Deciding if titanium bits or cobalt drill bits are better for including in your tool shed can seem like quite a task. But, fret not!
It is true that both titanium and cobalt bits are durable and perform considerably well. However, you need to remember that both have their unique set of characteristics.
When my son decided that he wanted to work in his own workshop, I thought of gifting him a drill bits set. But I couldn’t decide between these two options. So, I thought of making them have a face-off for cobalt drill bits vs titanium bits. And for that, I tested both of them and conducted a considerable amount of research to come to a conclusion.
In the end, I thought to myself, why not share the results with my readers? Hi! I am Stacy Smith, and today I will give you a brief round-up of the two products. If, like me, you also feel stuck between these two options, I am sure that after reading this guide, you will no longer remain confused.
So, without further delay, let's check it out!
Titanium drill bits are made from a combination of different alloys. However, they are generally designed from HSS steel with a special coating of titanium. When there is an alloy of titanium carbonite present, you can rest assured that the bits will be capable of handling a high amount of stress.
Titanium nitride alloys are a great bet if you are looking for better temperature resistance. The aluminum nitride combines with titanium for maintaining high durability and stress resistance.
It is true that the melting point of titanium is not as high as cobalt, so they may not be as durable as their cobalt counterparts. But this doesn't really interfere with their longevity and robustness. I prefer this option as it is pretty long-lasting but does not burn a hole in my pocket.
And I can say with conviction that the titanium drill bits offer better versatility than the common HSS bits that you find on the market. They are durable and remain sharp for prolonged periods.
I would suggest choosing titanium drill bits, as they offer a great deal of versatility, especially when compared to the regular HSS bits. You can use them both on hard and soft metals, including aluminum, copper, plastic, or hardwood. I prefer using titanium drill bits, as they help me maintain utmost precision while cutting metal.
Just like any other product, these drill bits are not free of disadvantages, which I learned the hard way. During my first few years of working in the workshop, I made the mistake of using these bits on very hard metals. And the result was that the coating got damaged very soon.
So, I would strongly suggest that you keep the kind of metal in mind when you are doing the drilling. If you have no other option but to drill hard metals with it, try sticking to titanium carbonitride alloys.
Most manufacturers use around 6-7 % of cobalt for making cobalt drill bits, but I have noticed that the exact content varies from one brand to another. These bits primarily include a base steel alloy and a small percentage of cobalt content in them.
The best thing is that the melting point of cobalt is significantly more than steel. While steel melts at a temperature of around 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit, cobalt metals at nearly 2,723 degrees Fahrenheit. Long story short, the drill bits made of cobalt are comparatively more durable and robust as compared to steel.
If you are wondering what that means, let me break this down for you. Since these drilling bits have a better melting point, they can effectively withstand the heat that is generated during the process. This will help the bits to stay sharper for prolonged periods and even with regular use. As a result, you can use it on stronger metals without worrying about wear and tear or corrosion.
If you are confused about whether you should use standard HSS or cobalt bits, the choice is pretty simple: cobalt bits. They are suitable for drilling hard surfaces that regular steel bits will have a hard time dealing with. Besides, you can use them on bronze, cast iron, and weld seams.
And I do not have to restrict myself to using cobalt bits only in hand drills. When I feel like using it on lathes or drill presses, I do that without any difficulty.
The first thing that comes to my mind when I think of the disadvantages of using cobalt drill bits is that they are pretty brittle. So, you can understand that maintenance is relatively high.
For instance, you have to store them in a secure place to ensure that they don’t bump into other surfaces. In the past, I have dropped a few of them by mistake and they shattered into pieces immediately.
And the other thing is that they are pretty expensive, which means that you may have to extend your budget by quite a bit.
And with that, my friends, it’s a wrap!
My final suggestion to you would be to figure out your requirements first before choosing a drill bit. Both these options come with their own sets of advantages, and I would advise you to make the most of that.
Always try to gain proper knowledge of the materials on which you plan to use the bits. For example, when it comes to working on stainless steel, both options are quite good. But if you do not know about the materials, you may end up doing more bad than good, thereby messing up the project.
On that note, I’ll leave you to make the decision. If you have any further questions, feel free to write to me in the comments section below.
Until next time, fare thee well!
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