We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
DIY

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is a Carbide Drill Bit?

By Lori Kilchermann
Updated: May 16, 2024
Views: 11,091
Share

A carbide drill bit is made of high carbon steel with an extra tough and durable carbide coating on the tip. With this coating, the carbide drill bit is able to drill a hole in masonry, stone and very tough steel without burning the tip of the drill bit up due to the tremendous amount of heat being generated. The typical carbide drill bit is best suited for use at low to medium-high speed since heat is the greatest enemy of this type of drill bit. Often used with a cooling fluid, a carbide drill bit may be used for precision cutting and drilling in a computer-aided cutting machine to make many continuous cuts without replacing the bit.

When drilling holes into concrete and stone surfaces, a carbide drill bit is often the best choice because it is well-suited for making multiple holes without replacing the bit. The superior strength of the carbide drill bit allows the bit to chew through the very hard material without elongating the hole. The softer drill bit material of carbon steel will often cut through the hard concrete and stone surface if enough time is taken to avoid burning the cutting edges of the drill bit; however, the finished hole will typically be egg-shaped due to the softer drill bit moving around as it attempts to cut through the material. Conversely, a hardened carbide drill bit will not move around as it cuts, resulting in a much rounder and truer finished hole.

The carbide drill bit is the preferred slow-speed cutting tool of drilling and boring companies that specialize in masonry and rock boring. By adding a cooling fluid to the cutting edge of the tool, it can also endure high-speed use applications, including milling machine and computer-aided cutting machines. The durability of the hard carbide cutting tools allows for extended use on large cutting projects while retaining the sharp, crisp edges on the finished cut. This is especially important on precision cutting instruments used to complete finished work.

On smaller cutting tools such as the high-speed rotary-type tools, the use of a carbide cutter allows the user to make many small cuts at very high speed without burning the cutting edge of the tool. In this type of tool, the cutting edge is actually cooled by the air as the drill bit turns at speeds up to 10,000 revolutions per minute. When used on softer materials such as aluminum and brass, a single carbide drill bit can last indefinitely provided the bit is not forced to cut and suffers a burned cutting edge.

Share
HomeQuestionsAnswered is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.homequestionsanswered.com/what-is-a-carbide-drill-bit.htm
Copy this link
HomeQuestionsAnswered, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

HomeQuestionsAnswered, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.