Cobalt Drill Bits for Hardened and Stainless Steel - drill bit that will drill through hardened steel

Get one convenient set of bits and sockets for drilling, driving and fastening in one convenient carrying case with the Makita 75-Piece Metric Drill and Screw Bit Set. The set includes bits for drilling into metal, wood, and masonry materials as well as insert and power bits for fastening applications. Fastening applications are covered with an assortment of Phillips, Pozidriv, Torx, slotted, and hex insert bits. The set also includes Titanium nitride coated high-speed steel (HSS-TIN) metal and wood drill bits, brad point wood drill bits, and masonry hammer drill bits with straight shank for use with most 3/8-inch and 1/2-inch drills. The kit also includes a center punch, 1/4-inch hex countersink, 1/4-inch hex nutdrivers, and a 1/4-inch hex magnetic bit holder.

On this project, Winston duplicated a subframe design that he’d used on a previous Ducati Monster, and modeled the fairing after the one on his groundbreaking BMW R nineT build. The scalloped bodywork, brooding livery, and thoughtful pin-striping are also typical Rough Crafts details, as is the bike’s kooky nickname; ‘Bologna Dogfight.’

Having worked in various trades spanning the automotive, cilvil engineering, concrete, and metalworking trades, Josh brings a practical, deep, and diverse knowledge of tools to Pro Tool Reviews. His experiences range from core drilling commercial properties for purposes of surveying to diagnosing and repairing luxury consumer vehicles.

At this point in his career, Rough Crafts designer Winston Yeh is almost cheating. He has such an extensive catalog of top-tier builds, that he can pick and choose the best features of each, and end up with something fresh and fabulous. Which is exactly how he designed this diabolical Ducati Monster 821 café racer.

We work with more than two dozen professional contractors around the United States who review products for us on real job sites. We consult with them extensively on testing methods, categories, and practical applications. Our site will provide more than 500 pieces of new content this year absolutely free for our readers. That includes objective evaluations of individual tools and products.

Performance is our number one priority for good reason—if the drill can’t do the job, it’s worthless. Given the choice between two or more models, we’ll typically go with whichever one can do the job most effectively and efficiently.

Premium 40V Max brushless hammer drill for those who freaquenly work in tight spaces or prefer a lighter weight drill for high-demand applications.

At 7 inches long and 3.7 pounds bare, it’s right in line with what i expect from a pro-grade 18V drill. You can certainly go light and more compact, as I’ll discuss later on, but you will see a drop in performance when you prioritze size and weight.

The scalloped aluminum fuel tank is custom too. It’s adorned with a Rough Crafts fuel cap and a pair of handmade tank badges.

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We’ve tested dozens of drills in our search for the best cordless drill. There’s no doubt that Makita is one of the more popular brands among pros, so we’re highlighting the best Makita drills we think you should consider.

When it comes to picking the best combo kit, it’s important to understand what I look for. Typically, if I’m shopping for a combo kit, my goal is to get the best value for my money. Often times, that means overlooking the highest performing model in order to make my dollar stretch a little further.

While the torque remains the same as the XGT model, there is a notable drop in RPMs and BPM. However, the top speed and blow rate are right in line with what we expect from Pro-grade hammer drills in this voltage class. The Makita XPH14 is great for tackling a wide range of wood, steel, and masonry drilling tasks around your home or jobsite.

“I’ve always been a big fan of the Monster, especially the 1200 and 821 platform,” he tells us. “The minimal bolt-on tubular subframe makes it very easy to modify with a custom tail. And even though there’s the more powerful V4 Streetfighter in the Ducati line-up, the simplicity of the L-twin engine still makes for a much better platform for a custom build.”

“It’s called ‘modular design’,” Winston hits back. And he might just be onto something. Rough Crafts is a hitmaker that rarely misses the mark—so why mess with a good thing?

The ergonomics of a drill can make or break your experience. One that’s overweight, poorly balanced, or doesn’t feel right in your hand can make every day feel like Monday. As you’re shopping, see if you can pick up the drill you’re considering and see how it feels in your hand. Work the trigger and all the controls to make sure there’s nothing about the physical design that is a deal-breaker for you.

