let the tool do the work. Slow the impact driver, use oil on steel, and peck through thicker stock to keep heat down. The TiN coating resists wear, but it isn’t magic—overheating will dull any edge.

Plastics and composites

Acrylic, PVC, and fiberglass reinforced panels are where the pilot point’s control really pays off. Starts are predictable and chip-out is reduced. Keep the speed moderate to manage heat, and the flutes clear nicely without melting edges. I didn’t experience the “grab-and-crack” you sometimes get with aggressive split-point bits.

Impact driver drilling, done right

Because these bits are impact-rated, I felt comfortable drilling with a compact impact in tight quarters. The quick change was smooth, and the tips didn’t chatter under the driver’s pulses. That said, for the largest diameter in the set or deeper holes in metal, a drill/driver with a clutch and steady RPMs provides better feed control. Impact drilling can mask excessive pressure; restrain the trigger and let the pilot establish the path before you lean in.

Durability and wear

After a steady mix of wood and metal work, the cutting edges remained sharp and the gold coating at the margins showed typical polish without flaking. The shanks didn’t round off in the coupler, and I didn’t snap any tips, even when I bound a bit in an awkward overhead cut. The thicker web helps here; you can feel the extra backbone when the bit is deep in a hole and tries to wander.

A reality check: TiN adds wear resistance and heat tolerance, but the cutting edge is still high-speed steel. Abuse it—dry drilling heavy gauge steel at high RPM—and you’ll cook it. Also, as with any TiN bit, if you eventually resharpen the cutting lips, the coating at the edge is sacrificed. That’s not a deal-breaker, just worth noting for those who routinely regrind their bits.

What’s in (and not in) the set

With only five sizes, this is a focused kit, not a comprehensive index. For most fastening work—pilot holes, clearance holes, plastic anchors, and general fixture installs—it covers the frequent flyers. If you need a fine spread of diameters for furniture joinery or shop jigs, you’ll want to supplement with a larger set. I like keeping these in the impact bag for field work and relying on a fuller index back at the bench.

I didn’t miss fancy extras. The essentials here are tip geometry, rigidity, and impact readiness—they’re executed well.

Limitations

• Not for masonry or tile; use dedicated masonry bits.
• For very thin sheet metal, a step bit leaves cleaner edges and offers more size flexibility.
• The five-piece range won’t replace a full drill index for precision sizing.
• Stainless and hardened fasteners are doable in a pinch, but go slow, use lubricant, and temper expectations; cobalt bits are the better choice for regular work in tough alloys.

Value and warranty

Pricing sits in the reasonable tier for impact-rated TiN bits, and the performance matches expectations for the brand. The 30-day money-back guarantee is a low-friction safety net if you’re testing them against your workload.

Who will appreciate this set

• Tradespeople and DIYers who primarily drill with an impact driver and need clean, reliable starts.
• Installers working in mixed materials where accuracy matters: cabinetry, electrical, HVAC, and maintenance.
• Anyone tired of bits wandering off layout lines or skating across metal and finished surfaces.

Recommendation

I recommend this DeWalt impact-rated pilot-point set. It consistently starts on target, runs true in a quick-change chuck, and holds an edge across wood, plastics, and mild steel. The one-piece grind and stiffer web give it a sturdy, confidence-inspiring feel, and the TiN coating offers the kind of wear resistance that pays off when jobs stretch long. The five-piece selection is the only real constraint; if you rely on a wide diameter spread, you’ll still want a larger kit nearby. For everyday installs and repair work—especially if an impact driver is your default—these bits strike a smart balance of accuracy, durability, and convenience.