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Drill Bits and Cutting Tools

Raising the bar on drill bit and cutting tool productivity.

Drill bits, step bits, taps, annular cutters and cutting power tools continue to evolve as manufacturers look for ways to improve speed, tool life, precision and overall productivity. At the same time, rising costs and labor constraints are pushing users to look beyond initial purchase price when evaluating cutting-tool performance.

Champion Cutting Tool’s HX-SET23 23-piece High Speed Steel Impact Ready Drill Bit Set features 1/4-inch hex shanks for quick-change compatibility with impact drivers and power drills and comes in a compact, rugged storage case.

CHAMPION CUTTING TOOL

For Champion Cutting Tool, product development begins with the problems customers encounter in the field.

“We aim to build tools that solve problems,” says Lowell Frey, president of Champion Cutting Tool. “We believe our job starts with asking questions, understanding the material, equipment, and application before recommending a tool.”

That application-specific approach is reflected in Champion’s 25 categories of twist drills and more than 10,000 individual tools. “We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all approach,” Frey says.

Champion closely monitors field needs and develops products for handheld drilling, cutting and finishing applications.

A recent example is the company’s Hex Shank Drill Set, released earlier in 2026. Frey says it has been well received by electricians, contractors and mechanics who appreciate the ability to use the drills with impact drivers.

“Users can feel the premium quality of the drills, which feature full body steel construction, 135-degree split point, and shorter mechanics length design for better operator control,” he says. “They also appreciate the thoughtful set design that includes duplicates of key electrical sizes.”

Champion also offers solutions for challenging drilling and threading work, including large-hole drilling, deep drilling, large tapping and reaming across construction and MRO applications.

Frey says another common misconception is that faster drilling necessarily means a better tool.

“We believe in a balance between tool strength and tool life,” he says. “For demanding field applications, longevity is where the real value shows up. A bit that drills fast but fails early costs more in downtime and replacement than it saves in speed, which is where the actual cost savings kick in.”

For distributors, Frey says the category requires dedicated attention from sales teams.

“Some distributors miss opportunities in this category simply because their sales teams aren’t focused on it,” he says.

Drill America’s Gold Stepped Point Cobalt Drill Bits are treated with gold oxide to increase durability, hardness and reduce heat, permitting speeds up to 30% greater than conventional HSS bits.

DRILL AMERICA

Elliot Barnett, vice president at Drill America says the general outlook for drill bits and cutting tools remains positive with demand being steady and growth, while moderate, remains consistent.

High-speed steel (HSS) products remain highly competitive as customers value their toughness, versatility and lower cost, while cobalt continues to offer significant performance advantages for more difficult to machine materials.

Barnett says the biggest misconception he encounters is that HSS is an old technology and is being replaced by carbide. While carbide offers advantages in many high-speed, high-volume applications, HSS remains valuable for general machining, maintenance, job shops, short runs and applications where toughness and cost are priorities.

“Conventional HSS still represents the largest material-grade segment of the market,” Barnett says.

Cobalt, meanwhile, should not simply be viewed as a premium version of HSS. Cobalt grades such as M35, which contains 5% cobalt, and M42, which contains 8%, provide greater hot hardness and heat resistance. That makes cobalt drills particularly well suited for stainless steel, tougher alloys and other heat-generating applications.

“There can be a substantial difference between grades, heat treatment, geometry, grinding quality, point design and manufacturing consistency,” Barnett says.

For distributors, understanding those differences creates an opportunity to provide customers with more than a commodity product. “Don’t just sell the customer a drill, solve the application,” he says.

The strongest distributors, he says, combine the right products in stock with competitive pricing and knowledgeable sales personnel.

“In an environment of higher labor and material costs, customers increasingly need tools that are readily available, perform consistently and provide the lowest practical cost per hole,” Barnett says.

With pricing up across the board, distributors want consistent and trustworthy suppliers who offer a competitive price while keeping product on the shelf.

Barnett recommends that distributors maintain inventory of critical SKUs, develop relationships with alternative sources and communicate price changes quickly.

“Construction activity remains reasonably healthy, but contractors are under pressure to control costs and keep projects on schedule,” he says. “With tariffs and material costs still moving, customers will increasingly want suppliers who can provide price stability and dependable delivery.”

Drill America focuses on its own lane, a broad selection of HSS and cobalt drills, taps and cutting tools offered at competitive prices.

The GSC Series Gold Stepped Point Cobalt Drill Bits from Drill America which allow for faster speeds than conventional HSS bits, were recognized in both 2024 and 2025 with Pro Tool Innovation Awards.

“That’s where we’ve built our business, and I feel it’s still the right place for us to be,” he says.

The company maintains more than 12,500 drill sizes and styles in stock, including a broad range of standard and specialty configurations.

“Our goal is not simply to offer a large catalog, we want distributors to understand that the products they sell are actually available in our warehouses and ready to ship,” Barnett says, noting that due to Drill America’s massive domestic inventory, most orders are shipped the day they are received.

Looking ahead, while HSS and cobalt drills remain a core focus, Drill America is also positioning itself as a broader cutting-tool supplier, with taps, dies, reamers, end mills, milling cutters, countersinks, counterbores and HSS/cobalt tool bits.

The GSC Series Gold Stepped Point Cobalt Drill Bits from Drill America which allow for faster speeds than conventional HSS bits, were recognized in both 2024 and 2025 with Pro Tool Innovation Awards.

“We want to ensure distributors come to understand that accountability, trust and longevity will be behind them supporting their company’s specific, individual needs day in/day out when doing business with Drill America,” Barnett says.

LEARN MORE

www.championcuttingtool.com
www.drillamerica.net

 

This article originally appeared in the October/November 2026 issue of Contractor Supply magazine. Copyright, 2026 Direct Business Media.