Metallics HSSC28E Drill Bit HD Cobalt St 135d SplPt 1/2" 6" YLW (1pc)

The HSSC28E is a 1/2 inch diameter cobalt jobber-style bit with an overall length of 6 inches, so the usable flute depth is less than the full 6 inches once you account for the shank held in the chuck. For a 1/2 inch knockout pilot or a through-hole in steel strut, box, or plate, it cuts at 1/2 inch nominal.

A 135 degree split point starts cutting on contact without walking, so you can skip the center punch on flat steel, and the flatter angle spreads the load across more of the cutting lip in hard material. On the 1/2 inch HSSC28E that matters most when you are drilling an unsecured plate or an overhead strike where you cannot get a punch in cleanly. Standard 118 degree bits need a punched or pilot start to keep from wandering.

No. The HSSC28E is a cobalt twist bit for metal; it has no carbide tip and will dull immediately in concrete, block, or brick. For masonry anchors you need a carbide-tipped hammer bit in the matching shank for your rotary hammer. Use the cobalt bit for steel, stainless, and cast iron.

Yes, for stainless, hardened steel, and cast iron. Cobalt is alloyed through the body of the bit rather than coated, so it holds its edge at the higher heat those materials generate and can be resharpened without losing the hard material. The HSSC28E is the heavy duty cobalt version at 1/2 inch. For wood, plastic, or mild steel occasional work, a plain HSS bit does the job for less.

One bit per order. The HSSC28E ships as a single 1/2 inch cobalt bit in a pouch, not as part of an index or set, so if you are stocking a van or standardizing across crews you order the quantity you need by the piece.

The yellow-gold cast is the cobalt alloy itself showing in the finish rather than a coating, which is how cobalt bits are typically distinguished from bright-finish HSS on a crowded bit board. Practically, it is a quick way for a crew to pick the cobalt 1/2 inch out of a drawer of mixed bits.