Cobalt drill bits are the go-to choice when you need to tackle tough metal surfaces. Here are some reasons why cobalt drill bits stand out:

Before we dive into the specific types of drill bits, it’s essential to understand the key factors that make a drill bit suitable for metalworking.

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When you’re dealing with hardened steel, ordinary drill bits just won’t cut it. You need drill bits designed specifically for this challenging material. Here’s what to look for:

When it comes to drilling through tough and sturdy materials like metal, having the right drill bits is crucial. Whether you’re a professional tradesperson or a DIY enthusiast, selecting the best drill bits for metal can make all the difference in the success of your project. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the top options available, including cobalt drill bits and heavy-duty variants designed for hardened steel.

To meet the almost daily calls, that we get, for custom made tooling and construction balls, we have set up a small department just to produce these items. If you use our parameters, our typical delivery from this new department is two weeks, instead of the previous four to eight weeks. Using our parameters, typically prices are one half to one quarter of the old price structure. We have some strong design suggestions, to keep the cost of tooling balls down and the delivery good. The first choice for the Ball Material, is type 440c, hard stainless steel. This hard stainless steel ball is threaded by electrical discharge machining (EDM). The alternative for the ball material is to use a tungsten carbide sphere that are also threaded by EDM The threaded ball is screwed and glued into a spherical cavity in the hardened tool steel stem or shank, to form the blank for the tooling ball. A typical design, that we receive, from customers will choose a type 440c stainless steel stem or shank, which would be a good design choice, if you were making a hundred pieces or more. To harden type 440c stainless steel requires a very high temperature of 1925 degrees Fahrenheit, in a vacuum or controlled atmosphere furnace, at a typical cost of $125.00 lot, and at least a one week delivery. The stem or shank of the tooling ball is located in a hole during use, and never sees any corrosive environment, so there is really no need for a stainless steel material. By using hardened tool steel, all of the same tolerances can be held as with the 440c construction and this material is actually, harder than the stainless steel.

Selecting the right drill bits for metal is essential for achieving precise and efficient results in your metalworking projects. Whether you opt for cobalt drill bits, specialized bits for hardened steel, or heavy-duty variants, always prioritize quality and compatibility with your specific drilling needs. With the best drill bits at your disposal, you’ll be well-equipped to tackle any metal drilling task that comes your way.

For heavy-duty metalworking tasks, such as drilling into thick metal plates or structural steel, you’ll need heavy-duty drill bits that can handle the load. Here’s what sets them apart:

We receive frequent requests for monolithic tooling balls of single piece construction. This approach may look good on paper but it doesn’t pan out in the real world. Of the many examples of this design that we have inspected we haven’t found one single part, that came close to meeting even commercial tolerances. I had one manufacturer of these parts tell me that it didn’t really matter, because his customers couldn’t even measure the tolerance anyway.