These drill bits come ready to use. However, it may take some work to get the most out of it. In my box, three out of seven had small burrs on the cutting edge. I just scratched these bits onto a piece of pine (any wood will do), the burr was gone in about five minutes. That five minutes of work saved me a lot of money from having to pay 2x or 3x the extra for a premium brand. All of them ensure a smooth cut. Not sure if they drill fast enough or last long - although they appear to be decent steel. I use these bits sometimes. Inactive user.