There are many different types of drill bits available. There are advantages and disadvantages to each option, therefore one is not always superior to the others. Making the appropriate choice is crucial to completing any assignment effectively and accurately. You’ll need to decide between titanium vs cobalt drill bits for your applications. From this article, Tools Detail will be comparing those two options, so that you can decide which one is the best for you.
These two bits are more enduring and resilient than other drill bits since they are made to drill into metal. But there are minute variations between them. As we previously said, none of these will always be the ideal option. They are really situational, and you will choose based in large part on the tasks you are working on.
What are cobalt drill bits?
In the first part of the titanium vs cobalt drill bits comparison, we will help you to learn what cobalt drill bits are all about. Cast iron and stainless steel are two common metals that cobalt drill bits may cut through. We shall go into more detail about this momentarily, but they are not constructed entirely of cobalt. They do, however, contain a small amount of cobalt, that is how they got their name.
Cobalt drill bits are created by adding a tiny quantity of cobalt to a base alloy (often steel). The amount of cobalt added by manufacturers varies by brand and is typically between 5 and 7%. The basic alloy becomes very strong and durable when cobalt is added. Additionally, cobalt melts at a temperature greater than steel. Cobalt melts at around 2723 degrees Fahrenheit, whereas steel melts at about 2500 degrees F.
A greater melting point is significant because it indicates that the cutting edge will withstand more of the heat produced during cutting. The drill bits can stay sharper for a longer period of time due to the increased heat resistance. Additionally, they must be able to handle tougher materials without becoming exhausted.
Compared to conventional HSS drill bits, cobalt bits offer a greater variety of useful applications. They are most often employed to sever tough materials that steel alone might find difficult to cut through.
Why are cobalt bits undesirable?
Cobalt bits can be used in softer materials, but I wouldn’t suggest using them on items like wood or plastic. Performance is not really an issue here; rather, it is cost. When a less costly substitute will work just as well, there is no purpose in employing a pricey drill bit for natural fibers. Cobalt drill bits should only be used for tasks where they perform better than less costly alternatives.
Cobalt pieces are fairly fragile, so that’s something to keep in mind. You must take good care of, store, and take special care to not drop them. Although they are exceedingly hard, they are also highly fragile and susceptible to breaking. If you’re not cautious, this might get extremely pricey.
Although metal is their principal use, it may also be employed with softer materials. Because of their extreme toughness, they may be used when other parts simply cannot.
Temperature
Every metal-on-metal component will heat up. That is simply the result of fast rubbing two metals together. Cobalt blades, meanwhile, are designed to disperse heat. Cobalt excels at distributing heat evenly over the contact area. Even at high speeds, they can swiftly disperse heat.
Sharpening
Sharpening cobalt bits is not difficult at all. Since they are uncoated, sharpening them does not result in surface peeling. They live longer as a result, which ultimately saves you money. Cobalt bits may be sharpened several times before they lose their usefulness.
Cobalt bits have the major benefit of being able to sharpen, enabling you to get more use out of your purchase. Within a bench grinder, you can quickly sharpen worn-out drill bits, but it’s best to practice on some used drill bits first though you understand what you’re doing.
Sharpening the drill bit doesn’t run the danger of removing any of the improved material qualities since the cobalt is alloyed well with steel instead of merely a coating. Given the cost of a high-quality set, I believe this to be a huge plus.
Material
Cobalt, as well as steel alloy, are combined to create cobalt drill bits. They typically include between 5% and 8% cobalt and the remainder is steel. As a result, they are very resilient and can cut through even the hardest materials, like cast iron. As the bit spins against other metals, the cobalt also keeps it from becoming too hot.
Cost
Cobalt pieces are often fairly pricey. They are longer-lasting and more resilient than other choices, such as titanium. They often enable you to save money over time as a result. Whether you choose to spend more now or afterward depends on your preferences.
Cobalt parts often provide decent value for the money despite being more expensive, mostly since you can use them for such a long time.
What are titanium drill bits?
The next section of this titanium vs cobalt drill bits comparison is to understand what titanium drill bits are all about. Cobalt drill bits and titanium drill bits are comparable. Additionally, they are designed to drill through harder materials like metal. Although they initially have a very similar appearance to their Cobalt relatives, they have a few little distinctions that distinguish them from them.
Titanium drill bits: what are they?
Most titanium drill bits are constructed from HHS steel and coated with titanium. Different titanium alloys enable a range of applications. The 3 varieties are:
- Titanium nitride is resistant to high temperatures.
- Greater durability and resistance are provided by titanium aluminum nitride.
- The strongest alloy suited for heavy mechanical stress is titanium carbide.
Using a titanium coating improves the cutting edge’s surface hardness while also decreasing friction and offering corrosion protection. However, since their melting point is lower than that of cobalt, they are often not as strong. Nevertheless, they are still more adaptable than a typical HSS drill bit. The steel core is shielded by the titanium alloy covering, which also keeps it a bit sharp for longer.
What Purposes Do Titanium Bits Serve?
Compared to traditional HSS bits, titanium carbide inserts have many more applications. Since you can have them on both soft and hard materials, they are perhaps a little more adaptable than cobalt drill bits.
