Drilling

Drilling — Quick Reference

AIMS Industrial stocks drilling tools and equipment across every major sub-type used in Australian trade, engineering and maintenance work — from everyday HSS jobber bits through to masonry, carbide, hole saws and mag-drill accessories. Use the table below to jump straight to the range you need, or read on for guidance on choosing the right bit for the job.

Drill Bits by Type

Drilling is one of the most common operations across metalworking, construction and maintenance — and matching the right bit material and geometry to the job is what separates a clean hole from a burnt-out bit. AIMS carries the full spread of drill bit types from trusted brands including Sutton Tools, Bordo, Saber, Alpha and MAXBOR, alongside P&N, Star-M, Seco, Pferd and other quality manufacturers.

HSS Jobber & Stub Drill Bits

The workhorse of the range: HSS (high speed steel) jobber drill bits in bright, black oxide and titanium-coated finishes cover general drilling in steel, aluminium and most engineering materials, and are stocked in both metric and imperial sizes as singles, carded pairs and boxed sets (Sutton Silver Bullet, Blue Bullet and Viper Plus ranges; Bordo Quick Silver and Black Night ranges; Saber and P&N Workshop series). Stub drill bits use the same HSS but a shorter, more rigid flute length for production drilling and reduced deflection, while long drill bits extend reach for deep-hole work.

Cobalt & Carbide Drill Bits

HSS-Cobalt drill bits (typically 5–8% cobalt content) hold a cutting edge at higher temperatures than standard HSS, making them the right choice for stainless steel, tool steel and other tough or work-hardening alloys — Sutton's DXJ, DXS and Black Magic ranges and Bordo's HSS-Co5 series are stocked in depth. For the hardest and most abrasive materials, solid carbide (VHM) drill bits hold size and edge life well beyond HSS or cobalt, at the cost of being less tolerant of a poorly set-up machine.

Masonry & Concrete Drill Bits

For brick, block and concrete, tungsten-carbide-tipped (TCT) masonry bits suit hand drills and standard rotary drilling, while SDS Plus and SDS Max shank bits are built for rotary hammer drills on structural and reinforced concrete — see masonry drill bit sets for the full range, including multi-cutting-edge and reo-rated SDS options.

Step, Panel & Sheet Metal Drill Bits

Step drill bits use a conical, stepped profile to drill a range of hole sizes with one tool and are ideal for sheet metal and electrical/panel work — Saber's Essential and ONSITE Plus spiral-flute ranges are popular for impact driver use. Panel drill bit sets (typically double-ended) are the standard for auto body and light-gauge panel drilling.

Auger, Forstner & Timber Drill Bits

For timber and decking, auger drill bits (scotch pattern and 4-flute types from Star-M, Morris and Bordo) self-feed and clear waste efficiently through deep bores, while Forstner bits cut clean, flat-bottomed holes for hinges, dowels and cabinetry work.

Hole Saws & Annular Cutters

Bi-metal, TCT and diamond-grit hole saws handle larger-diameter holes in timber, metal and plastic, with arbors, pilot drills and quick-release accessories available separately. Annular cutters (also called core drills) are the standard cutting tool for magnetic drill presses on structural steel — they produce large-diameter holes with far less torque and feed force than an equivalent twist drill, and MAXBOR's ejection pilot pins, arbors and cutting fluid round out the set-up.

Glass, Tile & Diamond Core Drilling

Glass and tile drill bits use a carbide or spear-point tip for clean entry into brittle materials without cracking, and diamond core drill bits (wet or dry) are the go-to for coring tile, porcelain and masonry where a clean, precise hole diameter is required.

Countersinks, Centre Drills & Precision Drilling

HSS and cobalt countersinks (three-flute, cross-hole and TiN-coated types from Sutton, Bordo, Saber and Noga) prepare fastener seating in one operation, while centre drill sets provide the accurate starting point needed before precision drilling, reaming or lathe work — see our reamers range for finishing a drilled hole to a precise tolerance.

Drill Chucks, Adaptors & Machine Accessories

Drill chucks and keyless/keyed adaptors convert Morse taper or JT-taper spindles to accept parallel-shank drills, while quick-change adaptors, Morse taper shanks and drift keys support drill press and machine tool set-ups. Regular use of cutting oil or lubricant — see our cutting lubricants range — significantly extends the life of any drill bit in steel.

Companion Collections

Drilling sits alongside several related AIMS ranges. Rather than duplicate that detail here, jump straight to the collection you need:

• Reamers — hand, chucking, bridge, taper pin and taper pipe reamers for precision hole finishing
• Magnetic Drills — portable mag-base drill presses for structural steel
• Drill Presses and Drill Press Accessories — bench and pillar drill presses for the workshop
• Drills & Drivers and Air Drills — cordless and pneumatic power drills
• Indexable Drilling — replaceable-insert drilling for CNC and production machining
• Tap Drill Sets and Threading — tapping and thread-cutting tools that follow on from a drilled hole
• Holemaking Tools — the broader holemaking category, including boring and spot-facing tools
• Cutting Lubricants — cutting oils and fluids for drilling and tapping
• Self-Drilling Screws — fasteners that drill their own pilot hole

Shop by brand: Sutton Tools | Bordo | Saber | Alpha | MAXBOR

Not Sure Which Drill Bit You Need?

With 774 products across the drilling range, finding the right bit, set or accessory can take some narrowing down. Our team can help you match the right tool, material grade and coating to your job and materials — call us on (02) 9773 0122, get in touch via Contact Us, or submit a Request a Quote for trade and bulk pricing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of drill bit should I use for steel?

Standard HSS jobber bits handle mild steel and general fabrication work well. For stainless steel, tool steel and heat-resistant alloys, step up to an HSS-cobalt bit, which holds its edge at higher temperatures. For hardened or highly abrasive material, a solid carbide bit is the better choice.

What's the difference between HSS, cobalt and carbide drill bits?

HSS (high speed steel) is the general-purpose standard. HSS-cobalt adds 5–8% cobalt for better heat resistance and is suited to stainless and tough alloys. Solid carbide (VHM) bits are the hardest and most wear-resistant of the three, but the most brittle — best suited to rigid set-ups and hardened materials.

What drill bit do I need for masonry or concrete?

For brick, block and light concrete with a standard hand drill, a TCT masonry bit is the usual choice. For structural or reinforced concrete drilled with a rotary hammer, SDS Plus or SDS Max shank bits are needed — SDS Max bits generally handle the larger diameters and reo-rated applications.

What's the difference between a jobber, stub and long series drill bit?

These describe the overall length and flute length of the bit relative to its diameter. Jobber length is the everyday standard, stub length is shorter and more rigid for production work, and long series extends reach for deep holes — all three are available in HSS and cobalt.

Should I use a magnetic drill or a bench drill press on steel?

A magnetic drill with an annular cutter is built for portable, on-site holes in structural steel — the magnetic base clamps directly to the workpiece. A bench drill press suits workshop-based precision drilling where the workpiece can be brought to the machine and clamped in a vice.

Does AIMS supply drill bit sets and bulk packs for trade use?

Yes — metric and imperial jobber sets, bulk packs of a single size, and specialist sets (step tip, centre drill, core drill, auger and brad point) are all stocked for trade, workshop and maintenance buyers.

What drill bit brands does AIMS stock?

Our drilling range includes Sutton Tools, Bordo, Saber, P&N, Alpha, MAXBOR, Star-M, Seco, Pferd and other established manufacturers, alongside AIMS's own workshop-grade options.

Do you supply cutting oil for drilling?

Yes — see our cutting lubricants range for cutting oils and fluids that extend drill bit life in steel and other metals.