What's inside
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Norseman Magnum Super Premium drill bits are American-made, heavy-duty high-speed steel jobber bits with a 135 degree split point, and they are worth the premium for anyone who drills steel regularly and wants bits that start without a center punch, cut fast and take a resharpening well. For occasional wood and drywall drilling, they are more bit than you need.
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What we cover
What the Norseman Magnum Super Premium Line Is
Norseman Drill and Tool is a long-running manufacturer based in Portland, Oregon, and its bits are sold mainly through industrial, farm and trade suppliers rather than big-box stores. The Magnum Super Premium is the company’s flagship general-purpose jobber series, aimed at maintenance shops, fabricators, mechanics and contractors who drill a lot of metal with hand drills and drill presses.
The key design features are:
- High-speed steel construction heat treated for hardness and toughness, intended to survive the side loads of hand-held drilling where brittle bits snap.
- 135 degree split point that self-centers and starts cutting on contact, reducing walking on smooth or curved steel.
- Heavy-duty web and flute geometry that resists breaking in small sizes while still clearing chips efficiently.
- Surface treatment that helps reduce friction and resist rust compared with bright, uncoated bits.
- Jobber length, the standard general-purpose length that fits most drill chucks and drill press setups.
How They Compare to Other Bit Types
| Bit type | Point angle | Relative heat resistance | Best for | Resharpening | Typical 29-piece set price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Generic black oxide HSS | 118 deg, often not split | Low-medium | Wood, plastic, light mild steel | Yes | $25-$50 |
| Titanium nitride coated HSS | 118-135 deg | Medium until coating wears | Mixed DIY drilling | Yes, but coating is lost at the tip | $30-$70 |
| Norseman Magnum Super Premium (HSS, split point) | 135 deg split | Medium-high | Frequent mild steel, cast iron, aluminum, hand-held metal drilling | Yes, very well | $120-$220 |
| Cobalt HSS (M35/M42 class) | 135 deg split | High | Stainless steel, hard alloys | Yes | $100-$250 |
| Solid carbide | 118-140 deg | Very high | Rigid drill presses and CNC only | Specialist only | $300+ |
The takeaway: the Magnum Super Premium sits in a sweet spot. It is tougher and more forgiving in a hand drill than cobalt or carbide, but a cut above common hardware-store sets in point accuracy and consistency. For lots of stainless steel, a cobalt bit is still the better tool.
Set Sizes and What You Get
| Set | Size range | Increment | Pieces | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small fractional set | 1/16 to 3/8 in | 1/64 in | 21 | Home shop and hand-drill users |
| Standard fractional set | 1/16 to 1/2 in | 1/64 in | 29 | Most fabricators and mechanics |
| Full index (fractional, letter, number) | Number 60 to 1/2 in | Fractional, letter and wire gauge | about 115 | Machinists and tap-drill users |
| Individual bits and bulk packs | Any common size | – | 1, 6 or 12 per pack | Replacing the sizes you break most |
Buying a quality set and then restocking the small sizes individually is the most economical way to run these bits. The 1/8, 9/64, 5/32 and 3/16 inch sizes see the most use and breakage in most shops.
Speeds That Make These Bits Last
Most premium bits fail early because they are run too fast. Use RPM = (surface feet per minute x 3.82) / bit diameter in inches. HSS bits like these work well at roughly 80 to 100 SFM in mild steel, 30 to 50 SFM in stainless, and 200 to 300 SFM in aluminum.
| Bit diameter | Mild steel (90 SFM) | Stainless steel (40 SFM) | Aluminum (250 SFM) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/8 in | about 2,750 rpm | about 1,220 rpm | about 7,600 rpm (use drill max) |
| 1/4 in | about 1,375 rpm | about 610 rpm | about 3,820 rpm |
| 3/8 in | about 920 rpm | about 410 rpm | about 2,550 rpm |
| 1/2 in | about 690 rpm | about 305 rpm | about 1,910 rpm |
On a cordless drill, that means low gear and a partial trigger for anything above 1/4 inch in steel. Steady, firm feed pressure that produces continuous curled chips is ideal; powdery chips or squealing mean too much speed or too little pressure.
Strengths and Limitations
Where they shine
- Clean starts on round tube, angle iron and painted steel without a center punch.
- Toughness in small diameters, where cheap bits snap from hand-drill wobble.
- Consistent sizing, important when drilling tap holes or fitting bolts snugly.
- Excellent response to resharpening on a bench grinder or drill sharpener that supports 135 degree split points.
- Domestic manufacturing, which matters to many trade and government buyers.
Where they are not the right choice
- Heavy stainless steel or hardened alloys: cobalt bits hold their edge much longer under heat.
- Fine woodworking: brad-point bits make cleaner entry holes in wood than a split-point metal bit.
- Casual DIY: the premium is hard to justify if you drill a few holes a year.
- Impact drivers: these are round-shank jobber bits for drill chucks, not hex-shank impact bits.
Making Them Last: Care Tips
- Use cutting oil in steel and stainless. It lowers tip temperature and can multiply bit life.
- Back the bit out to clear chips in holes deeper than about three times the diameter.
- Clamp work securely. Many broken small bits come from the work shifting, not from the bit.
- Store bits in an indexed case so cutting edges do not knock together.
- Resharpen at the first sign of rubbing or blue discoloration rather than forcing a dull bit.
Verdict
The Norseman Magnum Super Premium is a professional-grade HSS jobber bit that rewards frequent metal drilling with accurate starts, tough small sizes and long resharpenable life. Buy a 29-piece set if you fabricate, maintain equipment or drill steel weekly, pair it with a few cobalt bits for stainless, and skip it in favor of a cheaper set if your drilling is mostly occasional wood and drywall.