Cobalt Drills

Cobalt drill bits are excellent at cutting through hard metals, such as stainless steel, iron, bronze and titanium. Made from a composite of cobalt and an alloy (usually stainless steel) cobalt drill bits are ideal for cutting at high temperatures. If you are searching for high-quality cobalt drill sets, jobber drills and spotting and centre drills, you can find them at R.D. Barrett. Read more

Brand

HSSCo Cobalt Stub Drills By Europa

£9.66£27.28 View

Long Series Cobalt Long Jobber Drills By Europa

£15.39£66.62 View
Osborn Cobalt Spotting & Centre Drill

Osborn 120º Cobalt Spotting & Centre Drill By Europa

£5.90£41.86 View
Osborn Cobalt Spotting & Centre Drill

Osborn 90º Cobalt Spotting & Centre Drill By Europa

£5.90£45.35 View
Osborn Cobalt Jobber Drill (Multipack)

Osborn Cobalt Jobber Drill (Multipack) By Europa

£10.08£85.04 View

Cobalt Drill Bits

Why choose a cobalt drill bit

Cobalt drill bits are incredibly tough and can drill into some of the hardest materials, including bronze, iron, stainless steel and titanium. Cobalt drill bits aren’t made from solid cobalt, but are a combination of steel and a percentage of cobalt – typically between 5-7%.

One of the strengths of cobalt is its ability to withstand high temperatures. Cobalt has a melting point of 1495°C and a boiling point of 2927°C, which makes it the ideal material for high RPM drilling. The strength of cobalt, when mixed with an alloy, means they can safely operate at high speeds for long periods, without the need for cooling or cutting fluids.

Cobalt drill bits are corrosion resistant, which means if they are treated with care they can deliver long-term performance. Cobalt may be incredibly tough, but you need to treat the drill bits with care because if they are dropped or mishandled, they can become damaged and may need to be replaced.

Europa Cobalt drill bits

Our Osborn cobalt drill bits are produced by Europa, a leading UK supplier of precision cutting tools. The business has been producing high-performance machining equipment, including cobalt drill bits, since 2004. We believe that that the Europa range of drill bits offers excellent performance and value-for-money for our trusted customers.

Cobalt Drills FAQs

Cobalt drill bits should be used to drill through tough materials such as bronze, iron, stainless steel and titanium. They are also able to drill through weld seams. Cobalt drill bits aren’t suitable for general jobs, such as drilling through wood or plastic. There are other, more suitable drill bits available to purchase for those application

The high-temperature resistance of cobalt means that you do not need to cool your cobalt drill bits. Unlike carbide drill bits that include a hollow core for cutting fluid, cobalt drill bits are solid. To prolong the life of your cobalt drill bits, we recommend you exercise caution when using your cobalt drill bits for long periods.

At RD Barrett you can choose a whole range of different cobalt drill bits and cobalt drill bit sets. Our current cobalt drill bits include:

  • Osborn 120º Cobalt Spotting & Centre Drill bits are available in sizes between 3.0mm and 20.0mm.
  • Osborn 90º Cobalt Spotting & Centre Drill bits are available in sizes between 3.0mm and 20.0mm.
  • Osborn Cobalt Jobber Drill (Multipack) are available in sizes between 1.0mm and 13.0mm.
  • Osborn Cobalt TIN Coated 1.0-13.0mm x 0.5mm Drill Set (25 Drills).

Cobalt drill bits are built to tackle tough jobs like cutting through hardened metals. High-speed steel (HSS) drill bits are designed to cut through softer materials such as wood and plastic. An HSS drill bit won’t cut through steel, and while a cobalt drill bit can cut through wood and plastic, that’s not what it is for and could cause damage. 

If you’d like to learn more about the difference between cobalt drill bits and HSS drill bits, you can read our in-depth article.

While cobalt drill bits are incredibly strong, carbide drill bits are even stronger. Both can cut through hardened steel and other strong metals. The choice between a carbide drill bit and a cobalt drill bit depends on the job you are completing and the equipment you are using. For expert advice on choosing the right drill bit, contact us for a no-obligation discussion.

You can view our range of cobalt drill bits and purchase online through our website. If you can’t see the cobalt drill bit you require, or would like some expert advice on what drill bit is right for the job you are tackling then please get in contact with us. We are always pleased to provide information and impartial advice on the range of drill bits available.