Customer Reviews for Milwaukee 3/16 in. - 7/8 in. #4 Black Oxide Step Drill Bit (12-Steps)

The bit works great on thin metal, wood and sheet rock. It did not become dull after several days of heavy use and continues to make my project easier to navigate.

Love this step drill, used it while upgrading my work van with new shelving. The steps cut incredibly fast, are extremely accurately sized and never bound up. Tried it both to enlarge an existing hole and punch in new holes in sheet metal with ease. Used my Milwaukee impact driver and drilling holes in steel couldn't be easier. I plan to buy the larger version also based on how well this little guy worked.

Drills sheet metal fast and clean for grommets .

Exactly what you can expect from step bit. It works like any other step bit except this works better when you use impact drill instead of regular drill. It seems sharper than other brand and able to cut metal faster than usual. The hex shaft is great option to use with impact gun instead of using regular drill. The shock wave shaft seems to make a difference when making bigger hole. Too bad the biggest hole you can make is only 3/4".

This bit works very well, the tip starts and drill very easily and step part of the bit cuts well. It works good with the impact driver but is slower than using it with a regular none impact drill. It does not take a lot of pressure to make it drill. The 2 cutting edges make it cut faster than the style of bit with only one cutting edge but also make it a little more prone to grabbing and vibration. I wish that they would have put more size markings on the bit, there are only 2 markings one for 7/8 and one for 1 1/8, and it looks as though they may wear off quickly. It will drill about 1/16 inch thick material before hitting the next step. Basically I like this tool and it works well, but it does not seem to be any better than my discount store bits at a fraction of the price, it might last longer but only time will tell.

This Milwaukee step drill bit is a beast! I tested it on tin roofing material, PVC pipe, and different types of plastics. The cutting edge never gummed up from the softer materials and stayed as sharp as it was out of the box on the metal materials. It cut fast and sharp enough that I didn’t really get to test the “impact” capability of it; however, I have no doubt that it would be very capable of cutting through heavier materials between 3/16” – 1/2”.

Milwaukee just keeps producing one great product after another. And this 1/8 in. - 1/2 in. x 1/16 in. #1 SHOCKWAVE Impact Duty Titanium Step Bit is just one more in that line. I have many Milwaukee tools and everyone of them are high quality. The Titanium Aluminum Nitride (TiAlN) coating will let this step bit last up to 5 times longer then other brands. The shank has what Milwaukee tools call "optimized SHOCKZONE" body which makes the shank incredibly strong. Strong enough that the bit can be used with an impact wrench. This bit has 13 steps that goes from 1/8 inch to 1/2 inch. What I also like about this bit that each step size is laser engraved for easy stopping at your desired size hole. The design of this bit also lets you start an easy and accurate hole.

This is definitely a commercial quality step bit. This Shockwave Impact duty step bit is perfect for drilling larger sized holes in steel or a variety of other materials. I did my testing with 1/8 steel. This impact bit really does drill holes twice as fast! I drilled a variety of different sized holes with both an impact and regular drill. The smaller sized holes seem a bit sloppy but that could be user error. I would recommend the impact for the larger sized holes as the drill did try to twist on me. After drilling multiple different sized holes in different materials, the bit never got hot or showed any signs of wear. You can feel the drill drop when you get to the next bigger increment on the step bit and it seems that the larger the hole gets, the faster the drilling process goes. I foresee this bit lasting a long time being made of titanium and that it seems to self cool itself.

This Milwaukee 3/16 in to 3/4" impact step bit is really nice to work with. I was looking for a bit like this that I could use in my Milwaukee M18 impact driver, I never really thought about using an impact driver for drilling holes, but it makes sense especially in tougher material. It's a plus that it has the Milwaukee shockzone (see pic) that reduces early shank breaks as well as the Titanium aluminum nitride (TiAlN) coating, which will mean the bit will last about 5 times longer than a normal bit. It also has dual spiral flutes and a rapid strike tip (see pic) that delivers up to 2x faster holes. The HD web page doesn't mention the 10 exact sizes this bit will drill, here are the sizes: 3 1/16" (4.8mm) 1/4" (6.4mm) 5 1/16" (7.9mm) 3/8" (9.5mm) 7/16" (11.1mm) 1/2" (12.7mm) 9/16" (14.3mm) 5/8" (15.9mm) 11/16" (17.5mm 3/4" (19.1mm) The sizes are etched right on the bit itself (see pic). This bit will very quickly go right thru Duct pipe & metal studs and you'll have to be careful when you want a specific sized hole that you don't bypass the size you want!...It drills that fast! A few times when I needed a certain size hole I used white electrical tape as a stop guide. Milwaukee has been bringing some really great tools to market for individual tradespeople & every Milwaukee tool that I have I'm very happy with, keep it up Milwaukee! I hope this review helps folks and if it did please give it a thumbs up!

