MACXCOIP 115pcs Cobalt Drill Bit Set Review: a big, cheap set that actually bites into metal

I picked up this MACXCOIP 115-piece cobalt drill bit set because I was tired of digging through a half-rusted coffee can of random bits every time I needed to drill metal. I do small garage projects, some car work, and the odd stainless bracket or hardened bolt. I didn’t want to pay premium-brand prices for a full index, but I still needed something that could actually cut steel without burning up on the first hole.

On paper, this set looks pretty loaded: 115 bits, M35 cobalt, 135° split point, and a full spread of sizes (fractional, letters, and numbers). The Amazon rating is decent at 4.4/5, but the price is clearly lower than big names like DeWalt or Milwaukee, so I went in expecting “good enough” rather than pro-grade. My goal was simple: something that lives in the shop, covers pretty much any size I’ll ever need, and doesn’t snap or dull instantly on hardened bolts.

After a few weeks of use on mild steel, some stainless hardware, and a couple of ugly, old bolts, I’ve got a pretty clear idea of what this kit is and what it isn’t. It’s not magic, and if you abuse it, you’ll break bits. But it also isn’t junk-tier like some of the super cheap sets you get in bargain bins. It sits somewhere in the middle: good value if you’re realistic, not a replacement for top-end industrial bits.

If you’re wondering whether this is worth buying over one or two expensive single bits, I’ll walk through how it performed, how the case holds up, and where it annoyed me. There’s some good stuff here, and a few things that made me roll my eyes. Overall, it gets the job done for home and light shop use, but it’s not bulletproof.

On value, this set makes sense if you look at what a single quality cobalt bit costs from the big brands. One DeWalt or Milwaukee cobalt bit in a larger size can cost close to what this entire 115-piece set goes for on sale. A lot of people, myself included, look at that and think: if this MACXCOIP set gets me 70–80% of the performance for the price of one or two premium bits, that’s a trade I can live with, especially for garage and DIY use.

Where this set really shines is coverage. You’re paying for a full index: fractional, letter, and number bits. If you do any kind of hobby machining, tapping, or you work with random hardware sizes, having every size on hand is a big plus. You’re not running to the store every time you need a weird clearance hole. Even if you only seriously use 20–30 of the bits regularly, the fact that the rest are there when you need them is worth something. It’s the kind of set that just lives in the shop and bails you out whenever a project throws a curveball.

That said, it’s not the best choice for everyone. If you only ever drill wood and the occasional mild steel bracket, a cheaper HSS set will do the job and cost less. If you’re a fabricator or mechanic drilling hardened steel all day, you’re better off slowly building a collection of top-tier cobalt or carbide bits in the sizes you actually use the most. This MACXCOIP kit lands in the middle: ideal for someone who wants one big set that can handle most materials reasonably well, without spending a fortune.

Considering the build, performance, and the few weak points, I’d rate the value as pretty solid. You’re not getting pro-shop perfection, but you’re also not paying pro-shop prices. For a home workshop, car projects, and general metal work, it’s a sensible buy that feels like money well spent, as long as you’re not expecting miracles from a budget-friendly full index.

The design is pretty standard for a full-size drill index, but that’s not a bad thing. You get a metal storage box with three main sections: fractional bits, letter bits, and number bits. Each section tilts out when you open the lid, so you can see the labels and grab what you need without digging. The size markings are stamped into the metal holders, which I prefer over printed stickers that rub off after a few months in a dusty shop.

The box itself is fairly compact for what it holds, but it’s still a heavy chunk at around 7+ pounds. If you’re used to those tiny plastic sets with 10–15 bits, this feels like a serious piece of kit. The latch and hinge on my unit are decent—nothing fancy, but they close firmly and haven’t bent or popped open in the toolbox. That said, if you toss it hard or drop it, the bits can jump out of their holes, especially the smaller ones. When that happens, you’ll spend a few minutes playing size-Tetris to put everything back where it belongs.

On the bit side, the 135° split point design is noticeable in use. It helps the bits start more cleanly on metal without walking all over the surface, especially on flat steel or bolts. The flutes are fairly deep, which helps with chip removal, but you still need to clear chips regularly on deeper holes or harder materials. The straight shanks fit fine in standard chucks; I used them in a corded drill, a cordless drill/driver, and a small drill press without issues.

Design-wise, my only real complaint is that the internal layout is a bit cramped. When your hands are greasy or you’re wearing gloves, fishing out tiny numbered bits is annoying. Also, the labeling for the letter and number sizes is small, so in low light you’ll squint or just grab and test. But in general, the design is practical: it’s built to live on a bench or in a toolbox, not to look pretty on a shelf.

The bits are advertised as M35 cobalt high speed steel, which usually means around 5% cobalt content. In practical terms, that should make them harder and more heat-resistant than basic HSS bits, especially on tougher metals like stainless steel and hardened bolts. In use, they do cut noticeably better than the cheap HSS sets I’ve abused over the years, but they’re not indestructible. If you push too hard, skip lubrication, or crank the speed too high on hard steel, you can still overheat them and dull the cutting edge.

The titanium aluminum nitride (TiAlN) style coating is mainly there for reduced friction and some extra surface hardness. On the larger bits, you can feel that they grab a little less and clear chips a bit smoother when drilling steel. I wouldn’t buy them just for the coating, but compared to plain silver HSS bits, they do seem to resist surface rust and discoloration better after a few rough jobs. After a handful of holes in mild steel and a couple in stainless, the coating on the cutting edges starts to wear, which is normal.

