The best way to drill through thick metals is to use a drill press rather than a handheld drill—a press best achieves a clean, smooth hole. Be sure to drill slowly and use cutting fluid to lubricate the bit, too. Let the bit cool down every few minutes to keep it from overheating and breaking.

Step 1: General positioning/as a single: The One, One SL, and Era 100 can be placed pretty much anywhere, even in the bathroom due to their resistance to humidity. They’re not waterproof though, so you may want to keep them indoors (although we've had some success in the wild).

Step 3: Surrounds: Unlike the Ones and Era 100s, you can set the Era 300s up as left and right rear surround speakers, either wall mounted or on stands, but it’s not necessary to point them on an angle towards the “sweet spot” sitting area because, again, everywhere is a sweet spot. Sonos simply recommends facing the Era 300’s front grilles toward the TV.

Adding a second Sonos sub to your system is, of course, easy with the Sonos app (make sure your main system is set up first). As far as placement goes, like with non-Sonos subwoofers, there are two good options you can try.

We tested these Top Picks products to ensure that they had what it takes for drilling metal. To qualify as one of the best drill bits for metal, the bit needed to perform well in the metal that it’s designed to drill. Bits also need to be durable and able to withstand the friction and heat produced when drilling through metal. The following recommendations are all at the top of their class for metal drilling, and one (or more) may be an asset to your tool collection.

Step 2: Stereo pair: For stereo pairing, place two Fives of the same type should be placed 8 to 10 feet apart for the best sound separation. The good news is, you can also place a stereo pair of Fives vertically for a more focused soundstage, or if it’s better for your space or you prefer how it looks. Placing them both horizontally will widen the soundstage as well, which would work great in bigger rooms.

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Step 2: Wall mounting: The good news is, whether you’re wall mounting or putting them on a TV stand, the distances are the same: a minimum of one inch beneath the TV for the Ray and Beam, and at least 4 inches for the Arc, while leaving at least a foot of clearance on the ends.

For many, the Sonos One (or it's earlier Play:1 incarnation) has been the entryway into the Sonos world, with its low price and versatility as a great-sounding standalone speaker as well as it’s ability to be stereo paired and even added to a Sonos soundbar and sub as a pair of excellent rear surround speakers. Other than the One SL’s lack of voice control, its exactly the same as its One sibling, so setup and placement are the same.

Step 1: General positioning/as a single: As with most Sonos speakers, the Era 300’s Trueplay tuning means you can more or less put it anywhere and it will sound good; even in the bathroom with its humidity resistance. However, ideal placement would be to leave at least 2 feet of overhead clearance due to its upfiring speakers, and to not place it in an enclosed space like a bookshelf – the sound needs space to disperse. If you happen to be setting it up within 2 feet of the ceiling, Sonos recommends mounting it upside down.

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Step 1: General positioning/as a single: The Five is one of few Sonos speakers that can be positioned horizontally or vertically. For stereo sound, however, it should be positioned horizontally. Vertically, it will only produce mono sound.

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One of the best features of the Irwin 29-piece set is the range of sizes available. Each bit increases by 1/64-inch increments between 1/16 and ½ inch, meaning there is a bit for almost any size hole.

Second: try one sub in the left or right corner of the soundbar/TV wall, and then the other in the opposite diagonal corner behind you. Run the Sonos Trueplay correction and you should be booming in no time.

These bits are made for hard use. Their construction is durable, retaining an edge while drilling through thick ¼-inch steel. The no-spin shank prevented the chuck from slipping, boring right through the metal without stopping. They also stayed cool while drilling.

There’s only one good way to test drill bits for metal: We needed to put some holes in some metal! We grabbed some scraps of metal off our welding cart, chucked some bits into our drill, and started drilling.

DIYers and pros who go through a lot of ¼-inch drill bits for their heavy-duty metalworking projects may benefit from the Drill Hulk’s ¼-inch cobalt steel set. This 12-pack of bits features jobber-style lengths, which means their lengths are relatively long compared to their diameters. They’re made from durable cobalt high-speed steel, feature 135-degree split points for drilling through metal without walking, and have a no-spin shank to prevent them from spinning in the chuck.

Look for the words “metal drilling bit” on the package, followed by a list of metals the bit is designed to puncture. Here are a few additional tips that will help drill smoother holes and keep bits in tip-top shape.

These bits are made from high-speed steel for strength, and they feature a titanium coating for reducing friction and increasing durability. The kit comes with a carrying case with a foam insert with recesses for each bit and a spring-loaded center punch for marking the holes’ locations.

