A faster-drilling drill bit not only saves on the cost per hole but also reduces labour costs. This is because less time is required to drill each hole, resulting in additional cost savings.

Boring tools and reamers have completely different designs. A boring head is an adjustable tool that consists of a cartridge with an insert. The advantage of this design is that it offers flexibility to use one tool in multiple operations or on different sized parts. This flexibility is often perceived to make the tool more economical, but because the inserts wear – which then leads to inconsistent holes sizes – this type of system can actually result in higher end costs.

Reaming operationsteps

In reality, additional savings come from prolonged tool lifespan, reduced energy consumption per hole, and fewer trips to buy replacement bits.

Faster drilling reduces tool runtime, saving energy and additional money on top of other mentioned savings. Lower energy use to drill each hole also makes Adiseal Ultimate the most environmentally friendly metal drill bit.

We carried out the test by using a Scheppach DP60 drill press. The test was to drill as many 10mm holes as possible in 6mm thick stainless steel (SUS304) with each drill bit being tested. We set the drill press at a consistent 400 rpm speed for all of the holes drilled by all of the products tested.

We used the best 10mm metal cobalt drill bits from reputable brands like Milwaukee Cobalt Red, DeWalt Extreme, Bosch Cobalt, and Makita. To ensure consistency, a 5kg weight was suspended on the drill press arm during each hole’s drilling, maintaining uniform force and RPM. to test the wear resistance and durability, we tested without using lubricants, coolants, or cutting oils, although these can help reduce the drill bit’s temperature and extend its lifespan.

Examine the drilled hole for smoothness and accuracy. If needed, you can use a deburring tool to remove any rough edges.

Continue drilling until you’ve reached the desired depth. Slow down as you approach the end to prevent breakthrough damage.

As you continue drilling, maintain a steady, even pressure on the drill. Avoid pushing too hard, as the drill bit’s cutting edges should do the work.

Reducing scrap becomes especially important when working with very expensive materials. In the aerospace industry, for example, manufacturers often produce lower quantities of parts out of Inconel®, titanium and other high-cost materials. For these manufacturers, using a non-adjustable reaming tool and changing it out more frequently can provide consistent hole sizes throughout the life of the tool and significantly lower scrap ratios.

A reamer, on the other hand, is a solid tool with a set dimension designed to deliver single digit RAs and micro finishes. It has a lead angle, a diameter, back taper, and a wiper area. On non-adjustable reamers, nothing on a reamer is moving, so it remains consistent and delivers the same hole size throughout the life of the tool. It also does not require replacement of inserts or adjusting by the operator to bring it back to size – which is subject to human error.

Boringoperation

Reaming is also a good choice for materials that cannot withstand high levels of heat and therefore require slower machining and longer cycle times. When it takes four or six times to machine a part out of an exotic as a normal piece of steel, the cost in the part increases exponentially. With that much time invested, it’s important to have a fool proof method in place when the final operation of finishing a hole rolls around.

Adiseal Ultimate has been shown to be the fastest and most durable metal drill bit in a test drilling into stainless steel. It drilled faster and drilled drilled more holes than any other cobalt drill bit.

ReamingTool

Modern abrasive grains and stronger bonding methods found in the latest non-woven abrasives enable shops to quickly achieve desired surface quality.

Adiseal Ultimate 10mm metal drill bit price: £10.14Cost per hole (£10.14 / 135 holes): £0.076666Cost to drill 10 holes: £0.77

Hold the drill perpendicular to the metal surface. Place the drill bit’s tip into the center punch indentation and apply gentle pressure. Start drilling slowly to create a pilot hole.

Select drill bits based on metal hardness. HSS bits (high-speed steel) are suitable for softer metals like aluminum, brass, and copper. For harder metals such as stainless steel and high-carbon steel, Cobalt or Carbide bits are recommended.

Yes, cordless drills are suitable for metal drilling. Opt for a drill with adjustable speed settings and ample power to handle the metal you’re drilling. Ensure the battery is fully charged to maintain consistent performance.

The bottom line is that reaming offers the big advantage of consistency. Whether you are producing high volumes of parts or small batches of high cost parts, reaming can ensure the process stability and repeatability you need.

