{"product_id":"drill-america-57-64-in-reduced-shank-cobalt-drill-bit-durable-cutter","title":"Drill America 57\/64 in Reduced Shank Cobalt Drill Bit - Durable Cutter","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn this review the Drill America 57\/64 in reduced shank cobalt drill bit is evaluated for workshop users who need a tougher bit for metal drilling. The bottom line is that this bit is best for fabricators and maintenance techs who regularly drill stainless steel or other high tensile metals because it uses heat resistant \u003cstrong\u003ecobalt steel\u003c\/strong\u003e and a heavy duty 135 split point for faster centering. It expands the usable size range of a portable drill chuck while maintaining concentricity, making it a practical, value-oriented option when a hardened, long-life bit is required.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eKey Features\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCobalt construction:\u003c\/strong\u003e Cobalt steel offers improved performance when cutting harder metals such as stainless steel and nickel alloys, so it holds up better under heat than standard HSS.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReduced shank design:\u003c\/strong\u003e The 57\/64 in body with a 1\/2 in shank lets this bit fit smaller drill chucks while providing a larger cutting diameter for jobs that need a beefier hole.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGround 135 split point:\u003c\/strong\u003e The heavy duty split point reduces walking and helps the bit bite quickly, useful for accurate starts in metal work.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePrecision ground concentricity:\u003c\/strong\u003e The bit is ground for a tight alignment between shank and body, which reduces runout and improves drilling accuracy in presses and hand drills.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpiral flutes, right-hand cut:\u003c\/strong\u003e Flutes evacuate chips up and out of the cut to reduce clogging and keep the cutting zone cleaner on longer holes.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGold oxide finish:\u003c\/strong\u003e A thinner oxide surface treatment protects the tool while keeping performance similar to uncoated bits and allowing easy identification.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis bit suits professional tradespeople and serious hobbyists who drill a lot of metal, especially those working with \u003cstrong\u003estainless steel\u003c\/strong\u003e or other tough alloys where heat resistance and edge retention matter. It's also helpful for users who need to use a standard portable drill chuck but want to cut a larger hole than the chuck nominally accepts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCasual users who only drill occasional soft materials or expect perfect results in every situation should consider a standard HSS bit or a coated HSS variant instead, since some users report variable sharpness and mixed performance depending on material and technique.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePros \u0026amp; Cons\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePros\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDurable cobalt material handles higher heat and harder metals than typical HSS bits.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReduced shank expands portability by fitting 1\/2 in chucks while providing a larger cutting diameter.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePrecision ground with a 135 split point for quicker starts and better concentricity in use.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGold oxide surface aids identification without significantly changing cutting behavior.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCons\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCustomer feedback shows mixed results on sharpness; some report early dulling or breakage under heavy loads.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePerformance can vary between drill press and hand drill applications, so technique and feed rate matter.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBrand\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDrill America\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSeries\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDWDCO\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCutting diameter\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e57\/64 in\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eShank size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1\/2 in round\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaterial\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCobalt steel, gold oxide finish\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePoint type\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e135 split point\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eStandards\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eManufactured to National Aerospace standard 907\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eOur Verdict\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Drill America 57\/64 in reduced shank cobalt bit is a practical choice for metalworkers who need a tougher bit that fits standard chucks and starts well in stainless and high tensile materials. Given its construction and precision grinding it offers good value for users who match speed and feed to material, though occasional variability means heavy production users should inspect batches before large runs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan this bit be used in a portable drill?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis reduced shank is designed to fit 1\/2 in chucks so it works in portable drills, but pay attention to speed, feed, and clamping to avoid excessive stress.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs the gold oxide coating a cutting coating?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe gold oxide is a thin surface treatment for identification and minor protection; performance is similar to uncoated cobalt tools.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill it drill stainless steel reliably?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes, cobalt construction and the 135 split point make it suitable for stainless, though operator technique and firm support affect durability and life.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Drill America","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48192336462043,"sku":"B00FXHDSK4","price":34.79,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/1043\/1707\/files\/51yVTVAB0zL._SL1500.jpg?v=1770273658","url":"https:\/\/gearmusthave.com\/products\/drill-america-57-64-in-reduced-shank-cobalt-drill-bit-durable-cutter","provider":"GearMustHave","version":"1.0","type":"link"}