In the case of the best Makita drill combo, I have to go with the 18V LXT XT269T hammer drill/impact driver combo kit. This kit includes the XPH12 brushless hammer drill, XDT13 brushless impact driver, two 5.0Ah batteries, a charger, and a storage bag.

When I consider what the best drill is in any lineup, I immediately gravitate toward the highest performing. For this reason, the best Makita 40V cordless drill is the XGT GPH01 hammer drill.

This compact hammer drill has a top speed of 1,500 RPM with 22,500 BPM and 280 in-lbs of torque. That’s noticably slower and less powerful than the 18V LXT XPH14, but it also clocks in at nearly half the weight.

Does this custom Ducati Monster 821 tread familiar ground for the Taiwanese custom builder? Absolutely. But that’s no bad thing. As far as we’re concerned, the Monster has never looked this good.

As I mentioned before, this combo kit isn’t the highest performing duo, but for $309, it’s a heck of a deal. If your looking for a high-performance matchup, I suggest looking at the 40V XGT GT201M1D1 that includes Makita’s flagship hammer drill and impact driver.

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When it comes to getting the best value from a Makita drill, I strongly recommend staying with the LXT lineup. The Makita 18V LXT XPH03 is a brushed model that provides an excellent balance between performance and price.

“I’ve always noticed that Ducati does this two-into-one merge super nicely on both the Monster 821 and the Scrambler series,” he explains. “It’s blended so well, that it looks like the dual headers just flow into each other. I decided to keep that, and then copy it where the collector splits into the twin mufflers.”

“I wanted it to have those classic café racer lines,” Winston tells us. “A bit rounded and elegant—but still very recognizably Rough Crafts.”

As usual, Winston worked closely with his coterie of local craftsmen to bring his vision to life. Rover Works Custom Paint handled the paint, Anodizing handled all the hard part finishes and Chirui Leather Custom tackled the upholstery. Artitek Ltd. was responsible for all the CNC work, MS Pro was on fabrication, SFC Simon Fiber Craft did the carbon trim, and 2 Abnormal Sides created the tank badges, and CH Moto helped out with the final assembly.

Remember to look beyond just the drill you’re considering, though. Take a look at what other tools you can power using the same batteries. If you want something lightweight and buy Makita’s 12V CXT hammer drill only to discover the majority of the other tools you need are on the 20V LXT platform, it wasn’t a very good value for your situation.

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Moving to the suspension, Rough Crafts installed an Andreani cartridge kit in the stock front forks, and swapped out the bottom yoke for one from CNC Racing. A blacked-out Öhlins shock props up the rear.

With the Monster almost completely murdered out, it’s impossible to ignore the elegant twin exhaust system that hangs off the right-hand side of it. At a glance, it looks like a pair of headers following each other into a pair of SC-Project retro megaphone mufflers. But the actual flow is two-into-one-into-two.

Ever check out a “review” site and you can’t tell if they tested the tools or if they’re just “recommending” the Amazon top sellers? That’s not us. We won’t recommend anything unless we’d use it ourselves, and we don’t really care who the primary retailer is. It’s all about giving you a legitimate recommendation and our honest opinion of each product.

The result is information you can trust because of the editorial, scientific, and real-world professional experience we collectively utilize each and every time we pick up and test a tool.

Moving over to the LXT lineup, we have the XPH14 hammer drill. In spite of the smaller battery platform, this drill is nearly identical in size and weight to the 40V GPH01. Where you’ll see the differences show are on the performance side.

17” carbon fiber wheels from BST help to save weight, while Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV Corsa tires offer sporty grip. The braking setup utilizes Beringer calipers with MotoMaster discs at both ends. The Ducati Monster 821 goes, turns, and stops pretty damn well in stock form, so we can only imagine how much fun it would be in this trim.

Peek behind the fairing, and you’ll spot a CNC-machined top yoke wearing integrated clip-on bars. Winston specced the Ducati with Motogadget grips and Beringer controls, but kept the OEM switches and dashboard, relocating the latter to mounting points on the new top yoke. A CNC Racing brake lever guard adds a little racing flair.

You can’t use a drill without drill bits! However, making a recommendation on the best Makita drill bits depends a lot on your desired application.

