Is cobalt better than HSS?

Cobalt (HSCO) is considered an upgrade from HSS because it includes 5-8% Cobalt blended into the base material. This is a great option for drilling into harder steel as well as stainless steel grades. Carbide (Carb) is the hardest and most brittle of the drill bit materials.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on grainger.com


Are cobalt drills better than HSS?

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.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on rdbarrett.co.uk


Is cobalt good for drilling steel?

High-speed steel is alloyed with 5-8% cobalt to create cobalt drill bits. These are the best drill bits for metal due to their high resistance to the massive heat generated when drilling through highly abrasive and/or hard materials such as treated stainless steel, titanium, and cast iron.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on protoolreviews.com


What is harder than HSS?

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.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on lkalloy.com


What is cobalt drill bits good for?

Cobalt drill bits are particularly successful in cutting through hard metals such as stainless steel and cast iron, although they can be used for softer materials, too. Cobalt drill bits are not made of pure cobalt, but rather a steel alloy with 5 to 8 percent cobalt.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on home.howstuffworks.com


Drilling Steel COBALT VS TITANIUM Drill Bits Test



Do cobalt drill bits break easily?

Cobalt drill bits are tough and durable, designed to be ideal for breaking through stainless steel or even cast iron.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on architecturelab.net


What drill bit is best for metal?

Cobalt drill bits are the best drill bits for hard metals including stainless steel. If you are using a hand drill then a 5% (M35) drill bit will be most suitable and it will be less brittle than other drill bits. TTP HARD drill bits are 5% cobalt and are a high quality drill bit.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on ttp-hard-drills.net


Is cobalt stronger than titanium?

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.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on tungstenworld.com


How hard is cobalt steel?

It has a heat-treated hardness, measured on the Rockwell scale, of 68 to 70 HRC.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on griggssteel.com


Will a cobalt bit drill hardened steel?

Clearly, the best drill bits for hardened metal or steel come with a cobalt blend. These cobalt drill bits use an alloy including 5%–8% cobalt. This cobalt makes up part of the steel blend, so the hardness of the bit doesn't wear off with a coating (like titanium bits). It runs throughout the entire bit.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on protoolreviews.com


What is the strongest drill bit made?

Carbide (Carb) is the hardest and most brittle of the drill bit materials. It's used mostly for production drilling where a high-quality tool holder and equipment is used.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on grainger.com


Which is better cobalt or carbide?

Difference Between Cobalt and Carbide

Carbide drill bits are generally more expensive than cobalt but can withstand higher temperatures and have greater wear resistance. This leads to longer tool life, often offsetting the cost difference.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on finepowertools.com


What drill bits stay sharp the longest?

Best Titanium Set: Bosch Titanium Metal Drill Bit Set

Bosch's speed helix design gets the right bit through the correct material faster than other drill bits. The titanium bits last six times longer than high-speed steel and have a balanced double flute that significantly cuts down on vibration.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on thespruce.com


Can you sharpen cobalt drill bits?

Cobalt drill bits have a high resistance to heat, making them perfect for repeated use. But after a short time, the leading edge becomes dull and needs to sharpen. If you've got a bench grinder, you'll sharpen the bits on your own.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on benchmarkabrasives.com


Can I use cobalt drill bits on wood?

Cobalt drills are ideal for drilling through difficult materials such as hardened and stainless steel. You can drill through plastic and wood with them as well, although cobalt bits are more brittle than standard HSS bits and can readily shatter.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on bindleyhardwareco.com


What is the best drill bit for cast iron?

The best drill bit to use for cast iron is a cobalt bit with a 135-degree point angle. The angle is sharper than that on a conventional bit, making drilling faster and more accurate. Cobalt bits are brass-colored. As an alternative, you can also use a gold-colored titanium nitride bit.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on hunker.com


Is cobalt good for knives?

Cobalt alloys are used in knife blades for better corrosion resistance compared to steel as well as a slicker surface for better, smoother cutting. The cobalt forms a strong matrix pattern that holds carbide grains to create better edge retention.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on knifeart.com


What grade of steel is HSS?

Combining molybdenum, tungsten and chromium steel creates several alloys commonly called "HSS", measuring 63–65 Rockwell "C" hardness. M1 lacks some of the red-hardness properties of M2, but is less susceptible to shock and will flex more. M2 is the "standard" and most widely used industrial HSS.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on en.wikipedia.org


How hard is HSS?

16.1.

The alloying elements raise the temperature at which tempering occurs, allowing HSS to be used at temperatures up to about 650°C. Their hardness is limited to 750 HV, adequate for machining most of the common metals, including alloy steels in their unhardened forms.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on sciencedirect.com


Is cobalt harder than high-speed steel?

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.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on nccuttingtools.com


How strong is cobalt?

Made from a highly durable alloy, cobalt is four times harder than platinum while at the same time, less dense. Because of its natural hardness, cobalt jewelry is extremely scratch, chip and corrosion-resistant. Its lower density and natural malleability allow for strong, dynamic designs with less weight.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on bluenile.com


Is cobalt stronger than tungsten?

So, in consideration to cobalt vs. tungsten, the two metals are very similar in their hardness. While cobalt is harder than titanium, and therefore more scratch resistant, tungsten is still the hardest metal currently on the market.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on tungstenworld.com


What is stronger cobalt or titanium drill bits?

Cobalt drill bits are more expensive, but offer longer life, and are more resistant to heat than titanium drill bits. Cobalt drill bits are also tougher and can drill holes in the hardest metals.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on finepowertools.com


Which is better M35 or M42 cobalt?

Bosch CO14B Cobalt M42 Drill Bit Set

This 8 percent cobalt alloy is more durable than M35 cobalt drill bits, giving it longer shelf life. Other features make drilling through metal a breeze. A split-point tip penetrates metal easily, while a flat shank prevents slipping in the chuck.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on bobvila.com


How do you drill through hardened steel?

Go to a hardware or home improvement store for a cobalt bit that is designed specifically for drilling through steel. You want a cobalt bit, as it's a type of high-speed steel (HSS) that has more cobalt in it and is strong enough to cut through hardened steel.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on home.howstuffworks.com
Previous question
Is a green laser better than red?