If you notice the drill bit heating up, pause occasionally to apply more cutting fluid or lubricant. This helps keep the drill bit cool and prevents it from dulling prematurely.

As well as drilling more holes than any other metal drill bit, Adiseal Ultimate also drills faster than any other bit. In the same test as above, we also measured the time it took to drill each hole. We did this for the first 10 holes and recorded the average.

To highlight potential labour cost savings, consider the time and effort required to drill 10 holes in 6mm stainless steel using the Adiseal Ultimate and Bosch cobalt bits.

3M's metalworking time savings calculator helps calculate the value of the time you can save based on your individual shop rate.

Holemaking is one of the most common metalworking operations. It’s a critical operation that requires matching the right process with each job to maximize profitability. Boring is often considered the go-to method, but more manufacturers are finding reaming to be a better option in some high volume or high-cost part applications. Here’s why:

We tested the drill bits by drilling into hardened stainless steel. Adiseal Ultimate drill bits, drilled more holes than all the other products tested as well as drilling holes the fastest. In terms of durability and drilling speed, Adiseal Ultimate drill bits have proved in tests to be better than the best drill bits from big brands like Dewalt, Bosch, Milwaukee and Bosch.

Apply a suitable cutting fluid, coolant or lubricant to the drilling area. This helps reduce friction, heat, and prolongs the life of the drill bit.

Exercise caution when handling the drilled material or the drill bit immediately afterward, as they can still be very hot. Hot metal can cause burns, so either allow them to cool before touching with bare hands or use appropriate heat-proof gloves.

Adiseal Ultimate cobalt drill bits don’t require pilot holes thanks to their sharp cutting edge, preventing sliding and wandering. They also produce larger removed metal pieces, reducing the need to clear numerous small chips after drilling. It can also drill cleaner cut holes compared to other bits.

Adjust your drill speed to match the metal you’re drilling; slower speeds work well for harder metals to prevent overheating and extend the bit’s life. Ensure the drill rotates in the correct direction, usually clockwise for most drill bits.

Point angles impact drilling efficiency and suitability for specific metals. Common angles include 118 degrees for general-purpose drilling and 135 degrees for harder materials. Smaller angles like 90 degrees are ideal for countersinking.

Reaming operationon lathe machine

For some manufacturers – especially those working in exotic materials – consistency is everything. After they have performed numerous operations on an expensive part, the last thing they want is to ruin it on the very last process.

Also be careful when touching the removed chips as they can be very sharp and can cut easily. It is advisable to wear gloves if you need to handle them.

Please note, these are our test results from internal testing. We recorded a video of each hole being drilled. These videos are available on request for your test accuracy verification purposes.

For deeper holes, use the peck drilling technique. Drill a short distance, then pull the bit back to clear the chips. This prevents clogging and heat buildup.

Reaming operationPDF

Cheap drill bits may cost more over time if they wear out quickly and drill fewer holes than durable ones. Calculate the cost per hole by dividing the bit’s price by the total holes drilled. Cheaper bits might have a higher cost per hole than more durable ones. In our test, Bosch PointTeQ’s non-cobalt bit failed to drill any holes, while the Adiseal Ultimate metal drill bit successfully drilled 135 holes in total.

In their attempt to make available the best drill bits, also added to the Adiseal Ultimate drill bits range is the fastest no hammer masonry drill bit & multi material drill bit. It can drill faster than any other drill bit when drilling without hammer function on the drill. This gives it numerous advantages over hammer drills. It will drill into brick, drill concrete, wood and many other building materials. This carbide bit has been shown to be the best masonry drill bit with a hex shank.

As can be seen in the calculation above, it is over 7 times more expensive to drill each hole with the best metal cobalt drill bit from Bosch compared to Adiseal Ultimate metal cobalt drill bit. Based on cost per hole, Adiseal has more value for money.

The main types of drill bits for metal are High-Speed Steel (HSS) drill bits, Cobalt drill bits, Carbide drill bits, and Diamond-Coated drill bits.

