Forster Tools Drill Bit Set Review (2026): Budget Twist Bits

Why you should trust this review

I bought this set with my own money to handle occasional drilling in metal and wood, and Forster had no involvement in this review. I have used premium bit sets from the big tool brands as well as cheap no-name kits, so I know the difference between a budget set that is honest value and one that is just bad. I judged this on whether the bits actually bite and hold an edge through real work, which is the only thing that matters in a drill bit.

I will be clear about where it falls short, because a budget set has real limits you need to plan around.

How we evaluated

I drilled well over a hundred holes through mild steel and aluminum with this set, concentrating on the sizes I actually use most, and inspected the tips afterward for wear. I tested the split-point self-centering by starting holes on bare steel without a center punch, pushed the smaller bits to see how they handled side load, and used the case daily to judge whether it kept the bits organized and protected. I compared the experience against both premium sets and cheap throwaway kits I have run in the past.

Self-centering and cutting

The split-point tips are the best thing about this set. They genuinely self-center on mild steel, so you can start a hole on bare metal without a center punch and the bit stays where you put it instead of wandering. That is a feature cheap kits with basic points get wrong, and it is the difference between accurate holes and frustrating skating. On wood and aluminum the bits cut cleanly, and on mild steel they bit well throughout my testing rather than just polishing the surface.

Edge retention

This is the honest middle of the road. The most-used sizes held their cutting edge through well over a hundred holes in mild steel, which is solid for the price and more than enough for occasional work. Push past a couple hundred holes in steel, though, and the tips start to lose their center and need either a touch-up or replacement. For a set you reach for now and then, that lifespan is perfectly fine. For daily metal-shop production, it is not, and I would not pretend otherwise.

Where it breaks down

The clearest weakness is the small bits. Under any meaningful side load, the smallest sizes snap easily, which is partly the nature of thin high-speed-steel bits but is more pronounced here than on premium sets. The honest takeaway is to keep the drill straight and let the bit do the work, especially on the small end, and to accept that you will eventually break a few. The set is also not the tool for stainless or hardened steel, which will dull these bits fast; that is a job for cobalt.

The case and overall value

The plastic case keeps the bits organized with size markings, which matters more than it sounds when you are reaching for a specific diameter mid-project. The latches feel cheap and can pop open if you drop the case, so do not treat it as a rugged job-site box. But every size you actually use is in there and labeled, and that organization plus the honest cutting performance is what makes this a reasonable value. You are getting the sizes that matter at a price that makes the inevitable broken small bit no big deal.

Who should buy the Forster Tools drill bit set?

Buy it if:

• You need a complete twist-bit set for occasional metal and wood work
• You want split-point tips that self-center on mild steel
• You want an inexpensive backup set or a first kit
• You value an organized, size-labeled case

Skip it if:

• You do daily metal-shop or production drilling that demands long edge life
• You frequently drill stainless or hardened steel, which needs cobalt
• You routinely use the smallest bits under side load and cannot afford breakage
• You want a rugged case with latches that survive drops

The verdict

The Forster Tools drill bit set is exactly what a good budget set should be: honest value for occasional use. The split-point tips self-center reliably, the common sizes hold up through plenty of holes, and the organized case makes the kit easy to live with. The fragile small bits, the limited edge life past a couple hundred steel holes, and the flimsy case latches are real limits, but they are the predictable tradeoffs of a budget set, not surprises. For light-duty drilling or a backup kit, this is the right call. For daily steelwork, step up to cobalt.