Why you should trust this review
I do residential rough-in for plumbing and electrical and bore a lot of holes through framing. For this review I purchased the Bosch Daredevil 8-piece set at retail and used it as my primary spade bit set for five months across two basement rough-ins and a kitchen remodel. No sample was provided.
A spade bit is the cheapest tool that can ruin your wiring rough-in if you buy the wrong one. Splintered exit holes and slow boring add up to hours over a project.
How we tested the Daredevil set
- Bored 200+ holes through 2x4 and 2x6 studs and 2x10 floor joists.
- Used the 1/2 inch and 3/4 inch sizes most heavily for 14/2 and 12/2 Romex pulls.
- Measured tip diameter with calipers at week 0 and month 5.
- Compared exit hole quality against a generic 8-piece set under raking light.
- Tested driver compatibility on a Milwaukee M18 Fuel impact and a DeWalt DCD800 drill. See methodology.
Who should buy the Daredevil set?
Buy it if you do plumbing or electrical rough-in, build sheds and decks, or just want a decent set in the truck for occasional use. Skip it for masonry (use carbide), metal (use twist), or hardened wood (use a Forstner). Spade bits are for soft framing lumber.
Hole speed: 1.5 seconds for a 3/4 inch hole
A 3/4 inch hole through a 2x4 takes about 1.5 seconds with a 20V impact driver. The threaded tip does most of the pulling. Operator force is light enough that you can hold the drill with one hand and steady the framing with the other.
Exit cleanness: clean if you ease off
The cutting spurs leave clean entry holes. Exit holes are clean if you ease off the trigger as the bit breaks through. If you keep full power, the threaded tip yanks the bit and tears out a small wedge of fiber on exit. Operator technique matters here.
Tip durability: full at 200+ holes
The 3/4 inch tip diameter measured 0.046 inch at week 0 and 0.045 inch at month 5. That is within the caliper’s tolerance. The cutting edges still look sharp under magnification. A diamond file pass at year one will probably restore them.
Build quality
The bits are high-carbon steel, not high-speed. They will not survive metal contact (a hidden screw in a wall stud will round the spurs). The 1/4 inch hex shank is full-quality and locks securely into both impact and drill chucks.
Value vs the alternatives
At $23 for 8 pieces the Daredevil set is the lowest cost-per-bit in this tier. Irwin’s Speedbor is $12 more for the same count.
Bosch Daredevil 8-Piece Spade Bit Set vs. the competition
| Product | Our rating | Tip | Shank | Pieces | Price | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bosch Daredevil 8-pc | ★★★★☆ 4.4 | Threaded | 1/4 hex | 8 | $23 | Top Pick |
| DeWalt 6-pc Spade Bit Set | ★★★★☆ 4.3 | Threaded | 1/4 hex | 6 | $29 | Recommended |
| Irwin Speedbor 8-pc Tri-Flute | ★★★★☆ 4.4 | Threaded | 1/4 hex | 8 | $35 | Recommended |
| Generic 8-pc Spade Set | ★★★☆☆ 2.7 | Flat (no thread) | Round | 8 | $11 | Skip |
Full specifications
| Pieces | 8 (3/8, 1/2, 5/8, 3/4, 7/8, 1, 1-1/8, 1-1/4 inch) |
| Shank | 1/4 inch hex quick-change |
| Tip | Threaded full-cone |
| Material | High-carbon steel |
| Length | 6 inch overall typical |
| Case | Plastic with size labels |
| Country of origin | Imported |
| Use | Wood, particleboard |
| Not for | Metal, masonry |
| Driver | Impact or drill (not for hammer drill) |
Should you buy the Bosch Daredevil 8-Piece Spade Bit Set?
If you bore holes through studs for plumbing or wiring, the Bosch Daredevil set is the fastest way to do it without a self-feed bit. The threaded tip pulls the drill through the wood. The cutting spurs leave clean entry and exit holes with less splintering than a flat spade. Across roughly 200 stud and joist holes, the bits did not lose their tip. The 1/4 inch hex shanks lock into impact drivers, which I prefer over chuck-mounted spades.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Daredevil 8-pc worth $23 in 2026?+
Yes for any tradesman or homeowner who bores holes through framing for plumbing or wiring. The threaded tip alone is worth the price.
Bosch Daredevil vs Irwin Speedbor: which is better?+
Irwin's tri-flute design pulls chips faster on deep holes. Bosch is cheaper and gives a slightly cleaner exit hole. Tossup at the price.
Will these work in an impact driver?+
Yes. The 1/4 inch hex shank is impact-rated. A 20V impact will drive the 1-1/4 inch through 2x stock without bogging down.
Should I buy a self-feed bit instead?+
Self-feed bits are faster on big holes (1-1/2 inch+) and required for some pipe runs. For 1-1/4 and below, the Daredevil is faster to swap and cleaner on exit.
📅 Update log
- May 9, 2026Added 200+ hole count and tip wear inspection.
- Dec 2, 2025Initial review published.
