Drill bits are the most-used accessory in any drill owner's kit, and the cheapest sets are a false economy: dull bits wander, overheat, and snap, turning a ten-minute job into an afternoon. The DEWALT DW1361 is the 21-piece titanium nitride coated set that has anchored DEWALT's drill-bit lineup for years, and this review examines it on verified specifications and documented product data, not on borrowed opinions.
One thing we will always be straight about: MoleMarket is a research-based guide, not a test lab. This review is built from manufacturer specifications, verified product data, and the consensus of professional reviews and long-term owner reports, not from hands-on lab testing, and we never pretend otherwise. Where a number appears below, it is the manufacturer's published figure. The set is sold on Amazon, and the buying link below targets the exact DW1361 variant, verified through two independent sources. If we could not verify the exact Amazon listing, this review would not exist.
DW1361 at a Glance
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Set size | 21 pieces, 1/16 in to 1/2 in |
| Coating | Titanium nitride (gold finish) |
| Point style | Pilot Point tip; 135-degree point geometry |
| Shank | No-spin 3-flat shank |
| Case | ToughCase with clear lid and size markings |
| Materials | Wood, metal, plastic |
| UPC | 885911113618 |
| Amazon | Check Price on Amazon |
Our Review: DEWALT Titanium Nitride 21-Piece Set
DEWALT Titanium Nitride Coated Drill Bit Set, Pilot Point, 21-Piece (DW1361)
Reviewed
DEWALT DW1361 21-Piece Titanium Drill Bit Set
Manufacturer photos: DEWALT official product photography via authorized retailers (variant DW1361 verified on packaging).
REASONS TO BUY
- Pilot Point tips start on contact with no walking or center punching needed
- Titanium nitride coating reduces friction and extends bit life, per DEWALT
- No-spin 3-flat shanks lock in the chuck and resist slipping
- ToughCase keeps all 21 bits organized with size markings at a glance
- Covers the full 1/16 to 1/2 inch range for wood, metal, and plastic
REASONS TO AVOID
- Titanium nitride is a coating, not solid titanium; it wears with heavy metal use
- No masonry bits included; concrete and brick need a separate set
- Not rated for impact drivers in the classic spec sources (check the variant you buy)
Who it's best for: The DEWALT DW1361 is for anyone who owns a drill and is tired of fighting dull bits: DIYers assembling furniture and hanging shelves, homeowners drilling into studs and metal brackets, and workshop users who need one reliable general-purpose set rather than a drawer of mismatched singles. It is the set you buy once and reach for for years, covering roughly 95 percent of the holes a household or light workshop will ever drill. If your work is mostly wood and light metal, with the occasional plastic, this is the correct tier: a meaningful step up from bargain-bin sets without paying for industrial cobalt bits you do not need.
Why we recommend it: Three design details make this set better than the generic alternative, and all three are verifiable from DEWALT's own product data. First, the Pilot Point tip: the conical starting point bites the moment it touches the workpiece, which eliminates the skating and wandering that ruins hole placement with standard bits, and it means no center punch for most jobs. Second, the titanium nitride coating: the gold finish is not cosmetic. TiN is a hard, low-friction surface treatment that DEWALT prints a "2X longer life" claim for on the packaging, and while we treat manufacturer multipliers with appropriate skepticism, the underlying mechanism (less friction, less heat, slower dulling) is well established for coated high-speed steel. Third, the no-spin shank: three flats milled into each shank give the chuck something to grip, which matters because a spinning bit in a keyless chuck is how holes go oval and wrists get wrenched. The tapered web adds rigidity to the larger bits, and the 135-degree point geometry is the correct angle for metal drilling. Around all of that, the ToughCase is genuinely good design: a clear lid so you can see the set at a glance, molded size markings from 1/16 to 1/2 inch, and latches that survive a tool bag. Twenty-one pieces sounds like a lot until you realize the fractional sizes from 1/16 to 1/2 inch in 64th steps need every one of them; the set earns its piece count.
