Metallics HSD4964E High-Speed Twist Drill Bit 49/64" 6" Bright (1pc)

Overall length is 6 inches. Part of that is the shank held in the chuck, so usable flute depth is less than the full 6 inches. For through-drilling thick timber or deep masonry-free steel sections beyond a few inches, step up to an extension-length bit.

It is a bright finish high-speed steel bit, meaning uncoated and polished rather than black oxide or titanium coated. Bright HSS cuts cleanly in aluminum, copper, brass and mild steel and is the usual choice for general electrical fabrication; for repeated drilling in hardened or stainless stock, a coated bit holds an edge longer.

Not necessarily. At 49/64 inch cutting diameter the bit is larger than a 1/2 inch chuck capacity, so check the shank. Large twist bits in this range are normally made with a reduced shank so they will seat in a 1/2 inch chuck; verify the shank diameter on the bit before assuming your cordless drill will take it. A magnetic drill or heavy half-inch drill with low speed and high torque is the right tool for a hole this size in steel.

No. A bright high-speed steel twist bit is for metal, wood and plastics. Drilling concrete, block or brick needs a carbide-tipped hammer bit, and running an HSS twist bit into masonry will destroy the cutting edges on the first hole.

One bit per package, supplied in a pouch rather than an index or case. If you are stocking a van or a shop crib with several sizes, you are buying each size individually.