Milwaukee #3 shockwave step drill bit is the third step bit I have to review. As with the #1and #2 step bits, I found this #3 to be another great bit for the toolbox. The #3 bores 10 hole sizes from 3/16” to 3/4” Quick drilling in sheet metal is also possible with this size. Another Great made in USA step bit. All are titanium aluminum for long life. I highly recommend this and size #1 and #2 Multiple sizes can be purchased from Home Depot Made by Milwaukee. See closeup pics below.

Milwaukee #2 shockwave stepbit. Another excellent stepbit made in USA From Milwaukee that I highly recommend. I have 3 step drill bits to review and I found all 3 sizes To be a great addition to your toolbox. The #2 bores 6 sizes. 3/16” to 1/2”. Fast drilling is possible with the Max hole size In sheet metal. As mentioned in my #1 review Milwaukee makes multiple sizes you can purchase. See pics below for closeup.

I have 3 sizes of the step bits to review and the First is the #1 size. You can drill from 1/8” to 1/2” holes. I’m very impressed with how fast you can punch A hole in sheet metal if you want the largest size I found this bit to be excellent to use and highly Recommend it for your toolbox. There are multiple sizes you can buy including 3 packs of commonly used sizes available. I have several more sizes on my Christmas Wishlist!

I've used different brands of step bits before and this one by far produces the cleanest holes. The step bit is very sharp and stays sharp. I've learned in the past, dull bits do shoddy work and can be dangerous. The Milwaukee Shockwave bit cuts precise and clean holes. There is less of a chance of accidentally drilling to the next size from having to put too much pressure on the bit to achieve the cutting required to make the hole. Also, this bit removes waste quickly as well. Great bit. Should last many years.

This bit is hungry for metal! Take it slow with plenty of pressure on the bit, a good grip on the drill and it'll chew right through steel. Embarrassed to say how many regular bits I broke before buying this one. Not to mention how much time this bit will save you. Also, it leaves a nice chamferred edge which helps guide bolts through the hole. Drilled multiple holes through 10 ga square tubing and the bit shows no signs of slowing down. Seriously, look at all that man glitter this bit produced in the pic! Only downside I can see of this bit is that you can't drill a solid, uniform sized hole through thicker metal because of the bits "stepped" shape, but that's not what this bit is designed to do anyway.

Picked this up this morning. Doing a project where I am cutting an threading black iron pipe -1/2" 3/4" and 1". Needed something to ream / debur the ends of the pipe before threading. Have only done a few pieces so far but it works like a charm. It was pricier than I thought it was going to be but a lot less than some other options.

I use this to drill holes in 1/4" angle iron and it works very well. Be sure to wear shoes though.....that red-hot metal fragments kinda hurt when they land on bare feet!

