Understanding cobalt vs titanium drill bits is one of the most common questions in the workshop, and the answer comes down to how the two are made. One is an alloy through and through; the other is a coating over a steel core.
What Cobalt Bits Actually Are
Cobalt bits are made from high-speed steel blended with a percentage of cobalt, commonly around five to eight percent. Because the cobalt is part of the alloy itself, the hardness and heat resistance run all the way through the bit. Even after repeated sharpening, a cobalt bit keeps its cutting properties because you are never grinding away a surface layer.
What Titanium-Coated Bits Actually Are
A titanium bit is usually a standard high-speed steel bit finished with a thin layer of titanium nitride, the familiar gold coating. That coating is genuinely hard and slick, which reduces friction and helps the bit run cooler when new. The catch is that once the coating wears through, especially at the cutting edges, the bit performs like ordinary HSS beneath it.
- Cobalt: Hardness throughout; resharpenable; excels in tough alloys.
- Titanium-coated: Slick surface; lower cost; good for general-purpose work.
- Coating limit: Sharpening a coated bit removes the coating at the edge.
Heat and Hard Materials
Heat is the enemy of any drill bit. Cobalt shines when drilling stainless steel, cast iron and other hardened materials because it holds its temper at higher temperatures. Titanium-coated bits handle wood, plastic and mild steel comfortably, but they can lose their edge quickly in abrasive or hardened stock.
Cost and Value
Titanium-coated bits typically cost less, which makes them a sensible choice for a general home or job-site set. Cobalt bits carry a higher price but reward you with a longer working life in demanding metal work, and the ability to bring them back to sharp again and again. For a metalworker drilling stainless daily, cobalt often proves the better long-term value.
Which Should You Buy?
Match the bit to your work. If you mostly drill wood and soft metals, a good American-made titanium-coated set covers the job affordably. If you regularly cut stainless, hardened steel or heat-prone alloys, invest in cobalt. Many shops keep both on hand and reach for the right one as the material demands.
- Choose cobalt for: Stainless, cast iron, hardened and heat-prone metals.
- Choose titanium for: Wood, plastic, mild steel and everyday drilling.