Which Drill Bit Should You Use? A Shop Guide to Faster, Cleaner Holes

Drilling a hole sounds simple enough. Grab a drill, grab a bit, and get to work.

But anyone who spends enough time drilling holes knows how quickly the wrong setup can turn into a headache. The bit walks across the workpiece. The tool overheats. You burn through bits faster than expected. Or you spend time fighting a hole that should have taken a fraction of the time.

The problem may not be the drill. You may simply be using the wrong cutting tool for the job.

Champion Cutting Tool offers a wide range of drilling and hole-making tools designed for different materials, hole sizes, thicknesses, and applications. For welding and metal fabrication shops, understanding the differences can help you drill faster, improve hole quality, and get more life out of your tooling.

Their product lineup includes twist drills, step drills, reamers, carbide-tipped hole cutters, taps, carbide burs, and more. However, you don't have to buy the whole lineup, or even a whole set, because these can be purchased individually!

So, what should you reach for? Let's break down some of their standout options.

They may look similar at first glance, but step drills and step reamers solve two very different problems.

Put simply, a step drill primarily creates holes in thin material. A step reamer enlarges and aligns holes that already exist in thicker material.

When to use a step drill?
MSD & MSD-HEX Series

If you're working with thin sheet and need several different hole diameters without constantly changing bits, a step drill can be an extremely convenient option.

The MSD-HEX step drill options use a 1/4-inch hex shank, so you can easily use them with the handheld power drills or 1/4-inch impact drivers you already own. While the MSD options can be used with handheld power drills or drill presses. 

Champion uses a split point to help the bit start without slipping across your workpiece. The chamfered (angled) steps help produce fast, bur-free holes in sheet metal up to 1/8-inch thick.

Instead of needing separate twist drill bits for every diameter, one step drill bit gives you multiple sizes on the same tool!

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GREAT FOR: sheet metal fab, electrical work, maintenance, construction, field installation, or any job requiring several different hole diameters.

When to use a step REAMER?
​XSR Series

If you're working with thicker material and the hole is already there but too small, slightly misaligned, or needs to be brought up to the correct diameter, a step reamer is your best bet. 

Champion's XSR Step Reamers are a heavy-duty cross between a step drill and maintenance reamer. These bits enlarge and align existing holes in steel, stainless steel, and tough alloys up to 1/2 inch thick.

Each bit provides five different sizes, with a sharp two-flute design, and chamfered (angled) steps to help produce smooth, bur-free holes. Plus, at the end of the bit, there's a convenient safety collar that gives you better control and stops you from accidentally over-enlarging the hole. 

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GREAT FOR: steel fabrication, construction, maintenance, equipment repair, mechanical and electrical work, and automotive work like truck and trailer fabrication,

The twist drill is probably the most recognizable cutting tool in any fabrication shop. But "twist drill" actually covers a surprisingly large family of tools. These bits are top sellers, but depending on your work, certain ones will be better suited for the job than others. 

JOBBER DRILLS: Your EVERYDAY WORKHORSE

When you picture a standard drill bit, you're probably picturing a jobber drill. It's the most common twist drill style, with the shank diameter matching the point diameter. You can use jobber drills in power drills, drill presses, lathes, and CNC equipment.

For shops that regularly drill steel, Champion's Brute Platinum XL5 series bits are a solid choice. These premium HSS drills have a straight shank and use a self-centering 135-degree split point that prevents the drill point from slipping.

They're designed for steel, stainless steel, titanium alloys, and other difficult-to-drill materials, and they penetrate faster than cobalt while staying more flexible and less likely to chip or snap. That combination can make a quality jobber drill a good everyday choice for general fabrication work.

​Left Hand Drills: Handy Problem Solver

Left hand bits are also available in the Champion's Brute Platinum XL5 series, in select sizes. They're designed for use with drill presses, power drills, lathes, CNCs, and any machinery with a left hand rotation.

They're perfect for drilling out broken or frozen bolts. It's one of those things you may not need every day. When you do need one, you'll be glad you have one!

Cobalt JOBBER DRILLS: For High Heat Applications

Harder materials generate plenty of heat when cutting, and heat is one of the quickest ways to shorten the life of your cutting tools.

But Champion's 705C jobber drills are made from M42 cobalt and are purpose-built for high-tensile materials such as stainless steel and high-strength alloy steels. Cobalt's heat resistance helps it maintain the cutting edge at higher temperatures.

These premium cobalt drills feature a straight shank, use a self-centering 135-degree split point to prevent the drill point from slipping, and work perfectly with drill presses, CNC machines, and power drills.

Mechanics Length Drills: More Control

This is not always the case, but sometimes a shorter length IS better.

These bits are shorter than standard jobber drills, and that shorter overall length helps with rigidity and operator control. They can be especially helpful when you're drilling around already fabricated assemblies where a long bit would be awkward or prone to flexing.

Champion's Brute Platinum XL28 series has a flatted shank and is designed for power drills and drill presses. They're perfect for drilling steel, stainless steel, titanium alloys, and other difficult materials and feature that same self-centering 135-degree split point that prevents the drill point from slipping around on your workpiece.

Hex Shank Drills: Impact Ready

If an impact driver is already one of the most-used tools in your box, hex shank drills are a great fit for you. 

Champion's HEX28 drills are impact ready with a 1/4-inch hex shank and a self-centering 135-degree split tip to prevent slipping. They also have a shorter mechanics-length design for improved rigidity and operator control. These drill through wood, aluminum, and low- to medium-strength steel alloys, making them ideal for electrical, maintenance, construction, automotive, industrial work, and precision drilling.

If you're moving around a large assembly or working in the field, being able to quickly change tools without carrying another drill can be a major convenience.

Drill and Tap in One Go!

Think about a repetitive fabrication job requiring dozens of threaded holes. Traditionally, you'd drill the hole, stop, change tools, tap the hole, then repeat the process on the next part. But what if you could eliminate an entire tool change? Champion's Combination Drill & Taps do just that,  allowing you to drill the hole and cut the threads in a single operation!

The DT22 series has a square shank, spiral flute, 118º point, and a tapered neck that can drill and tap aluminum, steel, stainless steel, bronze, and cast iron. Their design eliminates the need for center drilling or punching and lets you cut holes and threads at high speeds. These work best with power tools that have square drive tap collets and reversing capabilities. 

But for shops using handheld tools, the DT22HEX series is the choice. These are designed for impact drivers, handheld power drills, and forward/reverse-capable mag drills. They feature a hex shank, spiral flute, tapered neck, and  135-degree split point to prevent slipping. They're perfect for heavy-duty steel, stainless steel, bronze, and cast iron applications. 

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Make The Job easier by using the Right Tool

 Choosing the right cutting tool can mean cleaner hole cutting, no broken bits, less frustration, and more productive time in the shop. Not sure which option best fits your application? Talk to the Earlbeck team! We can help you find the right tools for the work you do every day.
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