What does HSS mean on a drill bit?

DRILL BIT MATERIALS

High-Speed Steel (HSS) is a popular material good for drilling into soft steels as well as wood and plastic.

Is HSS good in a drill bit?

High-speed steel (HSS) drill bits can drill wood, fiberglass, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and soft metals such as aluminum. Cobalt drill bits are extremely hard and dissipate heat quickly. They're mostly used for boring in aluminum and tough metals such as stainless steel.

Can HSS drill bits be used for metal?

HSS drill bits are suitable for drilling iron, steel, and other metals such as brass, copper, and aluminum alloy.

What is the difference between SDS and HSS drill bits?

HSS drill bits fit into any standard chuck, either with a key or the keyless type. SDS+ fit into a special chuck with a groove on one side for the bit to fit into ( there's no physical tightening of the chuck as it's a positive lock on these) SDS Max is a variation of the last one but it's a lot bigger than SDS+.

Is an HSS drill bit is suitable for drilling into masonry?

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.

Basics of Drill Selection - Haas University

How do I choose the right drill bit?

What is the hardest drill bit you can buy?

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. It should not be used in hand drills or even drill presses.

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.

What type of drill bit do you need for steel?

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 I use an SDS drill bit in a hammer drill?

Regardless, whether it's an SDS Plus or SDS Max bit, when it's is inserted into a hammer drill, all you have to do it just insert it and it will stay put with its shank design preventing the bit from wiggling loose. Rotary hammer drills fitted with an SDS chuck are spring loaded.

Can HSS drill bits be used for wood?

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. These are best for hardwood, softwood, PVC, fiberglass and steel.

What drill bit is best for 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).

Why can't I drill through metal?

Drilling through metals create a lot of friction. This friction generates heat. The heat generated in the process not only damages your drill bits, but can also damage the metal you are drilling into.

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.

What drill bit do I need to drill into concrete?

Drill bits that can drill through concrete are called masonry bits. They are also good for drilling through brick and stone. Drill bits with a tungsten carbide tip are the strongest; when it comes to solid concrete, the sharper the better. Masonry bits cut holes through concrete in two steps.

How do I choose a drill?

Power, mobility and weight are all considerations in choosing a drill. A cordless drill offers high mobility and a wide range of available features. Voltage ratings of 4 to 8 volts are sufficient for light-duty cordless screwdrivers, and drills with 12 to 18 volts will meet most homeowners' work needs.

How do you stop a drill bit from slipping on metal?

In order to prevent this, first use a sharp object to make a dimple. Placing the drill inside the dimple greatly reduces the chances of it slipping off. You can use a center punch or – nice and simple – a steel nail.

Which is the best cordless drill?

How can you tell the difference between a metal drill bit and a wood drill bit?

The main difference between a metal and wood drill bit is in geometry. The wood bit has a spur in the center that will penetrate the wood and keep the bit stable during drilling. The metal bit is a twist bit with conical cutting tips followed by spiral flutes.

What drill bit is for brick?

Masonry or mortar drill bits are the only type that can penetrate brick or mortar with ease. These bits are designed to deal with particular materials, so the central part of the bit is made of steel, while the tip has tungsten carbide to help it cut through tough walls.

What drill bits are best for wood?

When most people think of drill bits, the common twist bit is what they envision. These bits feature two spiraling channels called flutes, with sharp tapered cutting edges at the end of the flutes. Twist bits are great all-around drill bits. They're good for cutting most materials, including wood, plastic and metal.

Are cobalt or titanium drill bits better?

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. Here is a quick comparison chart that explains the key differences between titanium vs cobalt drill bits.

Do you drill steel fast or slow?

In general, it's a good idea to drill through metal using as slow a speed as possible using a drill bit for metal. Hard metals like steel and larger drill bits require even slower speeds. With a small twist bit (1/16 in. to 3/16 in.), you can drill through most metals at 3,000 rpm.

Are cobalt drill bits 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.