Drill bits for metal and using them properly

[Rich Fife]

I'm a carbide drill kinda guy... lol unless I'm drilling by hand. As for taps, plug tap follow by bottoming tap... I cut a lot of tool steel... M2, A2, 01, S7, 4140-4340 pre-hardened... we don't use spiral taps too often to remove the chips... some places don't like spending money for the good stuff... lmao
Guhring taps are very nice.

 

[Squareground3691]

Carbide the norm these days , with all the powdered and exotic’s metals .

 

[Wilhelm]

Gühring ?
Solid-Carbide, aka. Tungsten-Carbide, aka. Hard-Metal, aka. WiDia ?

Meh, I don't think much of those ...

 

[Wilhelm]

Carbide the norm these days , with all the powdered and exotic’s metals .

And high tonnage production demands!
Carbide has very high production capabilities when conservative tooling parameters are utilized.
Carbide is not almighty as some may think.

 

[Squareground3691]

And high tonnage production demands!
Carbide has very high production capabilities when conservative tooling parameters are utilized.
Carbide is not almighty as some may think.

Carbide is (KING) wouldn’t even consider HS dealing with powdered metals as do I and I’m a tool & die guy .

 

[Wilhelm]

Carbide is (KING) wouldn’t even consider HS dealing with powdered metals as do I and I’m a tool & die guy .

What I intended to point out is that Solid-Carbide tooling is not indestructible!

 

[Squareground3691]

What I intended to point out is that Solid-Carbide tooling is not indestructible!

Anything can break , at any time

 

[calcutta250]

A lot of carbide performance comes from the rigidity of the machine. Going from a bridgeport to a multimillion dollar VMC, is the difference between a bad and a good carbide experience.
When a carbide tooth tip chips things go down hill fast. HSS is much more forgiving in that department.

HUGE difference in grades of carbide too.

 

[pbillyi69]

My drilling method is push as hard as I can, with no lube........

mine too freehand...

 

[Wilhelm]

Granted, mild steel alloy, still amazing tap performance.

 

[Rich Fife]

I use Guhrings for most applications in the "Model Shop"/Tool & Die Shop... I've been using the same solid carbide drills and taps for approximately 2yrs. I mess with plastics, SS from 303-416, Tool steels 01, M2, S7, A2, 4140, 4340, various aluminums, copper, various grades of aluminum bronze... once in a while we have cast materials as well as inconel once in a great while...
But, that's me using a Rigid setup...
freehand I don't use carbide... depending on what I'm doing or need to do I'll use cobalt... if it's something nonferrous, or general run of the mill material(s) etc I'll use a good coated HSS. Most spin their HSS too fast, work harden their piece and burn their cutting edges.

 

[Farmchuck]

This bit almost looks as if it got run at too high rpm's, yet there is no thermal discoloration.
Still, lower rpm might have caused less damage.
I like the bit, seemed to have had a good cutting edge from the factory - although the high "shoulder" right behind the leading cutting edge makes for fast dulling. This said "shoulder" is technically a dept limiter so the bit doesn't corkscrew itself into the medium being drilled - I personally regrind brand new drill bits and make them more aggressive.

This is "my normal" free hand grind which works wonders on 90% of what I drill at home.

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What do you use to sharpen your drill bits sir?

 

[USMC615]

Cobalt and HSS will handle most everything out there, or carbide if needed…the name of the game is speed and cutting oil if necessary.

 

[Rich Fife]

What do you use to sharpen your drill bits sir?

I use a Grinder and a drill gauge... when lazy I use the Darex V-390.

 

[Wilhelm]

What do you use to sharpen your drill bits sir?

Bench grinder, eyeballed freehand!

 

[Rich Fife]

Bench grinder, eyeballed freehand!

It's a beautiful thing when both chips are equal... seems like most can't properly sharpen drills by hand anymore.

 

[Rich Fife]

These are my two preferred tools for sharpening... and obviously a good grinder with a large wheel.

 

[srcarr52]

Bench grinder, eyeballed freehand!

I freehand on a belt sander and check with a cheap drill gauge on larger bits.

 

[Wilhelm]

Cobalt and HSS will handle most everything out there, or carbide if needed…the name of the game is speed and cutting oil if necessary.

Actually, if it is not a matter mass production slow and safe is what I prefer.
Rather get it done correctly the first time and spend a little more time than do it twice.

 

[USMC615]

Actually, if it is not a matter mass production slow and safe is what I prefer.
Rather get it done correctly the first time and spend a little more time than do it twice.

…maybe I should’ve typed “correct” in front of speed. I figgerd that was a known.