First, we drilled into some relatively light-duty 11-gauge steel angle iron, testing a few bits from each pack. We wanted to see how well they’d retain their edge, how hot they’d get, and how long it would take them to bore a hole in the metal.

Glenda Taylor is a BobVila.com staff writer with a background in the residential remodeling, home building, and home improvement industries. She started writing for BobVila.com in 2016 and covers a range of topics, including construction methods, code compliance, tool use, and the latest news in the housing and real estate industries.

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To be 100 percent upfront, we have never liked DeWalt drill bits. We have found that they’re usually relatively low quality and pretty much “throwaways.” But this particular kit was incredible when it came to drilling metal. They didn’t walk at all, and they cut long, continuous, spiraled shavings—the sign of a sharp bit. The rounded shanks on the smaller bits did spin a little, but the no-spin shanks on the larger bits were great. Each bit stayed cool with a spritz of lubricant and remained sharp throughout the test. And, surprisingly, this budget kit drills through wood faster than some of the much more expensive drill bits in the test.

This kit comes with 14 bits from 1/16 inch to ½ inch, all of which are made of high-speed steel. The smaller bits have rounded shanks while the larger bits have no-spin shanks. Each bit features the brand’s “black and gold” coating designed to keep them from rusting. Everything stores away in a see-through case, helping to keep the bits organized and easy to find.

Some shank designs are more conducive to drilling through metal than others. Most shanks for this type of drill bit are either no spin or hex.

Sonos makes some incredible-sounding soundbars that can enhance the sound of your movies, TV, and sports, while also doing a pretty good job with music, too. The Sonos Beam (2nd gen) and Arc also feature support for Dolby Atmos, and when set up beneath your TV they provide some great surround sound (especially when paired with other Sonos speakers for a full surround system). Positioning each Sonos soundbar is pretty similar. Here’s how:

Then we moved to some heavier-duty 7-gauge flat stock, again testing how each bit made it through the test. We did our best to maintain similar speeds and pressure throughout each portion of every test. Afterward, we did our best to hand sharpen each of the larger bits with a file. The bits that passed these tests were given awards based on their strengths.

Whether you’re just getting into metalwork or you want to expand that drill bit set, adding metal drilling bits to an arsenal of tools is a good investment. If drilling through metal is a new endeavor, there may be some questions that need answering.

Anker Soundcore has two new portable and rugged Bluetooth speakers that fall under the Motion family of products: the $80 Motion 300 and the $60 Motion 100. The metal-clad speakers come in three color choices and feature support for hi-res audio. They will be available later this fall -- you can buy the Motion 300 on October 9 (black only), with the other two colors coming in November/December. The black version of the Motion 100 will be available in November, with its two other colors coming in early 2024, according to Anker.

Add a drop or two of lubricating oil to the bit and then grab the broken end of its shank with a pair of pliers. Twist counterclockwise to remove the bit.

Don’t be shy about placing the them on a shelf or near a wall, but the only stipulation you should adhere to is to leave at least 1 inch of space from the back of the speaker. Try experimenting with even more distance as well, up to 4 inches, as it may add more resonance of low end with some bounce off the wall — whatever sounds best to you.

Whether you’re creating a home theater Sonos setup or focusing on the best music sound you can get, nothing beats a subwoofer for impact, richness, and immersion. The flagship Sonos Sub and its smaller, cheaper sibling, the Sub Mini, are true to Sonos’ simplicity in setup, and when added to a Sonos system they’re perfectly in tune (no Trueplay pun intended, but it is apt). Placement differs slightly for each subwoofer, but is still super easy.

Most drill bits fit both standard corded and cordless drills. While these small pieces of metal all look pretty similar, each type of drill bit is designed to make holes in specific materials—including wood, plastic, and metal—but won’t work as well on other materials.

Step 3: Dual subs, whaaat?: Sonos gave audio nerds a gift by enabling Sonos Subs and Sub Minis the ability for them to be doubled up. For the Sub, it’s worth noting that one of them must be the newest Gen 3 version for this to work. If you’re buying new, you won’t have to worry.

These bits did a fine job of drilling through our test materials. They didn’t walk when we started the holes, and they bored through the metal at a reasonable pace. The case itself has a cheap plastic tab to keep it shut, but otherwise, it does a good job of keeping these bits safe and organized. They stayed cool while drilling and retained their sharp edges even after several holes. Our biggest complaint is the rounded shank, as the small bits did spin a bit in the chuck.

