Every minute spent re-drilling or replacing worn-out tools means lost profit for you. Whether your workpiece is hardened steel, stainless steel, aluminium, concrete or wood, drilling tools are the backbone of any manufacturing or construction site. While on the shop floor, metalworkers use solid carbide drills and high-speed indexable drilling systems to accurate reamers, broach drill bits, spade drills and specialised countersinks. Here are some of the benefits you can get from effective holemaking & drilling tools. 

• Precision and accuracy: Drilling tools deliver clean, accurate holes, which minimises the risk of errors, allowing for control and reliability in your craft.
• Enhanced efficiency: Using power tools like a high-powered drill significantly speeds up your processes, leading to a higher overall output and increased profit.
• Reduced manual labour: Using drills & holemaking tools reduces the physical strain on operators, allowing for continuous operation and protecting your workforce from injury.
• Versatility: Modern drills have interchangeable drill bits, from carbide to HSS cobalt, as well as variable speed settings, making it easy to use a single tool for a wide range of tasks.

For stainless steel fabrication work, cobalt twist drills or carbide-tipped annular cutters are the best drill bits due to their resistance to intense heat and their ability to maintain a sharp cutting edge.

For small batch jobs, prioritise versatility and low initial cost over speed. HSS or carbide drills are good for longevity and rely on quick changes rather than indexable inserts. Whilst not as fast, these will save you a lot of money and time at the start.

Stub drills are the shortest and most rigid, excellent for accuracy and high speed. Jobber drills are the standard general-purpose length, while extra-long drills are only used when depth requires it.

Choose the drill type based on the workpiece material, hole size, tolerance, and production volume. HSS drills are a good general-purpose option for mild steel, aluminium, copper, plastics, and wood; cobalt drills are better for stainless steel, cast iron, titanium, and other tough alloys; solid carbide drills suit hardened steels and high-performance machining; indexable drills are ideal for larger-diameter holes and production work; diamond-coated drills are best for abrasive materials such as composites, ceramics, and glass; through-coolant drills improve chip evacuation in deep-hole drilling; and reamers are used when the priority is final hole size and surface finish.