Yes, speed is everything when it come to drilling. Our drill press has 12 speeds but often there is nothing that is correct for the material being drilled so we then use the mill with infinitely variable speed. With the right speed most everything can be drilled with a HSS drill with no need for cobalt or carbide. Have drilled through leaf springs and spring steel bumpers without a problem. Usually use the old sulfur base cutting fluid for small jobs or hook up the fluid pump for big jobs. The fluid in the pump reservoir takes a cup of concentrate to a gallon of water and is much easier to clean up than oil base fluids.

Decades ago when I took a machining class at a local high school I was taught what I thought was the simplest drill sharpening method that could possible exist, way simpler than any other I've ever seen. Then along came this video that demonstrates an even simpler method:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xxl8_rSaJVI

I haven't tried it yet but I intend to. It seems like it requires no skill at all, just some dull drill bits and a bench grinder.

I have a drawer full of dull bits. I need to watch this and get to work.