8/13/2023 0 Comments Best step drill bit for metalThey cost more than HSS bits as well, but you can sharpen them as the cobalt isn’t a coating but rather part of the metal itself. It is important you don’t mix them up with your regular twist bits. They look just like HHS bits, though the color may be a little different. Cobalt Drill BitsĬobalt drill bits are twist bits with five to eight percent cobalt added to help them stay sharper longer and remain more heat tolerant. When you want to drill into harder metals like stainless steel, move on to cobalt bits. While 118-degree bits used to be made for softer steels like mild steel, aluminum, and other alloys, some manufacturers are switching more bits to use 135-degree split tips. Most HHS twist bits come in several tip designs and usually in either 118-degree or 135-degree angles. Notice the unique shape that includes a built-in “pilot” bit on the tip. The downside is that you cannot sharpen these bits when they get dull and maintain the coating. The coating helps these bits perform better and last longer. Black oxide works well too and costs even less. I recommend titanium-coated bits for the best value in mild steels. They work great in everything but the hardest metals like stainless steel. Ever since then I have bought Black & Decker Bullets, which are now branded as DeWalt drill bits with a pilot point. The first time I used them in metal they literally unwound themselves. When I was a young starving artist, I bought a set of cheap bits. High-speed steel bits or HHS bits cost less than many other metal drilling bits and you get what you pay for. Below are the most important ones to have in your tool kit for metal. We recently wrote an article on the best drill bits for metal. There are many types of drill bits out there. The Right Bit Choices Determine How to Drill Through Metal Metals like titanium or armor plating take special techniques. If you run into issues from there, Google the specific metal you are using. They are often trying to achieve tolerances of 0.0001 or greater.įor the average person, think of three major categories: steel, stainless steel, and aluminum/alloys. They may specify 6061T6 aluminum for one part of a project and 3003H14 aluminum for another because of the stresses that particular joint needs to tolerate. Machinists approach every metal differently and want to know the EXACT type of steel or alloy they are working with. Most of us typically use just a few: carbon steels like mild and stainless steels, aluminum, or alloys like brass or bronze. There are MANY different types of metal out there. How to Drill Through Different Types of Metal I drilled a pilot hole first to help guild the larger bit and remove some of the material. When using a hand drill, I make pilot holes for 3/8-inch and larger holes. When using my drill press, I skip pilot holes when drilling less than 1/2-inch in diameter. Pilot holes remove some of the material making it easier for the larger bits to bore straight through. A pilot hole is a smaller hole for your final drill bit to follow. Drilling the Pilot Hole into MetalĪfter locating a starting point for the bit, you want to drill a pilot hole. An automatic internal mechanism triggers the punch. To use them, simply line up the point and push down on the handle. They will work in mild steel, but due to the fine point, they wear out faster than prick punches and center punches. These are great in aluminum and other alloys. Many people swear by the automatic spring-loaded center punches favored by woodworkers. Note that the prick punch should only be used on mild steel and softer metals like aluminum so you don’t damage the point. Use it to locate a more exact point and then follow up with a center punch to make a deeper, wider hole. Striking a center punch with a ball-peen hammer to start a hole.Ī prick punch is like a center punch except with a sharper point. This is why hammers always come with the warning to wear safety glasses. Significant eye injuries are caused this way every year. Never strike a hardened tool against another hardened tool or you risk it chipping. It’s important not to use a claw hammer because they are hardened-and so is the center punch. You just place the point on the location you want to start the hole and strike the end with a ball-peen hammer. You’ve likely already used a center punch. This is typically done with a center punch or something called a prick punch. Without this you likely won’t drill the hole exactly where you want it.
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