Those looking for an all-around capable set of drill bits may want to check out the Bosch black oxide metal drill bit set. Manufactured from high-speed steel and coated in black oxide, Bosch drill bits can withstand friction and heat so you can drill continuously without the bits heating up.

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Bits that drill through metal are further classified by the types of metal they puncture. For example, some bits are capable of drilling through ferrous metals, such as cast iron, and others through nonferrous metals, such as copper and tin.

Step 3: Surrounds: OK, so you’ve snagged a Sonos Sub or Sub Mini and a soundbar like the Arc, Beam, or Ray, and it’s time to move your set of Ones or Era 100s to the rear wall as surrounds. Ideally, Sonos recommends that each speaker is placed roughly 10 feet from your viewing position on each side and angled towards you. You can buy wall-mount brackets from Sonos or Amazon for pretty cheap, too. For the Era 100s, the only difference is that Sonos recommends leaving at least 8 inches of clearance around each speaker, and even though they don’t say the same for the Ones, we’d recommend that for them, too.

Step 1: Sonos Sub: While it can be placed pretty much anywhere (Trueplay will tune it to the room), all you really have to remember is to make sure that at least one of the sides of the Sub’s hole (known as the slot) is free from obstruction. You can place it against a wall, in a corner, or at the side of a TV stand, behind the couch, or even laying flat on the floor (if under some furniture, the slot just needs at least 1 inch of clearance).

But first, an apology of sorts. This comparison has been a huge undertaking. Moving nine fairly heavy pieces all around our new studio, getting them hooked up, recalibrating them each time I moved them (more on that in a moment) has been a lot of work.

When it comes to enlarging hotels in metal materials, a step bit like the ones in this five-piece kit from Comoware is the tool for the job. This kit features five different sets of bits, each with a series of steps, totaling 50 sizes from one kit. Sizes range from ⅛-inch to 1 ⅜-inch wide.

Five’s six front-firing drivers push out big sound, and while Sonos doesn’t specify a recommended distance from the speakers like the 8 to 12 feet recommended for other Sonos speakers, the company does say that they should be set up “across the room.” There should also be at least two inches of space around it, which makes it easy to put on a shelf or bookcase, too. The Five is also bathroom friendly.

Many DIYers don’t bother sharpening their bits when the cutting edges become dull and they have trouble drilling a hole, but it’s tool maintenance worth doing. You’ll get a longer life out of your drill bits if you sharpen their cutting edges with a bench grinder.

Step 1: TV stand or media unit: When placing the similarly sized Sonos Ray and Beam on a TV stand, place the soundbar centered beneath the TV with at least a 1-inch clearance so you can access the touch controls. If your media unit happens to have a shelf above the TV, just don’t put it so high that you can’t reach the controls. Other than that, just make sure to leave at least a foot of space on the left and right sides of the speaker. The Sonos Arc is the same, but requires at least 4 inches from the top of the Arc to the bottom of the TV.

These are great bits, but we found they were better for enlarging holes than actually drilling them (at least when it comes to metal). If we started with another bit to drill the initial hole, we could quickly work up to the desired size with the Comoware (the tips of the bits themselves just didn’t seem sharp enough for metal). We liked that there are so many sizes in one kit, and the spring-loaded center punch worked well for locating the bit.

While we’re not huge fans of general-purpose bits typically, especially when it comes to drilling metal, these Bosch bits were excellent. They didn’t walk when starting a hole, and they removed long shavings of metal, proving they remained sharp while drilling. We were so shocked that these bits were this good that we kept drilling with them to see if it was a fluke. They drilled holes faster than the other bits in the test, which really surprised us.

Step 1: General positioning/as a single: On a shelf, bookcase, wall, anywhere really, all you have to do is just give both the Roam and Move at least an inch clearance at the back. The Roam can be placed vertically or horizontally with no sound difference but the Move must sit upright.

Step 3: **Surrounds: **Like the Ones and Era 100s, each Five should be placed 10 feet from your listening spot and angled towards it. You can also apply the rule of having them sit 2 feet above your sitting ear height, although it’s not necessary. Wall mounts and floor stands are also available.

Most drill bits are made from HHS, cobalt, or carbide. A bit’s material can influence how effective it is at drilling through different kinds of metals.

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When looking for a set of high-quality drill bits for metal, you may want to consider the Irwin 63137 set of bits. Made from cobalt high-speed steel, they’re designed specifically for hardened steel. They have 135-degree split-point tips, helping them to resist walking when starting a hole. They also resist wear and heat, making them a solid choice for drilling through metal materials. Bit sizes range from 1/16 to ½ inch wide, and the bits larger than ⅜ inch wide have reduced shanks.

