High-Performance Carbide Drill Bits | MSC Industrial Supply Co.

Anybody who has used high-performance Carbide drill bits and drill bit sets before knows how much they have become indispensable drilling tools in both the metalworking and woodworking industries. This is due, thanks to their... Read more below.

High-Performance Carbide Drill Bits Explored

Definition: High-performance carbide drill bits are very strong and high-quality drill bits made from carbide - a tough and hard material. Consequently, they are designed to drill quickly and precisely into hard materials like metal, concrete, ceramics, and tough plastics. As a result, these drill bits stay sharp for a long time and can withstand high temperatures and speeds without getting damaged - making them perfect for heavy-duty or professional use. High-performance carbide drill bits are also often used in industries like construction, manufacturing, and engineering, where strength, accuracy, and durability are really important.

How to Choose the Correct High-performance Carbide Drill Bits for You?

So, whether you are a professional working with hard materials like stainless steel and cast iron or a woodworker looking for clean, precise cuts, solid high-performance carbide drill bits will consistently outperform other materials such as HSS drill bits or cobalt drill bits.

As a result, we have put together this guide to high-performance Carbide drill bits to help you understand everything about them, their advantages, which one from our large size range is right for you, and how to use them to maximise your drilling applications. If you are still not sure which drilling or cutting tool is right for you, then please contact our customer service team, and we will be able to help you.

What Are Carbide Drill Bits?

Carbide drill bits are, in essence cutting tools made from tungsten carbide - a highly durable material that really does outperform standard High-speed Steel (HSS) or carbon steel drill bits due to its properties. As a result Carbide-tipped multi-purpose drill bits are strong enough to handle tasks like drilling wood, masonry, and even ceramic tiles due to those properties that are also compatible with many drill chucks and holders as well.

HSS drills are also less ideal for precision drilling because their drill point is relatively larger compared to carbide drills.

Tungsten carbide also combines toughness properties with its heat resistance ones, making it an ideal choice for drilling into high-strength and abrasive materials as well.

Consequently, these drill bits will maintain their sharpness and integrity at high temperatures, which is a key factor to consider when working with metals like nickel alloys, alloy steel, or tool steel, for instance.

Brief History of Carbide Drill Bits

Carbide drill bits can be traced back to the early 20th Century when tungsten carbide started to be used in cutting tools for industrial applications.

However, it was not until the mid-20th Century that solid carbide tools became widely available and recognised for their superior strength and longevity in high-performance drills.

Consequently, today, carbide bits are used across various industries, from aerospace to construction, for their unmatched strength and precision they can give you.

What Does "X"xD Mean in The Drills Length?

In carbide drills, "X"xD refers to the drill's length relative to its diameter.

The "X" represents a multiplier, and "D" stands for the drill diameter. For example:

Drill 5xD means the drill's length is 5 times its diameter
Drill 3xD means the drill's length is 3 times its diameter

So why is this ratio key to know?
This ratio is key for understanding the depth of holes so that the drill can achieve efficiency.

For instance, 5xD drills are typically used for deep hole drilling where the depth of the hole needs to be five times the diameter of the drill for example.

Tungsten and Cobalt Carbide Drill Bits

At the core of high-performance carbide drill bits is tungsten carbide, which is also often combined with cobalt to improve its strength further.

This composition, for instance, allows the drill bit to retain its sharpness under extreme conditions, and it is this strength of the carbide that makes these bits capable of penetrating hard metals. Consequently, these are ideal if you are looking for drill bits for stainless steel stainless steel, cast iron, and titanium alloys with ease.

Carbide bits are also more than suitable for high-speed drilling, as they can offer you precision and long service life in tough drilling conditions as a result.

Precision and Sharpness

Carbide drill bits also stand out for their cutting power and precision, maintaining sharp edges far longer than HSS drills tend to.

This sharpness then allows them to handle materials like carbon steel, alloy steel, and even masonry, all while producing you clean cuts and accurate holes as well.

Consequently, this is especially useful when working with multi-material drills for the hardest materials, such as nickel alloys and titanium alloys for instance.

Heat Resistance

Another key feature of solid carbide drill bits is their heat resistance.

For instance, carbide can handle the extreme heat generated by high-speed drilling into metals like tool steel, mild steel, or stainless steel.

This characteristic then helps you reduce your tooling costs by extending the bit's lifespan - allowing it to perform consistently over longer periods without losing its hardness or shape as a result.

Durability and Wear Resistance

Carbide’s hardness, along with its resistance to wear, ends up giving you a longer lifespan bit, even in the toughest conditions - such as drilling into abrasive materials like cast iron.

So, whether you are working with stainless steel, carbon steel, or cast iron, carbide bits are built to withstand the pressures of repeated use with little degradation - resulting in less frequent replacements and enhanced drilling performance over time as a result.

