When you are milling a piece, precision is the name of the game. When your workpiece necessitates drilling, you need to deal with the risk of having a drill bit miss the mark. The reason drill bits are such liability is that Drill Bit Manufacturers do not produce their tools to operate within the tolerance of end mills. If you are looking for drill bits to incorporate into your milling work, there are a few things to consider in order to make the right choice.

Standard twist drill bits are long enough to slightly oscillate while they spin. This can cause the bit to deflect when you attempt to drill a hole. This can not only destroy the piece you are working on but can also damage the bit in question. In order to reduce this risk, many shops will start each hole with a small rigid spot drill to give the long bit a starting point. This makes it easier for the bit to find where it should sit and drill the hole smoothly. 

In order to reduce the risk of a drill deflection, you should use shorter drill bits. Because they are not as long, these bits, commonly known as stub drills, have much less natural vibration at high speeds. If you need to achieve a hole depth that your stub drill cannot manage, jobber drills are also an option. Jobber bits are an intermediate length, offering superior control over a standard twist bit, but less rigidity than a stub drill. 

Another way to increase the accuracy or your drilling is to use carbide bits. Compared to stainless steel and cobalt drill bits, carbide bits will hold their edge longer and can drill through almost any material. Though they are slightly more brittle, machine drilling rarely involves the unexpected lateral forces that result in bit failure. 

At Online Carbide, all of our drill bits are made with the highest quality solid carbide stock. Unlike other drill bit manufacturers who only use carbide on their tips, we make sure our bits are tough all the way through. We offer three types of drill bits: spot drills, stub drills, and jobber drills. All of our bits can be purchased in a wide array of sizes. Our Jobber and Stub bits come in Letter, Metric, Wire Gauge, and Fractional sizes to ensure your holes are precise. We also offer our stub drills with a TiAlN coating to provide an extra layer of protection and keep them spotting for years to come.

Don’t risk your work by using the wrong drill bit. Short, high quality, carbide drill bits are the best way to create perfect holes in your milling piece. At Online Carbide, we are dedicated to making the best drill bits for getting the job done quickly and cleanly. If you want to know more about our inventory or which bit to use for your next project, give our team a call at 630-238-1424. We know that when you see the difference our bits make, we’ll become your favorite drill bit manufacturer.