The Guide to Buying Carbide Drill Bits, Choose the right one for your job!

If you work in an industry that relies on tools to get the job done, you’ll already know just how important a drill is for your overall success. But what you may not know is that the drill bit is arguably just as important. You may have a top-quality drill, but if the drill bit is subpar, then your work will suffer. Fortunately, that’s not a problem that you need to deal with. Armed with the correct information, you can ensure that you always have a drill bit that’ll aid, rather than hinder your project. So what’s the best option? Most experts agree that carbide drill bits are the way to go. We’ve put together a handy carbide drill bits buying guide, so you can know exactly what piece you need for the job. 

You will learn the basic and useful knowledge of Carbide Drill Bits:

1. What are Carbide Drill Bits?
2. Carbide Drill Bits Constructions
3. Common Types of Carbide Drill Bits.
4. Advantage of Carbide Drill Bits.
5. Applications of Carbide Drill Bits.
6. Carbide Drill Bits Buying Tips
7. Speed Tiger Suggested Carbide Drill Bits Info.

 

1. What are Carbide Drill Bits? 

Let’s begin by looking at what a carbide drill bit is. ‘Carbide’ refers to the material that the drill bit is made from. There are plenty of different drill bit materials, but they’re not all appropriate for all jobs. The most common option is the HSS drill bit, which will likely have been the drill bit you used if you completed a home DIY project. They’re handy and effective, but only in certain situations; you typically won’t find HSS drill bits used in industrial settings.

Industrial jobs typically used carbide drill bits because of their strength. They’re made from a mixture of tungsten and carbon, two very strong materials that combine to create a drill bit that can cut through items that would break an HSS drill bit, such as concrete, tile, and others. 
 

2. Carbide Drill Bits Constructions

You don’t have to look at a carbide drill bit for too long before you notice that they’re not quite the same as other drill bits you may have come across. That’s because the way they function is slightly different to drill bits made of other materials. Carbide drill bits are used to drill holes in hard materials, and they do this by punching the material until it is crushed. The bit moves up and down repeatedly (at a rate too fast for the eye to see) and, in the process, transfers the debris of the punched hole outside.

You can get carbide drill bits cut into a specific shape, custom-made for the intended use, but there are also plenty of standard options available, too — for example, twist, spade, hole saw, and step bit. It’s important to remember that carbide largely just refers to the material; if you see any drill shape, it’ll probably be available in carbide. You can also get carbide drill bits in virtually any size, anywhere from a few inches all the way to sixty inches. If you need a greater length than that, you can get one custom-made — there’s no limit to how long the bits can be.
 

3. Common Types of Carbide Drill Bits.

• Type 1: Twist Bit

The most common is the twist bit; if you’ve ever seen a drill bit before, it was probably a twist bit. You’ll find them everywhere because they have so many applications. The name comes from the form of the bit, which has flutes along the body that transfer debris away from the hole. These types of bits are extremely useful, but they’re generally only used for drilling smaller holes. 

• Type 2: Spade Bits and Hole Saws

Larger projects require a spade bit or hole saw. A spade bit has bat-like wings with a sharp point in the center. The point keeps the drill secure in place while the edge of the wings moves away material. Hole saws have, as the name suggests, a hollow core that fills with the drilled material.

• Type 3: Step Bit

The other common drill bit type — though the least common of the ones on this list — is the step bit, which is a multilevel drill bit that operates using a stair-step system. They’re handy for cutting precise holes and can also be used to drill various sizes without changing the bit. 
 

4. Advantage of Carbide Drill Bits.

We’ve spoken a lot about the various kinds of carbide drill bits available. Now the question is why they’re worth your money. After all, there are plenty of different drill bits available. So what is it that makes these ones stand out from the crowd? Let’s take a look at some of the many advantages that they offer. 

• They’re Strong

​The strength of the carbide drill bits is one of its main assets. While you may be able to do a basic home DIY project with weaker drill bits, in some scenarios, only the strongest option will do — and that’s an award that goes to carbide. These drill bits are a mixture of tungsten and carbon, which results in one of the strongest metals we have available to us. Because of their strength, they can be used to drill materials that ordinary drill bits could not penetrate, such as steel. With a carbide drill bit, it’s unlikely you’ll come up against anything that you can’t drill through!

• They Offer Excellent Precision

Of course, it’s one thing to be able to drill through a material — it’s another thing to do so with precision. Carbide drill bits are the go-to option in many industries because of the quality and consistency that they offer. They score highly on the precision front because, while they’re strong, they can also be cut into much smaller bits with ease. That means that you’re able to get the precise size that you need, all the while knowing that it’ll be able to penetrate the surface that you need to drill. It’s the best of both worlds, basically. 