Works just fine for me in limited test ------------------------------------------------------------------ Disclaimer: This is an unbiased review that is unaffected by the fact that I received this product for free. As proof of impartiality, just click on my nickname and see the average of the ratings I have given over 200 reviews to date. ==== First impressions ==== Packaging is virtually bulletproof. I almost needed to use the bit to open it. Scissors may not be enough. ==== Operation ==== This #8 bit is advertised as having a range of 1/2" to 1" diameter. That is for a step depth of 1/8". That means you can drill a clean, even hole in up to 1/8" material without having to drill from the other side also. There are steps of 3/16", 1/4", 5/16". 3/8", and 7/16" also; but except for the 3/16" initial step, the depth of each is only 1/16". For drilling holes under 1/2" with material over 1/16" thick, you should buy another bit to compliment this one, perhaps the #1 bit. I tested the bit by drilling two 3/8" diameter holes in a 1/8" thick stainless steel plate. I do not know the grade of the plate material (maybe 316) except that it had been used for years in a marine salt-water environment. The bit performed fine even at starting the initial hole without any cutting fluid. Of course, cutting fluid should always be used. The bit showed minimal wear or scuffing of the surfaces. I am not sure I could tell the difference between a single flute and the double flutes that are on this bit. By having two cutting flutes, I suspect that would require more power from the drilling tool to cut at the faster speeds. The claims of higher cutting speed (2X) and longer life (4X) are qualified (in tiny print) to be used with 18v Lithium-Ion battery-powered tools. At a price of 45 bucks, it is expensive, making the "value" just average. ==== Summary ==== Bit works well in cutting stainless steel. Requires higher powered tools to provide full benefits for speed and life. 9 sizes are advertised, but there are 5 more smaller sizes with smaller steps for thinner material. A "bit" pricey (pun intended).

Step drills are a necessity in my tool box. This one from Milwaukee is shorter than any of my others, and that makes it more convenient to use in tight places. This bit starts easily with no wandering, and cuts quickly, especially in thin materials. Due to its short length it is better suited for thin materials, as anything over ¼” thick will result in a “stepped” hole, as the next largest segment will be entering the hole at that point. I have used this extensively on a recent electrical job, boring many holes for cable clamps and conduit connectors, and I see virtually no wear or dulling. So far I’m impressed, but I’m not throwing away my longer step drills!

Another great step drill bit from Milwaukee BACKGROUND: I have owned a set of step drill bits for several years. Although they are lower quality I was very impressed with their ability to drill. I was excited when I had the opportunity to evaluate the equivalent Milwaukee #8 step drill bit. UNBOXING: This bit continues Milwaukee’s reputation for quality tools. It is significantly heavier than my old bits. The dual-flute design is more capable of powering through material. The diameter markings are nice, but may wear off (time will tell.) The 3-flat shank that prevents spinning in the drill chuck is also nice for a bit like this. USE: It is important to note that this is considered a multi-hole step drill. It can drill and chamfer holes through material up to about 1/8” at any diameter from ½” to 1”. Normally drilling holes these sizes would require using a small bit to drill a pilot hole, then using progressively larger bits to enlarge that hole. The step feature in this drill bit allows you to drill the holes using only one drill bit. A multi-hole step bit, like this one is easy to identify, the steps are further apart than a single-hole bit, resulting in a more elongated cone shape. Chucking into my cordless drill was simple. Just remember to make sure the collet jaws are engaging on the flats of the shaft. I drilled two different types of test holes for this evaluation, a bolt hole in a strap hinge, and two holes through a piece of box steel. The bit performed well in both instances. The hole in the strap hinge demonstrated enlarging an existing hole. The original hole was 3/8” and I enlarged it to ½”. The bit powered through the strap hinge easily. I used the shoulder of the next step to deburr and chamfer the hole on both sides. Next I drilled a ¾” hole through both sides of thin-walled box steel. As this was a new hole I center punched the starting point then drilled and chamfered to finished diameter on one side, then flipped the piece over and enlarged the through drilled hole on the opposite side to finish the piece. Again, the bit performed well. These bits are designed for cordless drill, high speed use; so it is important to keep the RPMs high to reduce or prevent catching the flute cutters in the workpiece. SUMMARY: This bit is worth the money and is a welcome addition to my tool box. One of my favorite step bits!

