Buy Jobber Drill Bits Online in Australia
What is a jobber drill bit?
A jobber drill bit is the standard-length twist drill used across general engineering, fabrication, maintenance and construction. "Jobber" refers to the flute length — long enough for most general drilling but not as long as a series of extra-length drills. Jobber drills are the workshop default for drilling mild steel, aluminium, plastics and most general materials. AIMS Industrial stocks Sutton Tools, Bordo and P&N jobber drills in HSS and cobalt across metric, imperial and wire gauge sizes.
How long is a jobber drill bit?
A jobber drill's flute length is roughly 9 to 14 times its diameter, with overall length about 1.5 times the flute length. This is shorter than long-series or extra-length drills, and longer than stub drills. Jobber length suits hole depths up to about three to four diameters before chip evacuation becomes the limiting factor.
What is the difference between HSS and cobalt jobber drills?
HSS (high-speed steel) jobber drills are the standard for mild steel, aluminium, plastics and brass. Cobalt jobber drills (M35 with 5% cobalt, or M42 with 8%) handle stainless steel, work-hardening alloys and tougher grades of steel where standard HSS dulls quickly. Cobalt drills cost more but last longer in difficult materials.
Jobber Drill Bit Quick Reference
Jobber drills are the standard-length twist drill used across general engineering, fabrication, maintenance and construction. AIMS stocks Sutton Tools, Bordo and P&N in HSS and cobalt across metric, imperial and wire gauge sizes. Selection turns on the substrate (mild steel/aluminium/stainless/hardened) which sets the drill material grade required.
| Drill Material | Best Substrate | Typical RPM (vs HSS baseline) | Common Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| HSS Bright (Standard) | Mild steel, aluminium, plastics, brass | 100% | Workshop default — most everyday drilling |
| HSS Blue Oxide | Mild steel, light stainless, aluminium | 100% | Slight lubrication improvement vs bright HSS |
| HSS + TiN Coating | Steel, stainless (lighter alloy), composite | 100% — 2-3× life | Production drilling, longer tool life |
| Cobalt (M35 = 5% Co) | Stainless, tougher alloys, work-hardening steels | 80-100% | Stainless steel + tough alloy production drilling |
| Cobalt (M42 = 8% Co) | Hardened steels, exotic alloys, Inconel | 60-80% | Hardest substrate drilling, premium tool life |
| Solid Carbide | Hardened steel >40 HRC, abrasive, composite, cast iron | 200-300% (much faster) | Production hardness drilling — see carbide drill bits |
Stocked size range: Metric 1.0 - 13.0 mm in 0.5 mm steps. Imperial 1/16" - 1/2" in 1/64" steps. Wire gauge sizes available. For complete drill substrate selection, see our cobalt drill bit guide. For drill bit size reference, see our drill bit size chart. Companion: cobalt drill bits, carbide drill bits, long drill bits.
Jobber Drill Bits
Jobber drill bits are the standard-length twist drill used across general engineering, fabrication, maintenance and construction. AIMS carries a broad range from Sutton Tools, Bordo and P&N in HSS and cobalt steel, covering metric, imperial and wire gauge sizes for virtually any drilling application.
Sutton Tools
Sutton Tools are Australia's best-known cutting tool manufacturer and the benchmark for quality in this range. The D101 Silver Bullet series uses standard bright HSS for general-purpose drilling in mild steel, aluminium and plastics. The D102 Blue Bullet adds a blue-oxide finish to the HSS for improved lubrication and corrosion resistance. Sutton also supplies left-hand jobber drills (D202 series) in cobalt steel — used when drilling out broken right-hand fasteners.
Cobalt Jobber Drills
Cobalt steel (M35 or M42) drills contain 5–8% cobalt, which improves hardness and heat resistance compared to standard HSS. They are the right choice for drilling stainless steel, high-tensile alloys, cast iron and harder grades of aluminium where standard HSS wears quickly or work-hardens the material.
Bordo and P&N
Bordo jobber drills offer a cost-effective option for workshop general-purpose use and are well regarded in the trade for value and reliability. P&N is another trusted Australian brand with a solid range of HSS jobber drills in standard sizes. Saber provides economy options for lower-demand applications.
Sizes and Standards
AIMS stocks jobber drills in metric (mm), imperial (fractional inch), wire gauge (No. 1–80) and letter gauge (A–Z) series. Metric sizes are most common for general engineering work. Wire gauge sizes are used in precision work, tapping size drilling and some toolmaking applications. Imperial fractional sizes remain important for maintenance on older equipment and American-specification machinery.
Buying Guide
For drilling mild steel, cast aluminium and general materials, HSS bright is the practical choice. Step up to cobalt for stainless, Hardox, inconel or any material that causes rapid HSS wear. For CNC work where hole position accuracy is critical, stub drill bits offer a stiffer, shorter alternative. For the hardest materials and highest production demands, see our solid carbide drill bits. Left-hand drills are a workshop essential for broken bolt extraction — they drill in the direction that can back the broken fastener out as the drill cuts.
People Also Ask — Jobber Drill Bits
Q: What does 'jobber length' mean?
Jobber length is the standard length for general-purpose twist drills — typically about 12-14 times the drill diameter. It's the workshop default length that balances drilling reach against rigidity for hand-held and drill-press work. Shorter 'stub' drills sacrifice reach for accuracy and rigidity; longer 'taper length' or 'long series' drills give more reach at the cost of accuracy and rigidity.
Q: What's the difference between HSS, HSS-Co, and TiN-coated jobber drills?
HSS (high-speed steel) is the workshop baseline — handles mild steel, aluminium, brass, plastic, and wood at moderate speeds. HSS-Cobalt (M35 or M42) adds 5-8% cobalt for better heat resistance — required for stainless steel and tougher alloy steels. TiN coating (titanium nitride, gold colour) extends tool life by 2-3× in steel applications but wears off the cutting edge — the underlying drill material still matters most for performance.
Q: What jobber drill set covers a typical workshop?
A 1mm-10mm metric set in 0.5mm increments handles 80% of general workshop drilling. Add an imperial set (1/16 inch to 1/2 inch in 1/64 increments) if you work with imperial-spec fasteners and equipment. Specialty additions: jobber set in HSS-Cobalt for stainless work, smaller (0.5-3mm) precision drills for electronics and instrument work, and larger (10-25mm) drills sized to your typical jobs.
Q: How long should a jobber drill last?
Tool life depends on material, RPM, feed, lubrication, and quality. Typical workshop life: 50-150 holes in mild steel for an HSS jobber drill; 80-300 holes in stainless for HSS-Cobalt; 3,000-10,000+ holes in stainless for solid carbide at production speeds. Premature dulling usually indicates wrong material match (HSS in stainless), running too fast, or skipping coolant. Quality drills hold sharp edges longer.
Q: When should I replace a jobber drill?
Replace when the cutting edges are visibly dull, chipped, or burnt blue from overheating. Signs in use: requires excessive feed pressure, produces dust rather than chips, generates excessive heat, or wanders off-centre on previously straight starts. Resharpening on a drill grinder extends life of HSS and HSS-Cobalt drills 2-3 times before final retirement. Solid carbide drills need specialist regrinding.