Best Steel Counterbore Sets

Updated January 2020
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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and we never accept free products from manufacturers. Read more  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and we never accept free products from manufacturers. Read more  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.Read more 
Bottom Line
Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
Accusize Industrial Tools 7-Piece H.S.S. Solid Cap Screw Counterbore Set
Accusize Industrial Tools
7-Piece H.S.S. Solid Cap Screw Counterbore Set
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Bottom Line

Best used in a drill press, these counterbores work well with standard-sized screws and allen-head cap screws.

Pros

7-piece high-speed steel, solid capscrew counterbore set. 3 flute, straight shank. Straight shank item. Includes 6#, 8#, 10#, 1/4'', 5/16'', 3/8'' and 1/2". Bits are sharp and effective.

Cons

Pilots are not removable or interchangeable.

Best Bang for the Buck
Generic 7-Piece HSS Counterbore Set Size
Generic
7-Piece HSS Counterbore Set Size
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Bottom Line

This 7-piece counterbore set gives you great cutting resistance. Good chip flow helps you get the job done faster.

Pros

7-piece high speed steel cobalt counterbore set. Used for expanding general rough hole, or for hole processing for bolts. 3 lips for regrinding create a smooth chip flow and powerful cutting resistance. Set includes 6#, 8#, 10#, 1/4" ,5/16'' , 3/8'' and 1/2''.

Cons

Pilot portions of each bit are not removable or interchangeable.

HHIP 21-Piece HSS Interchangeable Pilot Counterbore Set
HHIP
21-Piece HSS Interchangeable Pilot Counterbore Set
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Bottom Line

This set's interchangeable pilot gives you versatility that fixed sets do not. They work great with either wood or metal.

Pros

21-piece, high speed steel, interchangeable pilot counterbore set. Includes 14 pilots with a 5/32" shank (0.187, 0.204, 0.213, 0.229, 1/4", 17/64", 9/32", 5/16", 21/64", 11/32", 3/8", 25/64", 13/32" and 7/16"). Also includes 6 counterbores (including 5/16", 3/8", 7/16", 1/2", 9/16" and 5/8"). One holder with a 3/8" shank.

Cons

Not very precisely machined. Pilot shanks are a loose fit.

Accusize Industrial Tools 7-Piece Premium Metric HSS Solid Capscrew Counterbore Set
Accusize Industrial Tools
7-Piece Premium Metric HSS Solid Capscrew Counterbore Set
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Bottom Line

A quality counterbore set from a name you trust, with metric measurements.

Pros

7-piece, high speed steel metric capscrew counterbore set. 3 flute straight shank. Includes M3, M4, M5, M6, M8, M10, M12. Bright Finished. Makes clean holes, even in metal.

Cons

Case may break easily.

Accusize Industrial Tools 7-Piece Premium HSS Solid Capscrew Counterbore Set
Accusize Industrial Tools
7-Piece Premium HSS Solid Capscrew Counterbore Set
Check Price
Bottom Line

Premium steel and a more solid box take this counterbore set to the next level.

Pros

7-piece, premium quality high speed steel set. 3 flute, straight shank. Includes Includes 6#, 8#, 10#, 1/4'', 5/16'', 3/8'' and 1/2". Good quality for the money.

Cons

Difficult to tell whether counterbores are higher quality than standard model.

Why trust BestReviews?
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and we never accept free products from manufacturers. Read more  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and we never accept free products from manufacturers. Read more  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.Read more 
How we decided

We purchase every product we review with our own funds — we never accept anything from product manufacturers.

9 Models Considered
5 Hours Researched
1 Experts Interviewed
121 Consumers Consulted
Zero products received from manufacturers.

We purchase every product we review with our own funds — we never accept anything from product manufacturers.

A steel counterbore set can provide the range of sizes you need for drilling pilot holes properly. A counterbore is a pilot hole with a flat-bottomed opening to accommodate for screw heads. The number of pieces in a counterbore set varies. If you know you’ll need a range of sizes, you may want to opt for a set with as many as 22 pieces. Some sets may include interchangeable pilots, which offer more options and versatility. Organized storage in a wooden case can make for easy use and portability. If you need to work with materials tougher than wood, ensure that the bits in the set you purchase are durable and up for the task.

The team that worked on this review
  • Kristin
    Kristin
    Writer
  • Melinda
    Melinda
    Web Producer
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Accusize Industrial Tools

7-Piece H.S.S. Solid Cap Screw Counterbore Set

Accusize Industrial Tools

7-Piece H.S.S. Solid Cap Screw Counterbore Set

Best used in a drill press, these counterbores work well with standard-sized screws and allen-head cap screws.

$62
×

Generic

7-Piece HSS Counterbore Set Size

Generic

7-Piece HSS Counterbore Set Size

This 7-piece counterbore set gives you great cutting resistance. Good chip flow helps you get the job done faster.

$53
×

HHIP

21-Piece HSS Interchangeable Pilot Counterbore Set

HHIP

21-Piece HSS Interchangeable Pilot Counterbore Set

This set's interchangeable pilot gives you versatility that fixed sets do not. They work great with either wood or metal.

$120
×

Accusize Industrial Tools

7-Piece Premium Metric HSS Solid Capscrew Counterbore Set

Accusize Industrial Tools

7-Piece Premium Metric HSS Solid Capscrew Counterbore Set

A quality counterbore set from a name you trust, with metric measurements.

$84
×

Accusize Industrial Tools

7-Piece Premium HSS Solid Capscrew Counterbore Set

Accusize Industrial Tools

7-Piece Premium HSS Solid Capscrew Counterbore Set

Premium steel and a more solid box take this counterbore set to the next level.

$73

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