could have been chosen - these Drill America 1/32" cobalt steel drill bits go through spring hardened 18 gauge stainless steel pretty quickly. So they go through my thinner strip of steel just fine. And they go through hardwood easily - I've broken a few but that's because I've either been trying to push them to the limit or because my hands aren't always that hard, considering how small they are, they indeed are surprisingly strong I found this one thing that helps keep them from breaking is to have as little protruding from the chuck of my rotary tool as possible - I used 1/32" Dremel bits but these cobalt bits are stronger , and I will order them again if I need more.