What Are Some of the Benefits of Using Carbide Drill Bits for Metalworking?

For metalworking applications, as you can see, carbide drill bits really do well when drilling through hard metals like cast iron, stainless steel, and nickel alloys.

This superior hardness allows for smoother, more precise cuts, and their split point design also reduces walking during drilling, ensuring that you get accurate hole placement as a result.

These bits are also especially useful for deep hole drilling and chip evacuation, which are essential for preventing clogging during the drilling process as well.

Increased Efficiency and Speed

Carbide drill bits also allow you to do faster drilling with minimal resistance, particularly when working with metal drill applications that require high-speed and high-performance tools.

For example, in stainless steel drilling, carbide bits here will offer you a significant reduction in your feed rates, allowing you to drill faster without compromising the integrity of the bit or the material by doing so.

These bits have also been engineered for high-feed drilling in steel and cast iron, delivering up to twice the feed rate of a standard two-flute drill as well.

Minimised Breakage and Maintenance

The strength of solid carbide drill bits also reduces the risk of breakage, even when working with hard materials.

Additionally, carbide bits require less frequent sharpening than HSS drills.

This is due to their resistance to heat and wear, which extends their usable life and, in turn, lowers your tooling costs and minimises your downtime for maintenance at the same time.

Why Does Carbide Outperform HSS in Metal Drilling?

Compared to High-speed Steel bits, carbide's superior hardness and heat resistance make it a better choice for drilling alloy steel and tool steel.

This is because HSS drills are prone to dulling and overheating when used in more high-temperature uses, whereas tungsten carbide bits retain their sharpness and performance - especially in drilling applications that require high-speed and high-strength tools.

What Are The Benefits of Using High-Performance Carbide Drill Bits for Woodworking?

In woodworking, carbide drill bits give you greater precision in both softwoods and hardwoods like oak and maple for instance.

For instance, their ability to create clean cuts without splintering makes them ideal for detailed woodworking tasks - such as in cabinet making or furniture design for example.

Clean Cuts and Reduced Splintering

Thanks to their special geometry, carbide drill bits also significantly reduce splintering in even the most delicate materials.

So, whether you are drilling multi-purpose holes or focusing on a specific point angle, high-performance solid carbide drill bits give you a smooth surface finish with minimal damage to the surrounding wood as a result.

Compatibility with a Wide Range of Wood Types

High-performance tungsten carbide drill bits can also handle a wide range of materials, from soft pine to dense hardwoods.

This ability makes them a must-have for professional carpenters, especially for projects requiring high-strength tools capable of drilling through dense materials without wearing them down as well.

Efficient in Long-Term Projects

For long-term projects where precision is a key factor, high-performance carbide drill bits are a very reliable choice indeed.

This is in part due to their long lifespan which helps to ensure that they perform consistently - reducing the number of bit changes you need to make and giving you a bump in your overall drilling performance as well.

Can High-performance Carbide Drill Bits Drill Masonry?

For masonry drilling, solid carbide drill bits, especially with carbide inserts at the tip, which form the cutting edge and are securely attached, are also ideal for masonry drilling.

Which Is Better Carbide vs. HSS Drill Bits?

While High-speed Steel (HSS) bits are more affordable and are great for general-purpose use, high-performance carbide drill bits are superior when it comes to handling hard metals and high-speed applications.

This is in part due to the carbide’s heat resistance and strength that allows it to outperform HSS bits in applications involving stainless steel, titanium alloys, and masonry drill bits.

Carbide vs. Cobalt Drill Bits

Cobalt drill bits offer you a lot of strength in tough environments, but carbide drill bits provide you with greater heat resistance and hardness properties.

Consequently, in situations where abrasive materials and high speeds are involved, carbide bits outperform cobalt bits due to their ultra-fine grain structure - which offers you a better surface finish and longer lifespan as a result.

Carbide vs. Titanium Drill Bits

While titanium-coated drill bits improve the durability of HSS drills, they can lack the hardness and performance drills that high-performance carbide bits give you.

For instance, titanium alloys are very effective for light-duty applications, but carbide bits are better suited for hard materials like cast iron and alloy steel due to their superior cutting power and overall chip removal efficiency.

How to Choose the Right High-Performance Carbide Drill Bits for Your Project

So, now that you know about the make-up of carbide drill bits, how do you choose the right one for you?

Well, selecting the right one is pretty easy; all you need to know is a few things, such as for instance:

Selecting the Appropriate Size and Shape

Choosing the right size and geometry for your carbide drill bit is key to achieving optimal results.

For instance, Carbide jobber drill bits are commonly used for general-purpose drilling, while NC Spot Drills and centre drills offer you the precision for starting holes in metals like stainless steel and cast iron.

