Conical drills for metal: recommendations for the selection and use

The modern market is distinguished by a variety of tools used for all types of work. Conical drills for metal are professional products that are characterized by a long service life, versatility and ease of use. To select the necessary tool, it is recommended to study the basic properties of such devices.

Characteristics and features of conical drills for metal

All conical devices, depending on the shape of the working element, are divided into two groups: smooth and stepped. Both product variants are tapered and are used for processing thin metal sheets. The smooth version is less convenient, since it does not have the ability to make an exact diameter. When working with such a drill, it is necessary to periodically stop and take appropriate measurements.

Helpful information! Due to the clear gradation of levels, each of which has its own diameter, step cone drills are more convenient and are recommended for people who have no experience with such tools. Each step in such a product is digitally marked, which allows you to quickly determine the required diameter.

Both types of tools are equipped with a special sharp-edged groove. It is thanks to the cutting edges that the metal material is drilled. The grooves can be of different shapes. All tapered attachments are of good strength. Most of them can be sharpened, which is a significant advantage for extending drill life.

It is important to understand that such devices replace several tools at once, which are used under normal conditions to organize holes in metal sheets. To work with such products, screwdrivers or drills for drills are used. Taper tools are suitable for high speed drilling. Moreover, their use guarantees high quality of the edges of the holes. This eliminates the likelihood of burrs, which normally need to be removed.

Taking into account the above characteristics, we can say that these tools have an ideal design for working with metal sheets. In addition, their use allows other materials to be processed, which makes them truly versatile and indispensable. The main task of these drills is to make holes, but they can be used for other purposes. Quite often, tapered products are used to eliminate defects resulting from drilling with other drilling elements.

Conical drills for metal: advantages and disadvantages

All cutting tools have positive and negative traits. Before purchasing a tapered product, it is recommended to familiarize yourself with its advantages in more detail. One of the main advantages of such devices is that they can be used to make holes of different sizes. One drill of this type replaces a complete set of cutting tools.

Such products are characterized by high strength characteristics. This reduces the rate of wear. Another advantage, which also affects the duration of operation, is the speed of operation of such tools. With a tapered tool, a hole can be made much faster than with other cutting elements. This eliminates the possibility of overheating the drill.

Herringbone stepped jigs, also called carrot drills, have a sharp tip. This shape makes it much easier to insert into metal material of any density. And also such products are used as grinding elements.

Tapered devices provide smooth expansion of the hole diameter in metal material (and not only). Thus, the probability of deformation of the sheet is reduced. They can be used not only on hand-held equipment, but also installed in stationary machines, which is also a serious advantage.

The surface of the tapered parts can be equipped with a special protective coating. The modern market offers the buyer models with titanium as well as diamond coating. The durability of these products, which increases their useful life, makes it possible to sharpen less frequently. You can sharpen a conical step drill, like any other, using a grinder. These tools are a good alternative to core drills. The large dimensions of the tapered devices make it possible to make large holes.

Note! Such drills can be used to organize holes not only in metal sheets, but also in pipes (round and profiled), as well as corners.

The versatility of such tools defies criticism. However, it is worth remembering that they cannot be used for metal products whose wall thickness exceeds 7 mm. The best application is drilling holes in thin sheet parts (no more than 4 mm). Drills for metal of this type have most of the positive feedback from users.

With special adapters, such drills can even be installed in a grinder. The only significant drawback of such devices is their rather high cost.

Application of conical drills for metal

Tapered cutting tools are designed for continuous work without interruption. This is achieved by means of strong edges, which are the edges of the grooves. These drills are completely independent. Therefore, in this case, you do not need to use special centering devices to organize the hole.

The scope of such tools is quite wide. The shape of the cutting edges located at the edges of the grooves significantly expands the serviceability of the tools. These drills can be used for processing not only thin sheet steel, but also other materials such as:

• cast iron;
• aluminum;
• copper;
• brass;
• plastic;
• drywall;
• tree.

They are also actively used when working with stainless steel. Drills for metal of this type are distinguished by several options for the location of the working grooves. Channels can be straight or spiral. The second option is more efficient, but sharpening a tool with such a channel is much more difficult.

The pointed tip of the tapered parts facilitates easy entry into the metal material and also has another advantage. Its shape allows it to cope with the vibrations that occur during metal drilling. This advantage is lacking in conventional cutting products. An example is the 13 mm twist drill for metal.