• They’re Long Lasting

Carbide drill bits are more expensive than other drill bits, but they do have one additional asset up their sleeve — they’re highly durable, and thus offer good value for money. Because they’re so tough, it takes a lot of use for them to become bent out of shape or worn. It’s also possible to sharpen the drill bits, so you can get additional use from the bit even when they’re beginning to show signs of wear and tear. Even though they’re used to drill into the world’s hardest materials, carbide more than meets the requirements with ease. 

• They’re Versatile

There are many specialist tools out there, but carbide drill bits are not among them, and that’s not a criticism — it’s an advantage. These drill bits have become something of a jack of all trades, and you’ll see them being used in a wide range of industries. Indeed, they’re among the most widely used tool add-ons in the world. You’ll find that used in everything from agriculture to construction and more. You’ll even find mini versions of them being used to make miniature model toys. This is another way of saying that there’s a lot you can do with carbide drill bits! 
They’re Good For The Environment
We’ve already said that it’s hard to destroy carbide drill bits — and that’s an excellent attribute in relation to the environment! The majority of drill bits are made using recycled materials, and once the drill bit has reached the end of its life, it’ll likely be used to make other products, too. 
 

5. Applications of Carbide Drill Bits

You’ll find carbide drill bits being used in a wide range of industries. They’re generally not used in domestic projects because they’re not needed. But they’re a mainstay in tool cutting, PCB manufacturing, woodwork, gas and oil projects, and masonry. Essentially, you’ll find carbide drill bits in any industry when strength and/or precision drilling is required. In PCB manufacturing, for example, they’re used for accurately drilling in small sizes; in oil and gas projects, they’re used to drill through some of the earth’s hardest materials; in masonry, they’re used to drill through concrete and brick. 
 

6. Carbide Drill Bits Buying Tips

• Tip 1: Think About Your Project

You’ll need to buy your carbide drill bit with the specific use in mind. You’ll want to think about the type of drill bit that will work best for your project — you’ll find information about the different shapes higher up on this page — and the type of drill you’ll be using. 

• Tip 2: Think About The Size

Most drills can handle bits that range in size from 1mm to 20mm; industrial drills can be much more. 

• Tip 3: Think About Bit Length and Special Features

You’ll also need to think about the length that you need to drill and if you require special features from the flute design; will the standard option suffice, or will you need a hole saw or spade bit?

 

7. Speed Tiger Suggested Carbide Drill Bits Info.

If you’re looking for high-quality carbide drill bits, then take a look at the products we offer here at Speed Tiger. We have a range of carbide drill bits available, including various point angles, size ranges, and drill depths. 
 

• Stainless Steel Applications

Need to drill into stainless steel? Then the SNC Carbide Drill For Stainless Steel 5xD 8xD Carbide Drill Bit will be just what you’re looking for.

SN -- Point Angle: 135° Drill Depth: 3xD / 5xD Size Range: 3mm~16mm / 3mm~14mm
SNC -- Point Angle: 140° Drill Depth: 5xD / 8xD Size Range: 3mm~14mm / 3mm~12mm
 

• High Hardness Steel Applications

If you need to drill into high hardness steel, then the Speed Tiger HD Carbide Drill For High Hardness Steel Carbide Drill Bit will do the trick.

HD -- Point Angle: 140° Drill Depth: 3xD //Size Range: 3mm~14mm
 

• General Use and Cast Iron Applications

Need bits for general use or cast iron projects? Then the PKC High-Performance Carbide Drill 5xD 8xD Carbide Drill Bit will be useful. 

PK -- Point Angle: 135° Drill Depth: 5xD Size Range: 3mm~14mm
PKC -- Point Angle: 140° Drill Depth: 5xD / 8xD  Size Range: 3mm~14mm / 3mm~12mm


Our products are made to superior standards, so you can have faith that your drill bit will be with you for many projects to come. Ready to make a purchase? Make an inquiry today. 

Speed Tiger is the leading Carbide End mills, Drill bits manufacturer in Taiwan, we provide a large range of CNC End mills and Drill bits, see more end mills products and our best-seller here.
 

About Speed Tiger

Speed Tiger is a professional manufacturer of Carbide Cutting Tools and offers OEM Services, having rich experience in producing carbide cutting tools and processing consultants for more than 24 years.


Established in 1998, Speed Tiger specialized in the production of precision carbide end mills, drills, turning tools, thread mills, and other tungsten carbide steel customized cutting tools. Speed Tiger crafts cutting tools at extreme nanometer precision +-2㎛ to the exact, enabling to achieve professional cutting quality.

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