The carbide bits are widely used in industrial application for drilling nonferrous heavy metals, cast iron and abrasive materials. For this reason, they don’t lose their durability and strength after proper sharpening, even if the gold color wears off.Ĭobalt drill bits are more expensive than HSS and carbide bits, but they tend to last longer so they are good investment for workshop or even DIYer, if he drills often. You can easily distinguish cobalt bits from others by a dull gold color that occurs when the tool is baked in the manufacturing process, it’s a coating, true cobalt drill bits are made of solid cobalt alloy. These factors are important when drilling hard materials, such as hardened and stainless steel. For instance, high-quality bits can withstand temperatures of up to 1,100 F. Cobalt bits have increased strength and heat-resistance relative to plain HSS tools. The 5% cobalt alloy is known as M35 grade, 8% alloy is called M42. Most known cobalt alloys are M35 and M42. Full-body carbide bits are capable in drilling the hardest materials but due to brittleness they are used in automated production only.Ĭobalt drill bits are HSS bits made of a steel alloy with up to 8% cobalt. Usually, carbide-tipped bits are used in drilling stone and masonry. Cobalt drill bits are better if you need to make a hole in hardened or stainless steel.ĭrill bits made of carbide (Carb) are the hardest and in the same time most brittle bits.
Best tungsten carbide drill bits upgrade#
High speed cobalt (HSCO) tools are an upgrade from high speed steel (HSS) due to increased heat resistance because of 5-8% Cobalt in an alloy. Without additives, the carbide tool chemically reacts with ferrous materials that leaves craters in the tool. Cemented carbide tips are made of the grains of tungsten carbide, along with particles of additional materials, cemented together with metal cobalt.
This compound of carbon and tungsten increased metal cutting feeds and speeds and provided longer life of tool cutting edges. “Carbide” bits and inserts are actually made of tungsten carbide. Powdered cobalt also acts as the “glue” to hold tungsten carbide, titanium, tantalum and niobium carbides to improve the properties of the cutting tools. Half the cobalt is used for batteries production, but in the same time the metal is an important part of superalloys – high-performance metals that have high resistance to wear and heat. Conclusions – Cobalt vs carbide drill bitsīy the legend, the kopolds liked to prank miners by replacing the silver and nickel with a foul metal that was latter called cobaltite and contains arsenic and sulfur.
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