These products are actively used when installing plumbing equipment, and they are also often used when repairing automotive equipment. What other uses for tapered parts are there? Among other things, they are in demand in construction and in the manufacture of electrical panels.

Features of the shape and dimensions of conical drills

For the correct choice of a tapered cutter, it is necessary to clearly understand what form options for these products are on the market. Each type of product has its own advantages and disadvantages. Let's consider three main types of such tools:

• ordinary (stepped herringbone);
• truncated, without a guide point;
• combinations of two conical parts.

The last option consists of two segments, each of which differs in a different angle of inclination of the surface. The grooves that include these products can also have different shapes.

Helpful information! The maximum diameter of such drills can be different, but most often there are models in which this indicator is 32 mm. The cone drill for metal 4-32 mm can be purchased in a profile store or ordered on the worldwide network.

Today, you can find on sale more overall models of drills, for example, stepped products with a maximum diameter of 40 or 50 mm. It should be said that this indicator for the largest models does not exceed 60 mm.

When choosing a conical cutter, it is also recommended to pay attention to the shape of its tail. This drill element is used to fix the tool in the drill chuck. There are the following shank shapes:

• cylindrical;
• triangular;
• hex.

The last two varieties are recommended by many craftsmen, as they allow you to more tightly fix the drill in the working tool. When using triangular and hexagonal pieces, rotation is excluded, therefore the risk of injury when drilling a metal surface is reduced.

Smooth products expand closer to the tail, which is fixed in the chuck. They, unlike stepped ones, do not have a clear gradation of diameters. In the stepped version of the tapered cutting tool, the height of the levels is 5 mm. However, in some cases, this indicator may be different (for example, 4 or 6 mm). Drills for metal have a pitch that is 1 mm up to a step with a diameter of 12 mm. Larger levels are characterized by a step of 2 mm.

It is important to remember that you can independently determine the maximum permissible thickness of the metal material at which it is permissible to use a particular drill. This parameter, as a rule, completely repeats the indicator of the height of the levels of the conical device.

Expert advice on choosing a cone drill

Many people who are poorly familiar with the features of various cutting attachments find it difficult to decide on the purchase of such a tool. In order to avoid mistakes when choosing, it is necessary to learn a few basic points.

First of all, you need to remember that all attachments differ in color. This is a very important point, since its technical characteristics depend on the color of the product. For example, the steel color of a work piece indicates that it has not undergone additional heat (or any other) treatment.

Steel paint fixtures are not highly durable and are therefore more prone to wear. It is recommended to use them exclusively for organizing holes in thin-sheet material, as well as for processing plastic, drywall and wood. Conical drills for metal of this type have the lowest cost.

The black color of the cutting tool indicates that the product has undergone additional high temperature processing. Such devices have a higher strength, which contributes to an increase in their service life.

Note! The tool must be selected based on its operational purpose. The dimensions of the product may be different, so it is worthwhile to determine in advance which holes will be made with it. Most often on sale you can find conical drills for metal 6-36 and 4-32 mm.

Another option common in today's market is golden cones. These models have a protective coating, represented by titanium nitride. Due to this, in terms of technical characteristics, they significantly exceed their previous counterparts.

Related article:

Metal step drills: the best solution for beginners and professionals
Step drills for metal. What are they used for? The advantages of stepped drills. Varieties. Tips for choosing.

In stepped versions, the height of the levels, as mentioned above, averages 5 mm. Drills for metal should not have a deviation in this indicator of more than 1 mm. This is something to remember when buying a tool.

What else do you need to pay attention to? The brand of the instrument plays an equally important role. The craftsmen do not recommend buying products made by little-known Chinese firms, since in this case the chance of purchasing low-quality or defective products increases significantly. Domestic drills have a smaller working life when compared with foreign counterparts.

Tapered cutting tool markings: what you need to know

The technical characteristics of such cutting products are indicated in the form of marking, which is applied to the outer surface of the tail section. Knowledge of the basic designations allows you to select a high-quality and most suitable product for specific operating conditions. Let's consider in more detail what information is encrypted in the marking:

• material of manufacture;
• diameter;
• accuracy class.

Deciphering the marking is a very important stage, so you should familiarize yourself in more detail with its possible options. Most products of this type have a pitch of 1 mm. Drills for metal, which have a herringbone shape, differ in different dimensions. This information is mandatory in the labeling.

