Drill Bit Chooser
Stainless steel drilling

What drill bit works on stainless steel?

“Cobalt” describes an alloyed HSS bit family, not permission to ignore grade, work hardening, tool rigidity or bit diameter. Confirm the selected product is approved for the workpiece.

Quick answer

A cobalt-alloyed HSS-Co twist drill intended for stainless steel is a suitable general bit family for many ordinary stainless-steel drilling jobs. This does not mean it will drill every stainless grade or hardened alloy.

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Interactive selector

Find a bit for your setup

Answer only the questions that change the selection. If the combination is not documented, the tool will say so.

The material is preselected. Use the safety options below if the work involves an anchor, services or structural elements.

Anchor / safety details (important for wall drilling)

Loading documented selection rules…

This does not verify workpiece condition, bit stock length, chuck capacity, structural loads or exact cutting speed. Follow the chosen manufacturer’s specification and use appropriate eye, hearing, workpiece and dust protection.

What changes the bit choice?

Look for the actual bit specification

“Cobalt” describes an alloyed HSS bit family, not permission to ignore grade, work hardening, tool rigidity or bit diameter. Confirm the selected product is approved for the workpiece.

Use controlled rotary drilling

Keep percussion off. Secure the workpiece and use the cutting process and compatible lubricant specified for the bit and material. Avoid spinning without meaningful cutting.

Avoid generic speed charts

RPM and feed depend on the specific grade and cutting tool. We intentionally do not generate a speed without validated manufacturer cutting data.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Assuming any gold-colored coated bit is cobalt HSS.
  • Confusing ordinary stainless with quenched/hardened tooling steels.
  • Running a bit dry or at arbitrary speed against its manufacturer instructions.

Frequently asked questions

Do I always need M35 or M42?

No blanket grade is specified here. HSS-Co products vary; choose a drill rated for the workpiece and follow that manufacturer’s data.

Why not show an exact RPM?

A single RPM would be misleading without bit diameter, stainless grade, bit series and equipment conditions.

Need a different material? Browse all ten material guides. Interested in wall fixings? Read our anchor-size warning and workflow.