Why are Titanium Bits Unsuitable?
Although tougher materials such as cast iron may be drilled through with titanium bits, cobalt drill bits eventually become more advantageous. Harder materials accelerate the removal of the coating, which wears the bit down more quickly.
Consider the material you’re drilling while selecting the ideal titanium drill bit. For tougher materials, you should use platinum carbonitride bit, although wood or plastic will work just fine with titanium nitride.
Temperature
Things will become heated while drilling into metal using a metal bit. The majority of drill bits on the market today that are built for harder materials contain some kind of heat-dissipating design element. It’s the titanium coating on drill bits made of titanium. This layer disperses the heat along the surface while shielding the metalcore bands from it. This covering does, however, deteriorate with time. Once it becomes too thin, it won’t function properly.
Sharpening
Titanium blades can be sharpened because of the coating. This coating will deteriorate over time. Much of the bit’s heat resistance would have been lost by the time the coating was totally gone. This is a concern when drilling metal because metal-on-metal may heat up quickly and be very hot. This coating is removed along with the titanium drill bit when it is sharpened. Because of this, the titanium drill bits can only be sharpened so much before they lose their use. They have brief lives.
Material
Drill bits made of titanium are not totally composed of titanium. Instead, they feature titanium covering over a metal core. As we will see later, this titanium is crucial for reducing overheating. These chunks do not, however, contain any cobalt.
While the material differences between cobalt as well as titanium drill bits are noticeable difference, in actual use you generally won’t notice a substantial difference. The substance only distinguishes the bits in a select few circumstances.
Cost
Cobalt drill bits are often more expensive than titanium drill bits. They do not, however, endure as long since the covering gradually wears off. This may ultimately cost you more money, as you can expect. Of all, not everyone needs a sturdy item that will endure for a long period. A titanium drill bit should be enough if you just need to punch a few holes. However, titanium bit replacement costs may mount up for people who often drill into metal.
Titanium vs cobalt drill bits – What is the best option?
Again, there is no superior drill bit among these two. It depends on the material you’re using and the goal you’re attempting to achieve.
Pick titanium when you work with wood and soft metal
Select titanium when working with soft metal and wood. Having said that, titanium bits work best with soft metals like wood. When compared to these softer materials, they will cost you fewer upfront and last longer. Harder materials need more frequent honing, which may rapidly wear down their coating.
Overall, both of these bits are capable of handling harder materials and have good heat dissipation. Depending on how much cash you have to invest upfront, how often you expect to use the bit, and the material you need to drill, you will need to decide which choice is best for you.
Choose Cobalt for Versatility
You need a collection of cobalt bits if you deal with a range of materials. This is clearly explained in this titanium vs cobalt drill bits comparison. They may be utilized with even the hardest materials and will simply endure longer. Although DIYers with many tasks will find them useful, they are better for specialists. Obviously, this assumes that you have enough cash on hand to spend upfront. Cobalt bits cost far more than titanium ones. However, since they last longer, you’ll ultimately save more money.
What Sets Cobalt Bits Apart from the Competition?
As already indicated in the titanium vs cobalt drill bits comparison, the increased heat resistance of cobalt bits is their principal benefit over materials like high-speed steel.
This prevents equipment damage when working with tougher materials like cast iron and stainless steel. Furthermore, drilling may be done without cooling fluid for extended periods of time. While I usually suggest using coolant while drilling metal, it will always increase their lifespan.
You should expect them to last you a long time than a typical HSS drill bit because of their superior construction and sharpening capabilities.
The primary benefit of cobalt drill bits over titanium drill bits is that cobalt is alloyed further into the bit rather than being applied as a coat. Cobalt drill bits can be repeatedly sharpened, but titanium drill bits burn out more slowly.
What Sets Titanium Bits Apart from Competition?
Titanium bits have better heat strength and are good than high-speed steel, which is their major benefit. They are thus a better option for softer fabrics since you will use them a lot more. We helped you to learn more about it in this titanium vs cobalt drill bits comparison.
Additionally, titanium has a lower beginning cost than cobalt. Although it’ll take some time, eventually you could wind up spending more on titanium bit replacements.
Titanium will be an excellent option if you’re simply a regular DIYer who wants a set of reasonably durable and adaptable drill bits. It will take a long time to degrade over time the coating if you just use them occasionally for tasks around the house.
Final Words - Which Drill Bit Is Best for Me: Cobalt or Titanium?
In this titanium vs cobalt drill bits comparison, you were able to gather a lot of useful information about these two different types of drill bits available in the market. So, titanium or cobalt is superior, right? Since the answer varies on what your needs are from your drill bits, there just isn’t one right answer. We will advise investing in nice cobalt drill bits if you plan to use them often for hard materials. Over time, you’ll unquestionably receive your money’s worth. But titanium drill bits are a better choice if you often deal with softer materials.
Overall, cobalt bits provide pros and DIY enthusiasts with more options. But for softer materials like wood and soft metal, titanium is a more economical option. Hopefully, this article has assisted you in reducing the number of drill bits you need to choose from for your project. Follow what you learned out of this titanium vs cobalt drill bits comparison, and make sure that you spend your money on the best drill bits available out there.