400E 29 PC Drill Pal Set

DRILLCO 400E 29 PC Drill Pal Set — Heavy-Duty HSS Drilling for Demanding Applications

The DRILLCO 400E 29-piece Drill Pal Set is a general purpose high speed steel (HSS) jobber-length drill bit set designed for contractors and trades professionals who regularly drill into medium and high strength materials. Covering a size range of 1/16" to 1/2" by 64ths, this 29-piece set provides comprehensive coverage for the most common hole sizes encountered on the job. The 135° split point geometry and black oxide surface treatment make these drills well-suited for heavy-duty drilling applications, including stainless steel and tougher ferrous materials. Speed, feed, and lubrication are all critical to cutting tool performance and should be optimized for each application.

Technical Specifications

Available Items

Compared to standard 118° conventional-point HSS drills, the 400E set's 135° split point reduces thrust requirements and minimizes walking, making it more effective on curved surfaces and harder materials where a conventional point would skate. The black oxide surface treatment provides improved tool life over a bright-finish drill by reducing friction and heat damage, without the added cost of a TiN or TiAlN coating — a practical balance for heavy-duty general-purpose work.

Key Features & Benefits

135° Self-Centering Split Point

The 135° split point is self-centering, which reduces the thrust required to start a hole and minimizes walking on the workpiece surface. This is especially valuable when drilling on curved or irregular surfaces, or when working without a drill press, as it improves accuracy and reduces the need for a center punch.

General Purpose High Speed Steel (HSS) Construction

HSS is the most commonly used tool material for general purpose drilling and is suitable for a broad range of materials including low to medium strength steels, stainless steel, and other ferrous materials. The heavy-duty construction of these drills makes them suitable for more demanding applications beyond what a standard general-purpose drill is designed to handle.

Black Oxide Surface Treatment

The black oxide finish reduces friction and heat damage during drilling, which extends tool life compared to an uncoated bright-finish drill. This treatment is well-suited for performance on low to medium tensile strength materials and contributes to improved longevity across the 29-piece set.

Jobber Length

Jobber length is the most common drill length because it provides extra reach while remaining usable in the vast majority of drilling applications. This makes the set highly versatile across different job site scenarios without requiring specialty extensions.

Comprehensive 29-Piece Size Range

The set covers 1/16" to 1/2" by 64ths, giving contractors access to every standard fractional size in that range in a single organized set. This eliminates the need to source individual bits for common hole sizes and reduces downtime searching for the right drill.

Common Applications

Drilling in Medium and High Strength Materials

The 135° split point and HSS construction make this set appropriate for drilling holes in medium and high strength steels where a standard general-purpose drill may struggle.

Heavy-Duty Drilling

The heavy-duty construction of these drills is designed for more demanding applications, providing durability under higher loads and more aggressive feed rates.

Stainless Steel and Tougher Ferrous Materials

These drills are specifically noted as being designed for efficient drilling in stainless steel and tougher ferrous materials, where reduced thrust from the split point geometry is a meaningful advantage.

General Metalworking

As a jobber-length HSS set, these drills are suitable for a wide range of general metalworking tasks encountered in construction, fabrication, and maintenance trades.

Compatible Materials

• Medium strength steels
• High strength steels
• Stainless steel
• Tougher ferrous materials
• Low to medium tensile strength materials (black oxide treatment optimized)

Product Documents

• Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
• Drillco Product Linecard

Safety Data Summary

Hazard Information

• During normal operation, high speed steel products do not present inhalation, ingestion, or other chemical hazards.
• Grinding, cutting, machining, burning, or welding may release dusts, fumes, or vapors that present health hazards if exposure limits are exceeded.
• Excessive inhalation of metallic fumes and dusts may cause irritation of eyes, nose, and throat; symptoms may include metallic taste, dryness and irritation of the throat, chills, and fever persisting 12–48 hours.
• Chromium is listed as a carcinogen by NTP and OSHA; various forms of dermatitis, inflammation and/or ulceration of the upper respiratory tract, and possibly cancer of nasal passages and lungs are associated with chromium exposure.
• Tungsten: some evidence of pulmonary involvement such as cough.
• Vanadium: eye and respiratory tract irritant.
• Cobalt dust is the most probable cause of respiratory diseases including occupational asthma and interstitial fibrosis.
• Skin contact with dust can cause irritation or allergic skin rash due to cobalt sensitization.
• NFPA Hazard Rating: Health 1; Flammability 0; Reactivity 0.
• Fine metal particles produced when ground or sawed can burn; high concentrations in air may present an explosion hazard.

Personal Protective Equipment

• Gloves: Cloth or leather gloves recommended when contact with dust or mist is likely.
• Eye protection: Safety glasses or goggles with side shields; contact lenses should not be worn. Employer should provide an eye wash station in the immediate work area.
• Hearing protection may be required.
• Always use machine guards and wear safety glasses and protective clothing to prevent injury in the event of tool breakage.
• Respiratory protection: Use an appropriate NIOSH-approved respirator if airborne dust concentration exceeds the applicable PEL or TLV, per 29 CFR 1910.134.

Safe Handling

• Use only with local exhaust ventilation adequate to limit personal exposure to airborne dust below PEL or TLV levels.
• Perform grinding, welding, or fume-generating operations in well-ventilated areas.
• Wash hands thoroughly after handling and before eating or smoking; wash exposed skin at end of work shift.
• Do not shake clothing, rags, or other items to remove dust — remove dust by washing or vacuuming with appropriate filters.
• Clean up using methods that avoid dust generation: vacuum with appropriate filters, wet dust mop, or wet clean-up.
• Store in a dry place in a manner that prevents accidental environmental contamination from traces of industrial lubricants or wetting oils.
• Soiled clothing should be laundered separately.
• Incompatible materials: Strong acids, strong oxidizers.
• Emergency phone: CHEM-TEL INC 1-800-255-3924.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the advantage of a 135° split point over a standard 118° conventional point?
A: The 135° split point is self-centering, which reduces thrust requirements and minimizes walking on the workpiece surface. This makes it better suited for drilling on curved surfaces, harder materials, and hand-held drilling applications compared to a 118° conventional point.

Q: Are these drills suitable for stainless steel?
A: Yes. These drills are specifically designed for efficient drilling in stainless steel and tougher ferrous materials, supported by the 135° split point geometry and heavy-duty HSS construction.

Q: Why is speed, feed, and lubrication important when using these drills?
A: Speed, feed, and lube are all critical to cutting tool performance. Using the correct parameters for the material being drilled helps maximize tool life, maintain cut quality, and prevent premature wear or breakage.

Q: What does the black oxide surface treatment do?
A: The black oxide treatment reduces friction and heat damage during drilling, which improves tool life compared to an uncoated bright-finish drill. It is optimized for performance on low to medium tensile strength materials.

Q: What size range does the 29-piece set cover?
A: The set covers 1/16" to 1/2" by 64ths, providing every standard fractional size in that range in a single set (Item # 400EW29).