Folks who need to drill a few holes in some metal surfaces but don’t want to break the bank on a set of expensive drill bits may prefer the DeWalt DWA1184 black and gold drill bit set. This set of all-purpose bits can drill wood, plastic, or metal and features 135-degree split-point tips to help prevent walking.

These drill bits are made from durable cobalt-alloy high-speed steel, helping retain a sharp edge while drilling. They all fit inside the sturdy hinged case with a spring-loaded latch to keep the kit closed when not in use. The case also has a tap guide inside to help you identify which bit to use for a particular bolt or fastener.

Home improvement centers often dedicate an entire aisle to drill bits, which come in a plethora of types and sizes for drilling holes in a variety of materials. Many drill bits can pierce through more than one type of material, but not all drill bits can drill through metal without heating up and snapping in half. Labels on drill bits indicate the type of material for which they’re suited, so it’s easy enough to find ones that are designed to drill metal. Depending on the type of metal the user is drilling through, some bits suit the task better than others.

Step 2: Sub Mini: The Sub Mini is meant to be placed standing upright and near the speakers it’s paired with — it can’t be placed on its side. Like the Sub, it has a center slot, or “tunnel,” which can be pointed in any direction but must have enough space around it for air to move through.

The good news is that Sonos makes its speakers pretty versatile in terms of where you can place them, and many of them are similar, but some do have ideal positioning. In this how-to, we’re going to go through the best ways to position and place every Sonos speaker.

In this installment of You Asked, the series in which we answer your TV-related questions in the hopes of helping you and others, we tackle trouble with Sonos, whether 5,000 nits of brightness is bad for the eyes, and if there is such a thing as a dumb TV.

Step 2: Stereo pair: Not to sound like a broken record now, but the Roam and Move are inline with other paired Sonos speakers and its recommended that you separate them by 8 to 10 feet for the best stereo effect. The 8 to 12 feet of distance from the listening area also applies as a guideline, but feel free to move them around, because you can.

It’s not a bad idea to clean drill bits after using them. After drilling, wipe away any residue on the bit with a soft cloth and then rub a bit of cutting fluid on it before storing it.

While Sonos makes the setup of its network speakers dead simple with its app and Trueplay automatic room tuning, some questions that are often asked when physically placing a Sonos speaker in any space include where to put it, how close to walls should they be, and how much space there should be around it, whether it’s a speaker, subwoofer, or soundbar.

It’s also best to leave at least an inch space in the back if setting it up near a wall (you can experiment with this, too), and at least 8 inches of clearance on the sides.

And while Sonos doesn’t specifically suggest this, common height for rear surrounds is roughly 2 feet above your sitting ear height. The surround settings in the Sonos app also allows you to tell the system how far from the front soundbar position the rear speakers are, allowing for tweaking of the sound.

Adding a Sonos speaker to your home is always a treat, whether you’re just getting started with a single Sonos One, adding a portable Roam or Move for backyard or poolside listening, or getting deeper into the weeds with a Sonos Arc-based surround sound system for your home theater setup complete with a Sonos Sub or Mini Sub.

The bits didn’t cut quite as fast as some of the other drill bits in the test, but they did retain their edge nicely. They also didn’t walk at all when starting the bit, and the tap size chart inside the kit could definitely come in handy. What we didn’t like was the fact that every bit, despite its size, features a rounded shank. But the sturdy case with a spring-loaded latch ensures this kit stays shut, and the rubber molding on the case can prevent it from slipping off of a work surface.

First: on the same wall as your soundbar and TV, place one sub in the right corner and the other in the left corner, following the same guidelines above as for slot/tunnel clearance.

The Bosch bits’ tapered tips can quickly penetrate the metal, balance the bit, and produce a clean, even hole. The set includes 21 bits ranging in size from 1/16 inch to ½ inch and is packaged in a plastic storage case.

Sonos’s latest single speaker, the Era 100, came out in March 2023 and is slated to replace the One eventually. Read our full review for the differences, but in as far as setup goes, Sonos has more or less left well enough alone. Here’s how to place them in each of those situations.

Sonos’ newest and most sophisticated speaker to date is also, arguably, its best sounding. Dolby Atmos enabled for taking advantage of spatial audio and Atmos Music tracks, the Era 300 shoots out great sound from all directions with its six-driver speaker array. Here’s how to best position it.

