1/8 in. - 1/2 in. #1 Black Oxide Step Drill Bit (13-Steps)

This Black oxide step drill makes excellent holes 2 times faster into aluminum, duct, steel and sheet metal rather quickly. I was able to make a one inch hole into this sheet metal panel to run electrical conduit. What a breeze with this drill bit.

I purchased this drill bit to drill holes on a Jeep frame. A friend of mine asked for help installing a new bumper on his Jeep. I have done this before on my Jeep and I remembered that the installation instructions says to drill 7/16 holes to the rear frame. Most drill bit sets do not carry a 7/16 bit. So when I installed my bumper, I had to step up manually from a pilot hole of 1/8”, then to a 1/4, 3/8 and finally to 1/2”. I used lube so as not to burn out the bits. I still ended up messing up my 1/2 bit as it got hung up on the metal (the drill almost twisted my hand off). This is when I looked up buying a step drill bit. The #1 bit had increments going from 1/8” to 1/2”. Just what I needed. So when my buddy brought his Jeep over for the bumper install, I was ready to test this bit. I used a 1/8” bit as a pilot hole. I then switched to the step drill bit. This drill bit easily enlarged the hole to 1/2” with minimal effort. It never hung up. I didn’t have to apply much pressure. I was so amazed, I tried using just one hand on two of the holes. And same result. It cut through the frame like it was soft wood. I’m definitely a believer. I don’t know how long this bit will last, but if it takes such a minimum effort to drill out metal, I would think it would stay sharp for a while.

I needed to drill a hole in an older mustang to install a radio antenna. This drill bit worked perfectly for my needs. Slowly increased the hole diameter till it reached the size I needed and left a clean hole when done, minimal/no burrs. This is the most expensive bit I’ve owned, but worth it for what I needed.

Perfect for making holes in acrylic sheets without cracks!

The bit works great on thin metal, wood and sheet rock. It did not become dull after several days of heavy use and continues to make my project easier to navigate.

Drills sheet metal fast and clean for grommets .

This bit is hungry for metal! Take it slow with plenty of pressure on the bit, a good grip on the drill and it'll chew right through steel. Embarrassed to say how many regular bits I broke before buying this one. Not to mention how much time this bit will save you. Also, it leaves a nice chamferred edge which helps guide bolts through the hole. Drilled multiple holes through 10 ga square tubing and the bit shows no signs of slowing down. Seriously, look at all that man glitter this bit produced in the pic! Only downside I can see of this bit is that you can't drill a solid, uniform sized hole through thicker metal because of the bits "stepped" shape, but that's not what this bit is designed to do anyway.

Picked this up this morning. Doing a project where I am cutting an threading black iron pipe -1/2" 3/4" and 1". Needed something to ream / debur the ends of the pipe before threading. Have only done a few pieces so far but it works like a charm. It was pricier than I thought it was going to be but a lot less than some other options.

I use this to drill holes in 1/4" angle iron and it works very well. Be sure to wear shoes though.....that red-hot metal fragments kinda hurt when they land on bare feet!

Works just fine for me in limited test ------------------------------------------------------------------ Disclaimer: This is an unbiased review that is unaffected by the fact that I received this product for free. As proof of impartiality, just click on my nickname and see the average of the ratings I have given over 200 reviews to date. ==== First impressions ==== Packaging is virtually bulletproof. I almost needed to use the bit to open it. Scissors may not be enough. ==== Operation ==== This #8 bit is advertised as having a range of 1/2" to 1" diameter. That is for a step depth of 1/8". That means you can drill a clean, even hole in up to 1/8" material without having to drill from the other side also. There are steps of 3/16", 1/4", 5/16". 3/8", and 7/16" also; but except for the 3/16" initial step, the depth of each is only 1/16". For drilling holes under 1/2" with material over 1/16" thick, you should buy another bit to compliment this one, perhaps the #1 bit. I tested the bit by drilling two 3/8" diameter holes in a 1/8" thick stainless steel plate. I do not know the grade of the plate material (maybe 316) except that it had been used for years in a marine salt-water environment. The bit performed fine even at starting the initial hole without any cutting fluid. Of course, cutting fluid should always be used. The bit showed minimal wear or scuffing of the surfaces. I am not sure I could tell the difference between a single flute and the double flutes that are on this bit. By having two cutting flutes, I suspect that would require more power from the drilling tool to cut at the faster speeds. The claims of higher cutting speed (2X) and longer life (4X) are qualified (in tiny print) to be used with 18v Lithium-Ion battery-powered tools. At a price of 45 bucks, it is expensive, making the "value" just average. ==== Summary ==== Bit works well in cutting stainless steel. Requires higher powered tools to provide full benefits for speed and life. 9 sizes are advertised, but there are 5 more smaller sizes with smaller steps for thinner material. A "bit" pricey (pun intended).