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39 posts · MATERIALS  ·  Page 1 of 2
MATERIALS
High-Temp Alloys and HSS Drills: What Actually Works
Inconel, Hastelloy, Waspaloy — these materials push HSS drill life to its limits. Here is what changes.
March 2029
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MATERIALS
Titanium Drilling: HSS Bit Life
How to maximize HSS drill life when drilling titanium alloys with the right speeds, feeds, and coolant.
May 22, 2029
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MATERIALS
Metallurgy Of HSS Drill Wear
The metallurgical mechanisms behind HSS drill wear and what they mean for reconditioning decisions.
July 25, 2028
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MATERIALS
HSS vs Cobalt: When To Upgrade
The signals that tell you it is time to upgrade from standard HSS to cobalt for your application.
May 23, 2028
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MATERIALS
HSS vs Cobalt vs Carbide Drill Bits
Choosing between HSS, cobalt, and carbide drill bits based on your material, volume, and budget.
May 16, 2028
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MATERIALS
HSS vs Cobalt vs Carbide
The definitive comparison of HSS, cobalt, and carbide drill materials for real-world shop decisions.
May 9, 2028
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MATERIALS
HSS Grade Differences: M2, M35, M42
What separates M2, M35, and M42 HSS grades and when each is worth the cost upgrade.
May 2, 2028
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MATERIALS
HSS Drill Grades: W1, M1, M2, M7, M42
A complete breakdown of HSS grade designations and what each means for drill performance and cost.
April 18, 2028
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MATERIALS
How Drill Bit Coatings Wear
What happens to drill coatings as they wear, how to recognize coating failure, and when it matters.
February 7, 2028
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MATERIALS
Drilling Superalloys: Waspaloy, Haynes, Rene
A guide to drilling superalloys with the parameters and tool specs that prevent catastrophic failure.
November 15, 2027
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MATERIALS
Drilling Stainless Steel: 304 vs 316
How drilling behavior differs between 304 and 316 stainless and how to adjust your approach for each.
November 8, 2027
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MATERIALS
Drilling Stainless Steel
How to drill stainless steel successfully with the speeds, feeds, coolant, and geometry that matter most.
November 1, 2027
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MATERIALS
Drilling Rubber, Foam, And Soft Elastomers
Techniques and tooling for drilling rubber, foam, and elastomeric materials without tearing or distortion.
October 25, 2027
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MATERIALS
Drilling Non-Ferrous Aerospace Alloys
How to select and run drill bits in non-ferrous aerospace alloys including aluminum, titanium, and magnesium.
October 18, 2027
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MATERIALS
Drilling Inconel And Nickel Alloys: Survival Guide
A practical survival guide for machinists who need to drill Inconel and high-nickel alloys regularly.
October 11, 2027
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MATERIALS
Drilling Inconel And Nickel Alloys
The challenges of drilling Inconel and nickel alloys and the parameters that keep tools alive.
October 4, 2027
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MATERIALS
Drilling Hardened Steel: When It Is Possible
The conditions that make drilling hardened steel feasible and the limits you should not push past.
September 20, 2027
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MATERIALS
Drilling Hardened Steel: Tools And Techniques
Tool selection, geometry, speeds, and technique for successfully drilling hardened steel workpieces.
September 13, 2027
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MATERIALS
Drilling Hardened Steel With HSS
What it takes to drill hardened steel with HSS bits and when it is worth trying vs switching to carbide.
September 6, 2027
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MATERIALS
Drilling Exotic Materials
How to approach drilling exotic alloys and advanced materials that demand non-standard techniques.
August 30, 2027
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MATERIALS
Drilling Copper And Brass: Problems And Solutions
Common problems when drilling copper and brass and the geometry and technique fixes that solve them.
August 23, 2027
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MATERIALS
Drilling Composite Materials
Best practices for drilling composite laminates to avoid delamination, splintering, and tool wear.
August 16, 2027
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MATERIALS
Drilling Cast Iron: No Coolant, Correct Geometry
Why cast iron is drilled dry and how to choose the right geometry for clean, burr-free holes.
August 9, 2027
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MATERIALS
Drilling Brass: Geometry Tips
The specific drill geometry changes that prevent brass from grabbing and self-feeding during drilling.
August 2, 2027
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