Frequently asked questions

Find answers to common questions below

  • Century offers six types of drill bits – Cobalt, Charger™, Titanium, Black Oxide, Brite, and High-Speed Steel. The material you are drilling and the tool you are using will determine what drill you use:

    • Cobalt Drill Bits are for drilling in extremely hard metals, including stainless steel.
    • Charger™ Drill Bits feature an industrial heavy-duty web that provides added stability and strength for exact holes while drilling in the hard and very soft materials.
    • Titanium Drill Bits nitrate coating resists heat and adds lubricity to extend the drill bits life and for precise drilling in metal, wood, and plastic.
    • Black Oxide Drill Bits are designed to remain sharper longer by withstanding high temperatures. Recommended to use this drill bit in metal drilling applications but can also be used in wood and plastic. Brite Drill Bits are mainly for use in wood, metals, and plastics.
    • High Speed Steel (HSS) Drill Bits feature premium high-speed steel and a duotone finish for fast chip removal in wood, metal, and plastic.

  • You will want to drill out the broken extractor first. Instead of using a regular drill bit, we suggest using a left handed drill bit. This drill bit will drill out the broken extractor without tightening the bolt or enlarging the hole further. Use the appropriately sized left handed drill bit as listed on the extractor’s package. Once the extractor has been drilled out, attempt to extract the bolt again with a new extractor.

  • No, but cutting oil will extend the drill life while drilling in all types of ferrous and non-ferrous metals. Warning: While drilling in wood, plastics, or other soft materials, cutting oils may stain or harm the cutting materials.

  • If you would like a printed catalog, simply email your name, address, phone number, and your product catalog request to your customer service department (century@centurydrill.com).

  • Yes, high speed steel drill bits can be resharpened. However, if re-sharpening a coated drill (like Titanium) understand that you will be grinding away the coating that originally extended the life of the bit.

  • All Century jobber drill bits can drill through steel, however, depending on the steel type, we may recommend a specific style for faster drilling or longer bit life.

  • Yes, Century’s drill bits are heat treated and tempered for hardness and longevity.

  • Impact Pro drill bits are made from S2 steel, but heat-treated differently from standard S2 screwdriving bits. Our tempering process lessens the impact in high-torque applications so bits do not shatter. Our impact drill bits also have a torsion zone that provides improved flexibility and durability for extended life.

  • Yes — in most cases you can substitute a fractional drill bit, but you must match the size as closely as possible to the recommended number or letter drill size for your tap. The reason your packaging lists a number (like #7) or letter (like F) drill bit is because taps follow strict standards which use number and letter sizes for the most precise hole diameters. These in-between sizes give the correct amount of clearance for the tap to cut threads without being too tight or loose.

  • When a die lists its size “across the flats”, it’s referring to the distance from one flat side of the die to the opposite flat side — the width of the die measured straight across the hexagon.