Features and secrets of choosing step drills for metal

Metal step drills are a special type of tool designed for processing steel sheets of various thicknesses. Such products are used to create quality holes, and they do an excellent job with this task. The choice of the tool is carried out taking into account various parameters. Therefore, it is worth considering in more detail the nuances of the selection and operation of such equipment.

Today the tool market is represented by a large selection of drills from various manufacturers. Regardless of the type of product, they are designed to perform a variety of metal processing operations. The advantage of the step drill lies in its design. Improved cutting edge strength results in long product life and reduces the need for regular repairs.

The conical step drill is the most popular and versatile tool. With its help, steel sheets with a thickness of 5-6 mm are processed in order to obtain reliable holes.

Also, the tool can be used to work with the following materials:

• plastic;
• drywall;
• wood.

The two-stage drill is a specific bit used in various machine tools. The design of the drill contains a working part, which ensures the rotation of the drill, and a shank in the form of a cylinder or a hexagon.

The working area of ​​the structure is divided into 3 parts:

• a small tip required for pre-drilling;
• beveled transitions provided between the steps (such a device allows you to get rid of burrs);
• incisal edge: this is used to create holes.

The drill shank comes in a variety of shapes. It is determined depending on the area in which you plan to use the tool. This category also includes multi-stage drills.

The shape of the drill is based on the cone. With its help, it turns out to process the material by achieving high speeds, using the herringbone technology. In this case, the quality of the resulting hole edge will be high even in the case of drilling thin sheet steel.

The drills are equipped with a sharp tip, which prevents the need for additional tools. With the help of such units, it is possible to facilitate the execution of work on the processing of metal or other materials. The device is used in the following areas:

• construction;
• automotive industry;
• repair work;
• landscape work.

Each cutting tool has distinctive characteristics as well as positive and negative properties. If we consider drills, then the following should be attributed to the advantages of such equipment.

• Possibility of drilling holes with one bit.
• Resistant to wear and tear.
• No need for punching the place of drilling when performing the task. The tip of the drill cuts into the material almost immediately.
• Combination of functions of different tools.
• Smooth transition of a smaller diameter to a larger one. This option allows you to reduce or completely eliminate material deformation, which is important when it comes to processing thin sheets.
• Versatility of use.The drills can be used as basic equipment on a stationary machine or on a hand-held power tool.
• The use of abrasive spraying to increase the strength.
• No need for regular sharpening.

It is noteworthy that products from China are not of high quality. In the case of stepped drills, preference should be given to Russian and European manufacturers, among which the following stood out.

• "Bison". The company is engaged in the production of stepped drills of acceptable cost and high quality. The domestic brand makes tools from special steel, additionally covering the surface of the drills with wear-resistant alloys.

• "Attack". Another Russian manufacturer whose drills are of high quality and low price. Reviews of the products of this brand are mostly positive. Additionally, it is worth noting that the manufacturer provides the opportunity to select a tool taking into account the maximum diameter that may be required in the work.

• Bosch. A famous German brand, whose products are suitable for both professionals and those who work at home. The company marks its instruments with a laser. This approach ensures the safety of the inscription even in case of long-term use. The advantage of the German manufacturer's tools lies in the special sharpening of the drill.

• Falon-Tech. Manufacturer from Germany, engaged in the manufacture and production of quality drills with an additional titanium coating. The advantage of this technology is to increase the tool life several times. Laser marking of models, tail - standard. The drills of this company will be the best option for those who want to purchase a tool for use at home.

There are other manufacturers whose tools are also of high quality and reliable. However, the listed companies are considered the most popular both among professional craftsmen and among those who purchase drills for work at home.

It's no secret that drills are expensive tools. Therefore, the choice of such equipment should be approached responsibly, carefully studying the technical characteristics. This approach will allow you to immediately select the desired model in the store.

GOST is responsible for determining the basic standards of products for drilling materials. The document spells out the main requirements regarding what drills can be and what they need to be made of. So, in GOST it is indicated that to create such a tool, it is necessary to use high-strength alloy steel. The equipment itself must meet the following characteristics:

• hole diameter: 5 to 80 mm;
• cone length: from 58 to 85 mm;
• tail dimensions: 6-12 mm in diameter.

The listed indicators are considered basic. They are defined by standards, so it is recommended to pay special attention to them when choosing the right tool. In addition to the key characteristics, you should also take into account additional ones, with the help of which you can assess the quality of the product.

Each manufactured product has its own labeling. With its help, the buyer can find out about the type of steel that was used in the manufacture of a specific drill model. Units with the HSS marking are considered the most reliable. Various materials are processed with similar drills. The advantage of the tools is that they provide a high drilling speed, and their nozzle does not deform when the temperature rises.

If the manufacturer used an alloy to increase the wear resistance of the drill, then this is also displayed in the marking. This is done by applying additional letter values ​​that allow you to determine the composition of the alloy:

• Co is cobalt;
• Ti is titanium;
• N is nitrogen;
• M is molybdenum.

Before buying a product, you should decide what hole diameter you plan to drill. It is with the help of this indicator that it will be possible to clarify the size of the future nozzle.

You can determine which diameters the drill is suitable for from its name. It is written on the label, so there will be no difficulties with finding and decoding the name. So, if the label says "Step drill 8-34 mm", it is easy to guess that it can be used to drill holes with a diameter of 8 to 34 mm.

Step drills come in a variety of colors. All models can be divided into the following categories if we consider the classification by the color of the instrument.

• Gray. In this case, you can guess that the drill is made of steel. At the same time, the tool was not subjected to additional processing, which indicates a low strength. Such attachments are inexpensive, suitable mainly for home use.
• Black. Demonstrates the presence of superheated steam hardening of the tool. The quality of such a product is higher, but the cost is also noticeably different.
• Dark golden. This shade can be achieved when carrying out high-temperature tempering of steel. The procedure is aimed at removing excess stress in the metal, which improves the strength characteristics of the product.
• Bright gold. The surface of the tool is coated with a wear-resistant material, the composition of which includes sodium nitride. These drills are considered the most durable and most expensive in the building materials market.

The latter type of products is intended exclusively for professional use, where it is necessary to make a large number of holes.

It is not enough to choose a drill, it is also important to be able to use it correctly. For the successful operation of the tool, several rules should be taken into account:

• when performing the task, you should pay attention to the strength of the material in which the holes are drilled;
• if it is required to drill a metal sheet with a thickness of more than 5 mm, it is necessary to apply cooling of the tool, preventing its overheating and deformation of the drill;
• during processing, it is recommended to avoid sudden movements and distortions so as not to damage the product and maintain the quality of the hole;
• the use of a drill in a machine requires compliance with a certain angle of the cone relative to the working surface.

Often during use of the drill in case of large volumes of work, the sharpness of the blade decreases. Then it is recommended to sharpen the element. It should be noted right away that the cutting edge is usually sharpened. For the procedure, you will need a coolant, which will prevent deformation of the geometry of the working surface.

Drill sharpening should be carried out using fine-grained abrasives. Before doing this, it is recommended to securely fix the cutting element.

The network has posted a large number of reviews about step drills for metal. Tool owners note the high quality and convenient design of the product. Additional features of the drill include:

• long service life;
• work with heavy loads;
• good sharpening.

There are practically no negative comments.The users did not reveal any shortcomings.

The following video provides an overview of step drills.