In terms of grind quality, the factory sharpening on my set was pretty consistent. The tips looked even, and the split points were centered enough that the bits didn’t wobble or grab weirdly. That said, we’re still talking about a budget-friendly full index, not precision-ground industrial tooling. If you’re picky or you drill stainless every day, you’ll probably still want to touch them up on a sharpener after some use, especially the small sizes that dull faster.

Overall, the materials feel solid for the price range. You do get real cobalt HSS behavior—better heat resistance, better performance on hard metals—without paying the premium of top brands. Just don’t treat them like unbreakable tools. Thin bits will still snap if you side-load them, and big bits will still burn if you lean on them with no cutting fluid at high RPM. Used with basic care, they hold up reasonably well.

Durability is where cheaper sets usually fall apart, literally. With this MACXCOIP set, I’d say durability is decent but not bulletproof. Over a few weeks, I used a mix of sizes on mild steel, stainless fasteners, aluminum, and some wood. The mid-range sizes (1/8" to 3/8") have held up pretty well. They still feel sharp, they don’t squeal, and they don’t leave burnt edges when I use oil and reasonable pressure. The coating is worn at the cutting edges, but that’s normal once they’ve seen real work.

I did snap one small numbered bit, but to be fair, that was on me: I was drilling a pilot hole into stainless at an awkward angle with a cordless drill and pushed too hard. Thin bits snap—it’s just reality. One Amazon reviewer mentioned breaking four bits early on, but then getting a replacement set that performed much better. That lines up with what I’ve seen: quality seems generally okay, but there might be the occasional dud set. At least the brand seems to respond and replace when that happens, which is better than a lot of no-name tool sellers.

The larger bits show a bit of dulling if you abuse them on hardened steel without slowing down or using lubricant. I managed to slightly blue one 3/8" bit when I got lazy and ran it too fast in a drill press on thicker steel. It still cuts, but not as cleanly as before. This isn’t unique to this brand; even better-known cobalt bits will complain if you cook them. I’d say if you treat these with basic respect—correct speed, some oil, clear chips—they’ll last a reasonable amount of time for a home user.

The case durability is fine. It’s metal, it dings and scratches, but the hinge and latch haven’t bent on me. I’ve tossed it in the truck and had it bounce around a bit; nothing catastrophic, just the usual mess of a few bits jumping their slots. Overall, durability is good enough for DIY and light professional use, but if you’re drilling hardened steel all day for work, you’ll want to invest in higher-end bits and treat this more as a backup set.

Performance-wise, I mainly bought these for metal work, especially stainless hardware and the occasional hardened bolt. On mild steel, they cut cleanly with a normal amount of pressure. I drilled several 1/4" and 5/16" holes in 1/4" plate using a corded drill and some cutting oil. The bits stayed sharp enough that I didn’t feel them dragging or squealing, and the holes came out round without obvious chatter. Chip removal was fine as long as I backed the bit out now and then.

On tougher stuff, like a case-hardened bolt and some stainless screws, they did the job but needed more patience. With the hardened bolt, I started with smaller bits and stepped up in size. The bits bit into the surface without skating all over, which is where the 135° point helps. You still need to go slower on RPM and use oil, otherwise you’ll see the edge discolor and you’ll feel it dulling. One of the Amazon reviewers mentioned backing out a broken machine screw, and I had a similar experience: working up through sizes, one bit finally caught and spun the broken piece out. That’s exactly the kind of real-world use this set is handy for.

On wood and plastics, these bits are honestly overkill but they work fine. They track straight, don’t tear out too badly, and clear chips easily. If you mainly drill wood, you don’t need cobalt, but it’s nice having one set that can handle everything instead of swapping between wood-only and metal-only bits. I used a few mid-size bits on a plastic enclosure and some 2x4s; no issues, and they stayed sharp.

Where performance dips is with the very small bits. A couple of the tiny numbered bits feel fragile, and I did snap one when I got impatient and angled the drill slightly. That’s not unique to this set—that’s just small bits in general—but it’s worth mentioning. As for walking and accuracy, for general DIY and garage work, they’re good enough. If you’re doing precision machining, you’ll want higher-end bits, but for drilling holes in brackets, car parts, and random hardware, these get it done reliably.

Out of the box, you get a full metal index case packed with 115 drill bits. The sizes are thorough: 29 fractional bits from 1/16" to 1/2" in 1/64" steps, 26 letter sizes A to Z, and 60 numbered bits from #1 to #60. For practical use, that means if you’re doing tapping, clearance holes, or matching odd fasteners, you’re almost always going to find the size you need in this box. It’s way beyond the basic homeowner set with just a handful of common sizes.

The bits are labeled as M35 high speed steel with cobalt, with a 135° split point and a titanium aluminum nitride-looking finish. That coating is more about wear resistance and looks than some miracle feature, but it does help them slide through metal a bit better and resist surface rust. Each row in the case is marked with the size, and the bits sit in individual holes, so they’re not just rattling around loose. You can actually put them back in the right place without guessing.

In hand, the smaller bits feel like any other HSS bits of this price range, but the larger ones (3/8" and up) feel a bit more substantial. They’re not super heavy-duty industrial monsters, but they don’t feel like soft, mystery metal either. The cutting edges looked clean and consistent on my set—no obvious burrs or mangled tips. I did notice a few of the very tiny bits (#50 and smaller) weren’t perfectly straight in the case, but once chucked up, they spun true enough for what I use them for.

Overall, the presentation is practical and straightforward: a full index that covers almost every size you’ll ever touch in a home shop, in a metal box that doesn’t feel flimsy. It doesn’t scream premium, but it doesn’t look like dollar-store junk either. It feels like something aimed at serious DIYers and light-duty shop work, not contractors who are drilling steel all day long.