Should you buy it? Yes, if you want one general-purpose twist-bit set for wood, metal, and plastic. Understand its limits: titanium nitride is a coating over high-speed steel, so drilling hardened steel or stainless repeatedly will wear through the coating and dull the bit, which is normal for this tier and not a defect. It includes no masonry bits, so concrete, brick, and tile need a separate SDS or masonry set. And one variant note worth knowing: some newer retail listings describe DW1361 in refreshed "Impact Ready" packaging, while the classic spec sources (manuals.plus, Zoro's spec sheet) describe the ToughCase Pilot Point version reviewed here as not impact rated. Buy the classic Pilot Point variant for drill/driver use, and do not run twist bits in an impact driver regardless of packaging language. Within those boundaries, the DW1361 is the benchmark general-purpose set at its price tier, and it has been for years because the design is right.
Pieces: 21 · Size range: 1/16 in to 1/2 in · Coating: Titanium nitride · Point: Pilot Point, 135-degree · Shank: No-spin 3-flat · Web: Tapered · Case: ToughCase, clear lid · Materials: Wood, metal, plastic · UPC: 885911113618
How We Chose
A note on scope, because honesty about scope is part of the review. We screened candidate drill bit sets against our two hard gates: a dual-source-verified Amazon listing for the exact variant, and three manufacturer-published photos verified against that variant. The DEWALT DW1361 cleared both gates. A second candidate, the Milwaukee 48-89-4632, could not produce a second independent ASIN print and was dropped rather than included on a guess. We will not pad a review with products that fail verification, so this article reviews the one set that earned its place, in depth.
How to Choose a Drill Bit Set
Coating vs material: Titanium nitride (TiN), titanium carbonitride, black oxide, and bare high-speed steel are all coatings or finishes over HSS, not different base metals. Coatings reduce friction and extend life in wood and mild metal. For hardened steel and stainless, step up to cobalt bits.
Point geometry: A 135-degree split or pilot point starts cleanly in metal without walking. Standard 118-degree points are fine for wood but wander on metal. Pilot Point style tips are the friendliest for general use.
Shank design: Round shanks can spin in keyless chucks under load; flats or hex shanks resist spinning. For drill/driver use this matters more than most buyers expect.
Size coverage: A 21-piece fractional set (1/16 to 1/2 inch) covers household and workshop needs. Smaller sets leave gaps you will feel mid-project; larger sets add sizes most people never touch.
Case: You will own the case longer than you think. Clear lids, molded size markings, and latches that survive a tool bag are worth prioritizing over a cardboard index that disintegrates in a year.
What the set will not do: No twist-bit set drills masonry. Concrete, brick, and tile need carbide-tipped masonry bits or an SDS set. Buy those separately rather than expecting one set to do everything.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are titanium drill bits solid titanium?
No. "Titanium" drill bits like the DW1361 are high-speed steel bits with a titanium nitride coating, which is the gold-colored finish. The coating reduces friction and extends life, but it can wear through with heavy use on hard metals. Solid titanium bits are not a consumer product category.
Can the DW1361 drill metal?
Yes, for mild steel, aluminum, and sheet metal, which is what its 135-degree point geometry and TiN coating are designed for. Hardened steel and stainless steel will dull these bits quickly; cobalt bits are the correct tool for those materials.
Can I use these bits in an impact driver?
The classic DW1361 spec sources do not rate these bits for impact drivers, and twist bits generally should not be run in impact drivers regardless. Use them in a drill/driver. Note that some newer retail listings show refreshed "Impact Ready" packaging language; verify which variant you are buying.
What is a Pilot Point tip?
DEWALT's Pilot Point is a conical tip design that starts the hole on contact, preventing the bit from walking across the workpiece. It eliminates the need for a center punch on most materials.
Does the DW1361 include masonry bits?
No. It is a 21-piece twist-bit set for wood, metal, and plastic. Masonry, concrete, and tile require separate carbide-tipped masonry bits.
Photo provenance: All product photos are DEWALT official product photography (variant DW1361 verified by model number on packaging), sourced via authorized retailer syndications after DEWALT's own product pages proved unreachable during research. Each image was visually verified against the exact DW1361 variant. No Amazon, review-site, customer, or stock imagery is used as product photography.
Figures note: Specifications are manufacturer-published figures as of October 2026. "2X longer life" is DEWALT's printed packaging claim, reported as such, not as an independent finding. MoleMarket is a research-based guide; we did not conduct hands-on lab testing for this article.