Most often, the letter designation is the beginning of the markup. Most drills that can be purchased today are labeled with the Latin letter “P”. A similar designation tells that high-speed alloy steel was used to make the device. This material has high strength characteristics.

Next is the next letter, after which a certain number is mandatory. This designation contains information about the metal that has been used as an additive to alloy steel. The number indicates what percentage of the alloy is in the product.

Note! Marking is not applied to products with a diameter of less than 2 mm. Metal drills of this type have too small shank.

After the percentage of minor metal, the marking indicates the maximum and minimum diameters, as well as the accuracy class of the fixture. It should be noted that the letter designation HSS is often found on such products. Drills for metal of this type are made of high speed steel. After the initial marking, the marking contains information about the additional material used in the manufacture of the product.

How to properly drill holes with a conical drill: instructions

The operation of the tapered cutting element has some peculiarities when compared with the use of conventional spiral tools. Thus, in order for a beginner who has no experience with such a tool to understand the features of use, he must study the instructions. It is not recommended to deviate from the work algorithm during work, as this can lead to various problems.

To study the technical characteristics of the cutting part, you can additionally familiarize yourself with its drawing. Drills and their schemes can be easily found on the worldwide network. The first stage is preparatory. First, you need to buy and prepare all the necessary tools, as well as materials. Consider what exactly is needed in this case:

• conical cutting tool;
• drill;
• workpiece in which the hole will be made.

The choice of a tapered tool depends entirely on what diameter you want to make a hole in the workpiece. When choosing a drill into which the drill will be installed, it is worth considering that the tool must necessarily be able to develop the required speed (from 3 to 5 thousand rpm). Before starting work, experts advise fixing an additional handle on the drill. As a blank, sheets made of steel, soft metals, and various synthetic materials can be used.

Conventional drills with taper shanks are much more difficult to use for making holes in metal. Such products have a simple design that does not facilitate accurate work. After preparing all the necessary tools, you can proceed directly to drilling the workpiece. The procedure in this case consists of 4 stages.

The first step is to fix the cutting attachment in the electronic tool holder. Next, you need to select and apply the appropriate marking in the place that was chosen for drilling the hole.

In the next step, the cutting attachment is applied to the surface of the workpiece and drilling is performed. It is important to remember that the product must be located in a strictly perpendicular position with respect to the workpiece.During the drilling process, this angle must be strictly observed. Metal drills, which have a conical shape, are used to perform different diameters and are independent tools.

The final stage is the gradual introduction into the metal material with an increase in the speed of revolutions. The end result of this work is a neat hole that is free of burrs and any other imperfections at the edges.

Note! Many craftsmen note that the ease of use of such a drill is its main advantage. Therefore, these cutting products are great for beginners who do not have the relevant experience.

Popular manufacturers and prices of conical drills for metal

The trademark of a product is a very important indicator, since the cost of products, as well as their quality characteristics, depends on it. Drills produced by popular foreign companies, of course, have a higher price, but it is often justified by the quality and long service life. However, the instruments of some domestic brands are not inferior to American and German counterparts.

The most popular domestic company (according to consumer reviews) is Zubr. Drills for metal from this manufacturer, with fairly good quality, cost about 2-3 times cheaper than foreign options. There are many foreign brands. Let's consider which of them prevail in the market.

Makita. Products of this Japanese brand are recommended by many experts, as they combine the best value for money. The minimum cost of such devices is 1250 rubles. The most expensive devices produced by this company are sold for 14-15 thousand rubles.

Geko. Quite a popular German manufacturer that manufactures drills for non-professional use. The minimum price for products of this brand is 200 rubles.

Bocsh. A very popular German company engaged in the production of various goods. The tools of this manufacturer are of high quality and have a long working life. The price of this type of cone drill is quite high. The cheapest options for products can be bought for 4000 rubles.

There are also two more popular brands, namely: Milwaukee, Yato. The first brand is American. The company is engaged in the production of tapered cutting tools for professional and domestic use. The second company is located in Japan. It also manufactures and distributes high performance tapered products.

The modern market is overflowing with cheap Chinese products that do not have a long service life. Such products wear out very quickly and become unusable. Experts do not recommend purchasing Chinese goods, despite their attractive prices.

Tapered drills are versatile and versatile products that allow you to quickly get the job done that would otherwise require a set of conventional tools. When choosing tapered cutting devices, it is advisable to immediately determine the budget and focus on what purpose the drill will be used for.