HSS bits are hardwearing and heat resistant. The large concentrations of chrome and nickel in stainless steel ensure that HSS bits are super strong and durable. HSS drill bits are capable of safely drilling through hardwood, some metals and plastic.
What is a HSS drill bit suitable for?
High-Speed Steel (HSS) is a popular material good for drilling into soft steels as well as wood and plastic. IT’s an economical solution for most maintenance drilling applications.
Are HSS drill bits good for metal?
HSS (High Speed Steel)
HSS or ‘High Speed Steel’ drill bits are considered entry level drill bits for metal. They are made from a tool steel and can drill mild steel and softer metals. They are not suitable for drilling harder metals or stainless steel.
Are titanium drill bits better than HSS?
Titanium-coated HSS drill bits produce less friction. They’re tougher than basic HSS bits and stay sharp longer. They work for drilling wood, metal, fiberglass and PVC. Carbide-tipped drill bits stay sharp much longer than steel, HSS or titanium bits.
Is cobalt harder than HSS?
Cobalt drill bits are extension of high-speed steel with an additional 5 – 8% cobalt element. It’s much harder than HSS and seamlessly drills into harder surfaces. These include red-hardened steel, stainless steel, and other sturdy materials.
Which is better HSS or carbide?
Carbide steel has more high cutting speed and is 4- 7 times higher than high – speed steel. Carbide is much harder, so it has a longer tool life and faster cutting data than conventional high speed steel. HSS tools also cost less than Carbide tools and are often a good solution in high-mix, low-volume applications.
How hard is HSS?
At room temperature, in their generally recommended heat treatment, HSS grades generally display high hardness (above Rockwell hardness 60) and abrasion resistance (generally linked to tungsten and vanadium content often used in HSS) compared with common carbon and tool steels.
What kind of drill bit is best for metal?
Regular drill bits can’t cut through steel, so you need a heavy-duty, hard drill bit to do the job. There are two types of drill bits that you can count on for metalworking projects: titanium and cobalt. Titanium drill bits are high-speed steel drill bits (HSS) that have a titanium oxide coating.
Can HSS drill bits be used for wood?
Materials and Finishes
High-Speed Steel (HSS) drill bits are used for drilling wood, light metals, fiberglass and PVC. Black oxide-coated drill bits are more durable than standard HSS bits and the coating helps the drill bit resist rust.
What is the difference between HSS and cobalt?
Cobalt drill bits are incredibly strong. They can be operated at much higher speeds than a standard HSS drill bit. The ability to withstand heat means that cobalt bits perform for long periods without cooling or the need for cutting fluid. They are most often used to cut through hardened and abrasive materials.
Is carbide better than titanium?
Tungsten carbide is a compound made from the rare metal tungsten and an equal number of carbon atoms.Scratch-resistance – Due to its hardness tungsten carbide handily beats titanium when it comes to scratch-resistance, though titanium is still considerably more scratch-resistant than other popular materials.
Is cobalt or titanium drill bits better?
Cobalt bits tend to be quite expensive. However, they are more durable and long-lasting than other options, including titanium. Because of this, they can often save you money in the long run.
Why are some drill bits gold?
Twist bits are also available coated with Titanium nitride (TiN), these are easily identified by the gold like colour. This coating increases the hardness of the bit and adds a self-lubricating property.
Can HSS drill bits be used for concrete?
Carbide tipped: Carbide is an extremely strong metal that withstands enormous force. Carbide is also expensive, so tool manufacturers often use HSS for the shank, flutes and leads but add a piece of carbide to the point. Carbide tip bits are popular for masonry, concrete and tile drilling.
Is titanium stronger than cobalt?
As mentioned in the detailing of cobalt and titanium’s scratch resistance, both metals have a similar hardness. But it was noted that cobalt was just a bit harder than titanium. As a result, it is able to have a much higher polish applied.
Which drill bit is for walls?
If you are looking to drill a reinforced concrete wall, it’s best to use a carbide-tipped drill bit with 3 or 4 cutting edges. Of course you must always drill straight (meaning at a right angle to your surface). Using an in-and-out motion will help to remove dust from your holes as you drill.
Can HSS cut stainless steel?
To drill through stainless steel, you need an HSS (High-Speed Steel) drill bit. HSS drill bits have sharp edges that can cut into the tough metal. To cut into hardened stainless steel, you will require a drill bit with a large point angle of at least 130 degrees.
Is HSS sharper than carbide?
In a nutshell, carbide is a lot harder and as a result, more brittle. That final hone crumbles the edge, whereas HSS burrs rather than crumbles, ultimately leaving a sharper edge.
Can HSS cut Aluminium?
Titanium Nitride (TiN) is the most common PVD hard coating in use today. It has also been used as a coating on HSS and carbide tools to cut aluminum, some woods, plastics, and fiberglass laminates.
What grade of steel is HSS?
The lowest alloy grades, M50 and M52 high-speed steels, are properly known as intermediate high-speed steels because of their lower alloy contents. The cobalt-bearing grades, such as M35 and M42, are known as super high-speed steels because they exhibit enhanced hot hardness.
Why is HSS used for cutting tools?
Broadly, high speed steel excels in hardness and abrasion resistance, with different grades trading for toughness, hot hardness or reduced brittleness. As a result, these alloys see the most use in industrial cutting tools—tool bits, milling cutters, saw blades, drills, taps, broaches and more.
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