Most buyers read a hex shank drill bit as one product feature. In practice it is three separate decisions: how the bit is held, which material the drill bit is made from, and what surface treatment sits on top. Each one solves a different problem, and mixing them up is how a buyer ends up with a bit that fits the driver but fails in the workpiece.
This guide explains what each choice does, how we apply them in our titanium coated hex shank drill bits (HSS-M2 / HSS-M35) and our 5pc hex shank drill bit set, and what we need from you to quote either one.
The shank decides how the bit is held
A round shank depends on chuck clamping friction. A hex shank has six flat faces, so the chuck engages it mechanically instead of relying on friction alone. That is why a hex shank bit resists spinning in place under the sudden torque spikes an impact driver produces.
The practical gain is changeover time. One tool can drive a screw and then drill a pilot hole within seconds, with no chuck swap and no key. On a job site or an assembly line where one operator repeats both tasks through a shift, that time adds up. Our hex shank is the same across the full diameter range, so a full metric set shares the same quick-change compatibility whatever the cutting diameter.
What the shank does not do is change how long the cutting edge lasts. That depends on the steel and the coating.
The drill bit material decides what you can drill
HSS-M2 is the general-purpose grade. We specify it for mild steel, aluminum, wood and plastic.
HSS-M35 contains cobalt. It is the grade to specify when the workpiece includes stainless steel or other tough materials that generate heat, because the cobalt content helps the edge keep its hardness under sustained heat.
If your end users drill stainless regularly, M2 may not be the best choice, and M35 is usually the better fit. For background on the grades, see What Are M42, M35, and M2 HSS Drill Bits? and Why Stainless Steel Destroys Drill Bits.
The coating: what titanium nitride does and does not do
Titanium nitride (TiN) is a thin, hard layer applied to the surface after grinding. It does two things. It raises the surface hardness of the cutting edge, and it lowers the friction between the bit and the material being cut. The edge runs cooler, chips slide off the flutes more easily, and wear per hole is lower than on an uncoated bit made from the same base steel.
What it does not do is change the base steel. A TiN coated M2 bit is still an M2 bit. The coating is a surface treatment and the grade is a material decision, which is why we quote them separately. We cover the same split for flute geometry in Parabolic Flute vs. TiN Coating: Two Separate Decisions.
The gold finish also has a practical use: coated bits are easy to tell apart from uncoated stock in a mixed bin or toolbox. TiN is the standard finish on this line. Black oxide or a bright finish is available on request.
The point: 135° split point or 118°
The single-size range is available with a 135° split point or a 118° point. A split point is designed to start on hard, smooth metal without walking across the surface, while 118° is the conventional general-purpose angle. Tell us which one your market expects when you send your specification.
Specification: titanium coated hex shank drill bits
| Item | Titanium Coated Hex Shank Drill Bits |
| Material | HSS-M2 or HSS-M35 (cobalt) |
| Manufacturing | Fully ground |
| Point angle | 135° split point or 118° |
| Cutting diameter | 1 mm to 13 mm, metric |
| Shank | Quick-change hex shank, the same across the full diameter range |
| Coating | Titanium nitride (TiN), gold finish as standard. Black oxide or bright finish on request |
| Packaging | Single size, full metric set, or OEM / private label packaging |
| Tool compatibility | Power drills, cordless screwdrivers and impact drivers |
Product page: Titanium Coated Hex Shank Drill Bits (HSS-M2 / HSS-M35)
The 5pc hex shank drill bit set
The set uses the same quick-change hex shank and gold TiN coating on HSS-M2, packed in a clear hanging blister pack. It is built for distributors and retail programs that need a set ready for display. OEM and private label packaging is available.
We offer five configurations, so the set can be matched to the size range your customers actually use:
| Configuration | Sizes (mm) | Suited to |
| 5pc (pictured pack) | 2.5 / 3.0 / 3.5 / 4.0 / 5.0 | Small, precise holes with closely spaced sizes |
| 5pc | 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 | Essential metric sizes for everyday drilling and repair |
| 6pc | 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 8 | A wider general-purpose range with an added 8 mm bit |
| 5pc | 4 / 5 / 6 / 8 / 10 | Medium to large diameters for installation work |
| 12pc | 2 / 2.5 / 3 / 3.2 / 3.5 / 4 / 4.5 / 4.8 / 5 / 5.5 / 6 / 6.5 | Closely graduated sizes for precise hole selection |
Because the set is HSS-M2, it is specified for general-purpose rotary drilling in mild steel, aluminum, other common non-ferrous metals, wood and plastic. For stainless steel, use the HSS-M35 single-size range instead.
Product page: 5pc Titanium Coated HSS-M2 Hex Shank Drill Bit Set, 2.5–5.0mm
Where these bits are used
The hex shank suits work where changeover speed matters as much as drilling performance:
• Construction and job-site work: framing, fixture installation and general fabrication, where operators switch constantly between driving and drilling.
• MRO and maintenance: quick pilot holes and repair work with the impact driver already in hand.
• Field service and installation: electrical, HVAC and equipment installation, where portability and a smaller tool count matter.
• General metal fabrication: mixed-material shops that need a general-purpose bit for steel, aluminum and other common alloys.
• Automotive and light industrial assembly: repetitive drilling where cordless tool compatibility speeds up the workflow.
Which product for which buyer
| Your situation | What to specify |
| End users drill mild steel, aluminum, wood or plastic | HSS-M2, as single sizes or as a set |
| End users drill stainless steel or other tough, heat-generating material | HSS-M35 (cobalt) single-size range |
| You sell on hanging display or in retail kits | 5pc set in a blister pack, with the configuration matched to your customers' size range |
| You sell under your own brand | OEM / private label packaging, as single sizes or sets |
| You need a surface treatment other than gold TiN | Black oxide or bright finish, available on request |
What to send us when you ask for a quote
Send us the following and we will quote against it:
• Cutting diameters, or the set configuration you want
• Material grade: HSS-M2 or HSS-M35
• Point angle: 135° split point or 118°
• Finish: TiN as standard, or black oxide / bright finish
• Packaging: single size, set, or OEM / private label
• Expected volume
Frequently asked questions
Which grade should I specify for stainless steel?
HSS-M35 (cobalt). The cobalt content helps the edge hold hardness under the sustained heat that stainless produces. The 5pc set is HSS-M2 and is intended for general-purpose drilling, so for stainless use the M35 single-size range.
Does the TiN coating make an M2 bit equal to an M35 bit?
No. TiN lowers friction and raises surface hardness, so an M2 bit with TiN wears less per hole than an uncoated M2 bit. It does not change the base steel, and the cobalt in M35 is a separate decision.
What diameter range do you offer in single sizes?
1 mm to 13 mm, metric, fully ground, with the same hex shank across the whole range.
Can you supply hex shank bits under our own brand?
Yes. Both the single-size range and the 5pc set are available with OEM / private label packaging.
Are finishes other than gold TiN available?
Yes. Black oxide or a bright finish can be supplied on request.
Post time: Oct-12-2026