Thursday, September 18, 2008

Drill Bits 101 – Choosing between Cobalt Drill Bits and Titanium Drill Bits

Drill Bits 101 – Choosing between Cobalt Drill Bits and Titanium Drill Bits

Do you have need to drill through some metal, such as steel? You know that your regular drill bits simply won’t cut it. But what’s the best way to go? If you need to cut through metal, you should consider getting some titanium drill bits or cobalt drill bits.

Let’s take a look at each drill bit and how it can be used most effectively:

Cobalt drill bits are made from cobalt steel blended with a fairly large percentage of cobalt. The cobalt actually makes the drill bit incredibly hard, with an abrasion quality. Cobalt bits are also superior for their resistance to heat.

Cobalt bits are used for production drilling (repeated drilling or professional projects). Cobalt drill bits are specifically designed for drill into hard, abrasive materials. They are ideal when used to drill into stainless steel, titanium and even cast iron.

If you are going to repeatedly drill through steel and other metals, you may want to look at cobalt drill bits, which are cobalt all the way through, can be sharpen when needed.

On the other hand, titanium drill bits are a metal formulation of titanium nitride applied to (coating) a High Speed Steel (HSS) drill bits. These titanium drill bits have incredible high surface hardness and are very corrosive resistant.

Titanium drill bits also significantly reduce the friction between the drill bit and the material being drilled through. Titanium bits are also ideal for cutting through metal. They will last up to six times longer than standard HSS drill bits.

Titanium drill bits have a higher hardness level typically than cobalt drill bits. However, the titanium is a coating on the drill bit, so you won’t be able to sharpen the drill bit and keep the titanium coating.

Both titanium bits and cobalt bits are more expensive than traditional HSS drill bits. But these drill bits are used for a very special purpose. Cutting through or drilling holes into stainless steel is not something most people need to do with their household drill. So, in part, using titanium or cobalt bits depends on what type of task and how often you plan to use the drill bits.

Check out the different cobalt drill bits and titanium drill bits on our site.

4 comments:

BoneFolder said...

Thank you for this. It answered my question perfectly!

Arizona foreclosures said...

This is very interesting information. Core Drilling

DG said...

I have been drilling through steel and alumininum to make custom faceplates. I have tried both titanium and cobalt bits to drill pilot holes for my larger steel bits. The titanium bits I purchased lasted the same as my steel bits, about 3 holes worth and then they became dull. The cobalt I have drilled 12 holes with and it still works. There is something to be said about the wear resistance. I think maybe the titanium coating on the bits doesn't live up to the theory. BTW I have steel knives CPM 3v that are way stronger than pure titanium knives too FWIW.

Rebecca A. Maynard said...

2 collect 3 solar panels, from the top left field block using the 1 fench u just nicked from outside and 1 solar panel now go down go left fill top to sqares of that there carry on left do same then do bottom carry on till base is totally surrounded ps keep with the base top 1 screen down the fence screen bottom 1 screen above fencessafety fence