The Build Behind This Item
The light-bar connectors needed holes before they could join the added extrusion to the rack. Camera mounts added more drilling, including holes adjusted as the brackets and hardware came together.
Bringing the drill press into the work was a change in the fabrication setup as the number of holes grew. The close photographs show the small drilled pieces and bolted connections that resulted from that repeated layout work.
Drilling the Roof-Mount Bracket Holes
- I drilled the short mounts connecting the light-bar extrusion to the rack.
- I drilled camera-mount brackets and adjusted holes for the hardware.
- I brought the drill press into the project as the number of bracket holes grew.
Camper Van Project Applications
A drill-bit assortment is valuable only while the sizes needed for the job remain usable. Small bits and repeated metal drilling make replacement planning especially relevant. Steven's comparison is based on breakages during his work, not a controlled wear test between brands.
For a wider view of the build kit, see my van conversion tool checklist and budget versus professional tool comparisons.
Manufacturer Specifications And Instructions
| Specification | Manufacturer Detail |
|---|---|
| Model | DW1361 |
| Set | 21 titanium PILOT POINT drill bits |
| Diameter Range | 1/16 to 1/2 inch |
| Storage | TOUGH CASE container |
DEWALT’s catalog identifies the bit set and its diameter range. A set size is not a count of distinct diameters: this kit includes duplicates of several frequently used sizes.
My Experience with This Tool
By Steven Smith
I have never found a drill bit set that holds up to steady use without breaking, especially the smaller bits. This DEWALT set lasted longer than some cheaper sets I bought, but many of its smaller bits still broke, along with a couple of the larger ones on the right side of the case.
Since the bits are going to break no matter what I pay, I now just buy cheaper sets. If a less expensive option gets the work done, I wouldn't spend the extra money on this DEWALT set.
Watch My DEWALT DW1361 Drill-Bit Set Review
My narrated review covers the DW1361 set I used, the small and larger bits that broke, and why I now choose cheaper sets, with my roof-bracket fabrication as build context.
Press Play To Start The Video.
Read The Video Transcript
Hi, I'm Steve Smith with Camper Van Freedom. This is my DEWALT D W thirteen sixty-one drill-bit set. It lasted longer than some cheaper sets I bought, but many smaller bits and a couple of larger ones still broke. That experience changed what I am willing to pay for a drill-bit assortment.
The D W thirteen sixty-one is a twenty-one-piece titanium-coated pilot-point set. The case organizes different sizes, and the set includes duplicate bits in some sizes. The number of pieces is not the number of distinct hole diameters. The matching product picture shows the set recorded in my tool list.
My bracket photographs show the sort of fabrication work behind this review. I drilled small mounts for the light-bar connections and worked on camera-mount brackets. Some attachment holes needed adjustment as the hardware and brackets came together. These are my actual drilled pieces and bolted connections, rather than a separate wear test for this set.
Repeated bracket work is more than choosing a bit. There is measuring and marking, holding the piece, drilling, then checking where the hardware sits. The sequence diagram separates those stages. This workshop footage illustrates layout and holding a workpiece, alongside the actual bracket photographs from my build.
Small-bit breakage was the recurring problem for me. I have not found a drill-bit set that stood up to my steady use without breakages. This DEWALT set lasted longer than some cheaper sets, but that did not mean the small bits survived. A couple of the larger bits on the right side of the case broke as well.
My buying decision now is to choose cheaper sets when they get the work done. Based on my experience of continuing to break bits, I would not spend extra on this DEWALT set. That is different from saying it never worked: it did the drilling work, but I did not find enough value in the premium to keep paying it.
My page compares the Bosch C O fourteen B cobalt set and the IRWIN three-one-six-zero-one-five cobalt set. Their matching pictures show two other assortments and cases. They offer a different bit-material choice from this titanium-coated set. They are buying alternatives here, not extra firsthand breakage comparisons.
Thanks for watching. I'm Steve Smith with Camper Van Freedom. My full DEWALT D W thirteen sixty-one review, bracket pictures and current Amazon buying options are linked below. My takeaway is to plan for the sizes I use and the replacements I keep needing, rather than assume that paying more will solve the breakage I experienced. Until next time.
Watch This Review On YouTube · English Captions (VTT) · Download The Transcript
My Takeaway for Choosing the Kit
For this kind of fabrication, I would compare the included bit sizes and the material being drilled before choosing a set. DW1361 supplies titanium-coated bits; Bosch CO14B and IRWIN 316015 are cobalt assortments. My practical lesson was to allow time for holding, drilling and checking each small bracket, alongside choosing the cutting tool.