Coated vs. Uncoated Carbide Bits

Coated carbide bits, such as those with Titanium Nitride (TiN) or Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC) coatings, also can improve your durability and heat resistance - making them ideal for high-speed and high-temperature drilling applications.

Whereas uncoated carbide bits, on the other hand, still will give you excellent performance but may wear faster when used in abrasive materials like mild steel or titanium alloys, for example.

Other Factors to Consider - Hardness of Material, Speed, and Bit Type

For materials like stainless steel, alloy steel, or nickel alloys, it is also important to select the appropriate carbide bit type and point angle to ensure that you get efficient chip evacuation all while minimising your tooling costs at the same time.

When drilling deep holes, using a bit with coolant holes, a coolant through, and a coolant feed, for instance, can also help dissipate heat and extend the lifespan of the tool and bit as well by doing so.

Maintenance and Care of Carbide Drill Bits

Choosing the correct high-performance bit is one part to factor in; the other to get the most out of it is how to maintain it for the long run.

Here, for instance, you should consider the following:

Proper Cleaning and Lubrication

To extend the life of your high-performance carbide drill bits, you should regularly clean and properly lubricate them.

For instance, after each use, you should carefully clean the bits with the correct methods to remove debris and also apply cutting fluids when drilling hard materials like cast iron or carbon steel as well.

This will then not only prevent the bit from overheating but will also ensure that you get a smooth operation as well.

Application of High-performance Carbide Drill Bits in Industry

High-performance Carbide drill bits are widely used in industries requiring precision and durability.

This includes, for instance, aerospace manufacturing construction projects and DIY projects, as these bits handle everything from drilling tools to milling cutters for high-strength materials.

So, whether you need to drill into tool steel or nickel alloys, carbide bits really are your go-to solution for high-demanding jobs and applications.

For instance, this can consist of:

Drilling Stainless Steel
Drilling Cast Iron
Drilling Alloy Steel
Drilling Carbon Steel
Drilling Tool Steel
Drilling Titanium Alloys
Drilling Nickel Alloys
Drilling Hardened Steel
Drilling Mild Steel
Drilling Composite Materials
Masonry Drilling
Deep Hole Drilling
Precision Metalworking
Woodworking Projects
PCB (Printed Circuit Board) Drilling
Micro Drilling
Drilling Hard Plastics
Aerospace Component Drilling
Automotive Component Drilling
Construction Projects

Aerospace and Automotive Industries

In aerospace, for instance, high-performance solid carbide drill bits are really essential for machining titanium alloys and nickel alloys - which are often found in aircraft engine parts.

In the automotive industry as well, carbide bits are used for deep-hole drilling into engine blocks and performance drills in metal drill applications as well to give you some ideas.

Can High-performance Carbide Drill Bits be Used for Drilling Into Stainless Steel?

High-performance carbide drill bits are ideal for drilling stainless steel, as they resist wear and maintain their sharpness longer than other materials, for instance.

What is the Lifespan of a High-Performance Carbide Drill Bit?

High-performance carbide drill bits last significantly longer than HSS or cobalt drill bits, particularly when used in high-speed applications or on hard materials like cast iron.

For the exact lifespan, you would need to check the drill bit you intend to buy and also align this with your expected frequency of use and on what materials you tend for it to be regularly used on.

High-Performance Carbide Drill Bits Overall

As you can see, high-performance carbide drill bits are suitable for a large number of application uses and will continue to dominate in metal drilling and woodworking applications due to their strength and heat resistance properties as well.

With their durability, precision, and resistance to wear, high-performance carbide drill bits make them a top choice for professionals across many industries and many workshops.

Contact Customer Support

If you are still not sure which high-performance Carbide drill bit is right for you or you need help, then please contact our team, and we will be happy to help you understand which ones are perfect for you and your team.

Delivery

We have also extended our ordering hours to offer you next working day delivery, making your shipping experience even easier.

Place your order online by 7 p.m. and choose the delivery option that suits you best to ensure the timely, hassle-free arrival of your products.

Standard next day delivery is also available for all products ordered within the specified time, with FREE delivery for certain items as well.

Who Is MSC Direct?

Here at MSC Industrial Supply Co., we are a leading supplier of industrial tools, equipment, and maintenance supplies across the United Kingdom and can also offer you trade accounts.

As a result, we can offer you a vast selection of products, including cutting tools, abrasives, power tools, Reamer tools, and safety equipment, many of which are available with special offers.

We also serve a wide range of industries, from manufacturing and engineering to maintenance and beyond.

Consequently, our outstanding customer service and expert technical team, fast delivery times, and technical support make us a trusted partner for all your business needs as a result.

High Performance Carbide Drill Bits