To find out what is the best metal drill bit, we carried out endurance and drilling speed tests using a drill press with a weight hung on an arm of the drill press. Impressively, Adiseal Ultimate drilled more holes than the best bits from the top 3 worlds biggest brands combined. (Milwaukee cobalt red) 75 + (DeWalt Extreme cobalt) 39 + (Bosch cobalt) 15 = 129 holes, whereas Adiseal Ultimate drilled 135 holes on its own.

Reamers also have an extremely predictive tool life. A machinist using an air gauge to measure parts throughout the manufacturing process can see when it’s nearing time to change the tool and put in a new one before a problem arises. Then, once the reamer is changed, the new reamer will produce a good hole on the very first part.

HSS (high-speed steel) and Cobalt drill bits can be sharpened using a drill bit sharpener or bench grinder. Carbide and diamond-coated drill bits are more difficult to sharpen and may necessitate professional service.

The drilling of each hole were video recorded and timed via video timestamps. Following the tests, the Adiseal Ultimate metal drill bit proved to be the best metal drill bit available, excelling in both being the most durable and fastest drill bit for metal to drill each hole.

Tappingoperation

To compare costs, let’s consider drilling 10 holes in 6mm stainless steel with the Adiseal Ultimate and Bosch cobalt drill bits.

Adding these labour costs to the drilling costs above, total cost to drill 10 holes is:Adiseal Ultimate: £2.53Bosch cobalt: £12.90

One of our automotive customers that runs 15 million of the same part per year had been using a boring tool to produce large holes and was frustrated with inconsistency. Holes that were undersized required additional handling to finish bore or hone to size. Holes that were oversized got scrapped. By switching to a reamer, the customer experienced more consistency and eliminated the need for secondary operations and waste.

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Use a center punch or awl to create a small indentation at the desired drilling point to prevent the drill bit from wandering and ensure a precise start. However, with certain bits like Adiseal Ultimate, this step may be unnecessary.

Reamingprocess in drilling

Unlike a finish boring head, which usually has just one tooth, a reamer will have up to 10 teeth depending on its size. Multiple teeth enable users to use much faster feed rates, and therefore increase productivity over machining with a single tooth tool.

Adiseal Ultimate drilled 9 times the number of holes than the best cobalt bit from Bosch & over 3 times the number of holes than the best cobalt bit from DeWalt.

It’s important to note that some non-cobalt drill bits like HSS bits (high speed steel), including Milwaukee Thunderweb and Bosch PointTeq, were also tested but not included in the chart to maintain fairness (Bosch PointTeq was unable to drill any holes at all in the 6mm thick stainless steel SUS304).

Reaming operationexample

To find out what are the best metal drill bits, we tested the best products from the biggest brands. In our tests, Adiseal Ultimate cobalt metal drill bit has been shown to be the best metal drill bit available. It has proven to be the most durable and fastest drill bit in our tests, beating the biggest brands.

Faster drilling extends tool lifespan by reducing usage. Slow-drilling bits increase runtime, potentially causing quicker wear. Longer-lasting tools can offer additional cost savings.

Wear safety goggles to shield your eyes from metal shavings and consider using ear protection if noise levels are high. Work gloves can offer additional protection.

Suhail Matadar has extensive experience in the construction industry as an electrician, involved in installing, inspecting, and testing electrical systems in various projects. He excelled in sales, working for a major UK wholesaler, selling construction products to professionals and the DIY market. Suhail's background includes working at a leading home emergency repair company dealing with trades people. With a BEng (Hons) degree in Electronic Engineering, Suhail has worked with PLCs in the nuclear fuel manufacturing industry. During his studies, he gained practical experience at a chemical manufacturing company known for producing award-winning cleaning, hygiene, and livestock protection products for over a century. Currently, Suhail runs a global business specialising in supplying, researching, testing, and distributing chemical construction products like adhesives and sealants.

In this episode of Metrology Training Lab, we discuss Calibration, which is critical to maintaining the quality and accuracy of your measuring equipment and what it means to calibrate your tools.

While some general-purpose drill bits may suffice for various types of metal, selecting a drill bit tailored to the specific hardness of the metal being drilled ensures optimal results.

In the UK to buy drill bit for metal, please contact us for details of your local stockist. For other countries, please visit www.guglue.com