Even when you can’t pick up a drill before buying, compare the weight to other models you’re considering. If the work or projects you have planned are space-limited, be sure to check the head length as well.

Features that make the job more efficient, easier, or more convenient come into play as you work your way up the price scale. Not everyone needs all the bells and whistles, but if you can add some (or all) within your budget, you get a tool that you can genuinely enjoy using.

Up front, a 3D-printed fairing hosts a trimmed windshield, and a pair of vertically stacked Koso headlights. The parts might have all come from different sources, but the overall look is fluid and cohesive. That’s partly due to the slick livery, which includes carbon fiber inlays on all the parts, and double pin-stripes that trace the Monster’s new lines.

Keep in mind—these careful picks come after hours and hours of testing and real-world use. We know the best Makita drill may not be the same for everyone. Rather than recommend a single tool for everyone, we recommend several different models that provide the perfect blend of performance, features, ergonomics, and value for different types of users.

On the performance side, the hammer drill has a top speed of 2,000 RPM, 30,000 BPM, and a max torque of 530 in-lbs, very similar to the XPH03. The impact driver’s speed tops out at 3,400 RPM, 3,600 IPM, and 1,500 in-lbs of torque.

It’s tough to find too many 12V models that include a comprehensive feature set. As a compact supplement to more powerful 18V models, many manufacturers are more interested in keeping the cost down. It’s not too often that you’ll find a 12V drill with smart controls, smart tracking, specialized modes, or the suite of accessories that premium flagship models have. Such is the case with this Makita 12V PH05 hammer drill.

The 2019-model Ducati Monster was chosen for the build simply because the client already owned it. But that suited Winston just fine.

To kick things off, Winston pulled up the digital files for the aforementioned subframe design and had a new unit CNC milled. It’s far more compact than the stock arrangement, while still paying homage to the Monster’s love affair with trellised frames. Sitting up top is a 3D-printed tail cowl featuring a stunning two-piece leather seat.

For size, the XPH03 is almost a full two inches longer than the XPH14, but that’s expected when it comes to brushed tools. It measures 8-7/8 inches from tip to tail and weighs in at 5.1 pounds with a 5.0Ah battery. If size is a non-issue, then this is a great option. However, if you’re freaquenly working in tight spaces, I’d recommend going with one of the smaller brushless models.

Other upgrades include Sato Racing rear-sets, a Sprint Filter air filter, and Koso LEDs to handle turn signal and taillight duties. Winston also added a neat carbon ignition trim from CNC Racing.

Most people have a budget they’d like to stay in when they’re buying a drill. As I’m shopping, I first consider the performance followed by features and ergonomics. I’m a value guy, so I’m always looking for the best balance of everything (plus a sale price if I’m lucky). However, your priorities may be different—that’s why we offered so many recommendations and information to help you compare.

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Not surprisingly, the major trade-off for the higher performance is a larger, heavier tool. It’s especially noticeable when trying to access tight spaces or after a long day on the jobsite. It’s also on the expensive side of Makita’s lineup, though the pricing is in line with what we expect from top models from other Pro brands.

Using a standard 40V battery, it’s a highly capable drill that can handle most of the applications Pros might encounter. With 2,600 RPM on the top end, 39,000 BPM when you’re drilling in concrete, and a monster 1,250 in-lbs of torque, it’s easily the top-tier model that Makita hast to offer. It’s also one of the front runners on the performance side compared to other professional-grade drills.

It’s still a great tool, though, and you should take a look at what all the 12V CXT system has to offer. If your work doesn’t require the absolute highest performance and you can lean on lighter, more compact tools, then the Makita 12V CXT hammer drill might just be right up your alley.

While the drills I recommended above are the best in my opinion, it’s no guarantee that one of them is the perfect fit for you. If that’s the case, here are some other models that we recommend.

For performance, its 2000 RPM top speed and 30,000 BPM put it right on par, or slightly below, what we see from the brushless models. Where I see the biggest difference is the drilling power. Its 750 in-lbs are enough to maintain the same drilling capacities of the 18V XPH14, but you may spend a little more time drilling when using larger bits.