We did dislike that the smaller bits have rounded shanks, as they can be a pain, particularly when the bit is about to drill all the way through the material. However, the large bits have no-spin shanks and do a great job of staying in place. The tips stayed sharp making hole after hole, and they remained cool to the touch during use (while using cutting oil).

It depends on what kind of metal you’re drilling through. Titanium bits are suitable for drilling through soft metals such as aluminum, while cobalt bits are better suited for drilling through hard metals like cast iron.

Researching shank design, bit material, and bit coatings can be confusing, but fortunately, drill-bit manufacturers make shopping relatively easy for the customer. Drill bits are labeled not only by the size of the hole they’ll drill but also by the type of materials they’ll drill.

These are the easy-peasy ones. The Roam and Move are Sonos’ most portable and weather resistant speakers (IP56 for Move and IP67 for Roam) can go pretty much anywhere, indoors or out. Battery powered and Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectible, they’re super versatile. And apart from not being able to be used as surrounds, you can put them anywhere and stereo pair them (Roam to Roam / Move to Move). Here’s some tips for best positioning.

Step 2: Stereo pair: As with the Ones and Era 100s, place a stereo-paired set of Era 300s roughly 8 to 10 feet apart and, if possible, around 8 to 12 feet from your listening spot, but Sonos also says that because of the unique all-directional sound dispersion, anywhere is essentially a good listening spot.

Step 2: Stereo pair: Sonos One and the Era 100 speakers sound amazing as a stereo pair and are easy to setup with the Sonos app. For positioning, and for ideal left-right stereo sound separation, it’s recommended that you set them up between 8 and 10 feet apart and positioned 8 to 12 feet away from where you’re most likely to be listening to them. If you don’t have that kind of space, that’s OK, too — this is just what Sonos says is ideal. The closer you are to them, you’ll hear the bass a bit more, but you can always add/remove bass to your liking in the EQ settings in the app.

While we don’t have an immediate use for a dozen ¼-inch drill bits, we do like that a full-time shop can order enough bits from Drill Hulk to replace their most commonly used sizes without purchasing a whole kit that contains unneeded sizes. However, we did notice that these bits can walk slightly, despite the 135-degree split point.

The Sonos Five (and its older Play:5 model) is one of the longest-running models Sonos has offered, and it’s still also its most powerful. Substantial in size and weight (14 pounds!), it's still one of the best wireless speakers you can buy and can be stereo paired and used as surrounds, too. Here’s the best way to set them up.

The shank is the nondrilling end of the bit that fits into the drill’s mandrel or “chuck.” For hex shank bits, the shank size of the bit chosen (typically ¼ inch, ⅜ inch, or ½ inch wide) should match the chuck size of the drill.

Both speakers feature automatic Trueplay tuning when their microphones are on. While the Sonos Roam can withstand submersion in water for up to 30 minutes, the Sonos Move can only take direct spray from any direction (rain, a rogue garden hose), but it’s worth noting that the Move’s charge base is not water resistant so keep that inside.

Tom Scalisi has been in the trades for over two decades. He loves to share his knowledge of construction, home improvement, tools, techniques, and products with the readers of Bob Vila, This Old House, Family Handyman, and even his pest control blog.

Drill bit coatings affect how a drill bit operates. Most metal drill bits are usually coated with titanium or black oxide. This coating is designed to reduce friction, which keeps the drill bit from heating up and eventually breaking. Because the coating reduces friction, it can also help increase drill speed.

But why would you want two subs, you might ask. Subwoofers can be fickle beasts and can often be at the mercy of the room they’re in. If you’ve ever walked around a room with a subwoofer in it you may have noticed that there are bass dead spots or points where it’s really saturated. While room correction like Trueplay and placement tweaking can solve these issues, one of the best ways to address this is by adding an additional subwoofer to the room as they can cancel out all those rogue frequencies and deliver balanced, full low end.

Through hands-on testing, we found a number of drill bit sets that rise above the competition and help make holes in myriad metals. Some of the results were truly surprising. For those of you working on a project that requires drilling through metal, read on to learn about the factors to consider before shopping for the best drill bits for metal.

Avid metalworkers looking for a quality drill bit set for their metal projects may want to upgrade to the Irwin 29-Piece cobalt-alloy steel drill bits set. This set includes 29 drill bits from a 1/16-inch bit to a ½-inch bit, with bits larger than ⅜-inch wide having reduced-size shanks so they can fit smaller chucks.