Another outstanding step drill bit BACKGROUND: I have owned a set of step drill bits for several years. Although they are lower quality I was very impressed with their ability to drill. I was excited when I had the opportunity to evaluate the equivalent Milwaukee #7 step drill bit. UNBOXING: This bit continues Milwaukee’s reputation for quality tools. It is significantly heavier than my old bit, and the dual-flute design looks more capable. The diameter markings are nice, but may wear off (time will tell.) Another nice feature is the 3-flat shank that prevents spinning in the drill chuck. USE: It is important to note that this is considered a single hole step drill. Its primary purpose is to drill a 7/8” hole in thin material. Normally drilling a hole this size would require using a small bit to drill a pilot hole, then using progressively larger bits to enlarge that hole. The step feature in this drill bit allows you to drill the hole using only one drill bit. A single hole step bit, like this one is easy to identify, the steps are much closer together than a multi-hole bit, resulting in a more pyramid shape. It is possible to drill different sized holes with this bit, but only in thinner material. Chucking into my cordless drill was simple. Just remember to make sure the collet jaws are engaging on the flats of the shaft. Drilling a 7/8” inch hole in thin metal was easy. I marked a starting point with a center punch, then use the step drill to start and drill the hole. When drilling in sheet metal you must watch the pressure you use to drill the hole as it is possible to “snag” the flutes at the start of each step. I also drilled bolt holes in 1” angle iron. The “Rapid Strike” tip drilled through the angle iron with minimal effort. A nice feature of step drill bits is the ability to chamfer the hole using the next diameter step, a quick and easy way to deburr as well. Chamfering both sides is a simple as flipping the piece over and using the drill bit step again. The chamfers produced were better than using my chamfering bit. The test hole was drilled and chamfered to ¼”. A ¼” bolt fit through the hole quite nicely. I then enlarged and chamfered the hole 1/16th inch to 5/16”. A 5/16” bolt fit through with no problem. SUMMARY: This bit is a welcome addition to my tool box. It will get a lot of use!

This step drill bit is a very handy tool if you do any type of electrical or plumbing work. I used it to drillout/widen a hole in an electrical panel to run conduit for an additional line. Also used it to drill out a hole from 3/8" to 7/16" hole so I could use a larger bolt. Seems to hold up well and has not lost its edge. I have this one in my truck tool box.

The Milwaukee 7/8 in. #7 Step Drill Bit is a great tool to have. The drill bit sharp and easily drills into sheet metal. It makes drilling holes into ducts or electric boxes a breeze. The steps are not very long, so drilling into thicker walled plastic boxes can be a problem, as you will have one diameter on the inside and already the next step diameter on the outside. A hex shaft would have been even better, as that would prevent the bit from spinning in the chuck if you really go for it.

The 3/8 in. - 1/2 in. x 1/16 in. #6 Step Drill Bit, is a great bit. Made by Milwaukee,one drill bit from start to finish, stop at your desire hole size, to 1/2 inch. Use on your favorite drill, electric, cordless, drill press. It's jam -free and is very well made, with marking at 3/8'' and 1/2''. Best of all it's made in the USA. Happy Drilling and Don't forget to use your Safety Glasses.

Perfect for cutting multi-diameter holes in 1/4 steel.

Unlike other drill bits that makes you stop and go through multiple steps in making holes in metallic surfaces, This drill bit allows you to do the job in one go. It is well made and easy to use. I have included a video of making a hole in a 1/4" wall bracket. As you can see it allowed me to do that in one go. Made in USA. Nice bit to have

This singe drill bit is capable of gradually opening holes starting at 3/16' to 1-1/8" even though the name suggests a smaller specific range. The tip of the bit is elongated to start the hole at ~3/16". It was effortless to go from that to larger hole sizes in 1/16" increments. There are a lot of positive attributes: It was designed for cordless drills. It has two cutting surfaces that make the bit work efficiently. The bit shaft has flat spots in a triangular orientation to allow the drill chuck to secure the bit tightly. It has the 7/8" and 1-1/8" dimensions marked clearly. It has a nice black finish to it. It is marked USA on the collar. For the test, it cut through PVC pipe easily. Reaming out the desired hole size was easy to do.

Works really good. A good homeowner cordless drill can spin it without jamming. Cuts mild steel (such as breaker-box metal) easily. Aimed at conduit sizes. Far quicker than the old screw-punch. For-sure better than lower-price step-drills. It claims "2-hole". It is clearly marked and spaced to do two common conduit sizes. However it has about 16 steps, and you can stop within about 1/16th inch of any odd-size hole you need from about 3/8" to 1-1/8". In this price class, it really should come-with some form of storage so it won't go blunt in your toolbox. The packaging could have been a fine storage pouch, but isn't. Find a pill-bottle or something.