Need help choosing a Rock Drill? Choosing a Rock Drill
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The 1st step in choosing the right steel and bits for your rock drill and application would be to determine the shank configuration on your drill.
The smallest common pneumatic drills are a variation of the CP9 and use a one piece bit/drill steel combination called a Whirly Bit.
When you move to the bigger hand held drills, there are only 3 common shank sizes. 7/8 x 3 ¼”, 7/8 x 4 ¼” and 1 x 4 ¼”. These measurements refer to the diameter of the hex steel (measured across the flats) and the length above the retaining collar. The larger sinker drills will usually run the larger steel but it is not uncommon to have a 55lb drill which is set up for a 7/8 x 3 ¼” shank. You must know which shank configuration you have prior to ordering your drill steel.
These bits are actually the bit and the drill steel all in one piece. The shank which goes into the drill, the body of the steel, and a silver brazed carbide tip. The body of the drill steel is actually smaller than the bit to allow cuttings to travel up and out of the hole. Even a 1” shanked 60# class drill can be used to drill a hole smaller than 1” to a limited depth.
H thread is probably the most commonly used contractors thread due to its versatility and availability. The male thread on the steel is about 1” diameter and about 3/4” long. The steel is typically stocked from 12” to 120” long in all 3 shank configurations. The bits range from 1 3/8” up to 3” diameter in full carbide cross (most common), 1 3/8” to 2” in shallow carbide cross, 1 3/8” to 2 1/4” in button bit bits and 1 3/8” to 2 -5/8” diameter in an all steel bit.
H thread drill steel is usually made from a high carbon steel. It is usually forged, machined, and heat treated to have a wear resistant exterior while retaining a slightly softer core to handle and transfer impact energy. It is a shoulder drive steel which means the skirt of the bit tightens up to the forged/machined shoulder on the steel. The percussive energy is transferred though the steel and skirt of the bit to face – shattering the material in front of it.
While H thread steel is the most common contractors thread - it does have its inherent weaknesses. The shoulder drive dictates that the bit must remain tight against the shoulder of the steel. If it becomes loose from the shoulder – all of the drills forces are going very small threads on the bit and steel – and they will quickly fail. Keep constant down pressure and do not allow the drill to bounce in the hole and H thread should work very well in most hard rock drilling applications.
This bit has 4 large silver brazed carbide inserts that hold up extremely well in production hard rock drilling applications. They hold there gauge well and can be sharpened if they get too dull to be effective.
The economy bit costs a little less than the Full Carbide bit but has a fraction of the tungsten carbide insert. They can sometimes be more “economical” in some situations. (small jobs, very abrasive material, drilling in conditions prone to bit failures)
The button bit costs a little more than the Full Carbide cross bit. It has multiple carbide buttons pressed into the face of the bit and may appear to be dull and ineffective at first glance. However, keep in mind, how a percussive rock drills works. Larger hand drills can deliver enough impact energy to make these bits far superior to a cross bit in speed and longevity in the right conditions.
These cross bits are forged and hardened and are the least expensive options. Without the carbide component you can expect a relatively short lifespan especially in abrasive conditions.
Tapered drill steel was/is primarily used in underground mining on jackleg drills. 12 degree taper is more prevalent in Canada and 11 degree is more prevalent in the US and Central America. The female tapered bit pushes on to the male tapered drill steel. Once mated – they can be separated by means of a bit knocker when the bit is worn out.
Some contractors have adopted it - as the steel is produced in larger volumes and is easier to manufacture therefore it can be less expensive. However, it was made for production mining and is limited in scope. The drill steels normal shank configuration is 7/8 x 4 ¼ and the range of bits is limited. Crowder Supply stocks shallow cross bits from 1” through 2”, button bits 1 3/8 – 1 1/2 “and 11 degree steel in 18” through 12’ increments. Failure to maintain steady down pressure may result in losing the bit in the hole.
100 rope (1” rope, R25) and 125 rope (1 ¼”rope, R32) are used extensively in underground production mining applications. Many contractors have turned to this type of steel to deliver a longer life, especially in more demanding conditions or when consistently drilling 2 ½” plus diameter holes. The drill steel is normally carburized which is a process of infusing the steel with carbon elements in a furnace. This gives the steel an extremely hard casing while maintaining a lower hardness inside to transfer the impact shockwave. The thread is larger/longer and will bottom out inside the rock bit. This combination is more forgiving in tough drilling conditions. Crowder Supply manufactures a large variety of steel and bit adaptors for larger track drills but it is seldom necessary to move beyond these two threads with hand drills.
Rope thread steels also give you the ability to run drill strings by using extension steels. This gives you the option to drill a deeper hole or to drill longer holes in confined spaces.
Please let us know if we can help with your decision 888-883-.
Drill rod is round bar stock precision ground and polished to tight tolerances. Drill rod is considered unhardened, or soft, in its raw state allowing for easier machining. After machining, drill rod may be heat‑treated, then drawn back to the desired hardness.
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Drill rod is unhardened, precision ground, round bar used in a variety of industries including manufacturing and construction. It is often used in the manufacture of dies, punches, drills, gauges, pins, and other machine parts that require high strength and durability. It is also ideal for use in power drive shafts and other precision applications.
Huyett offers steel drill rod stock in a variety of lengths and diameters and can be custom cut specific to your needs. Our steel drill rod is ground and polished to precise tolerances. If you don't see what you are looking for, contact our friendly and experienced Sales team today!
Drill rod is made of annealed tool steel with a Rockwell hardness ranging from 96 to 110 rb. It is typically soft enough that it can be easily machined, although it is hard enough to use in some applications without heat treatment. If you require hardened steel for use in tools, drill rod can be appropriately hardened through heating, quenching, and tempering.
Yes, drill rod can easily be welded. However, proper welding practices should be followed as heat from the welding process will cause hardening.
Drill rod stock is typically supplied without being heat treatment, or unhardened, so that it is easy to machine. Once the metal is machined into its tool form, it can be hardened through heat treatment and then drawn back. Drill rod may become work hardened due to heat generated by the machining process, but it can be annealed to a softer state if required.
Drill rod is hardened through heating. The machined part is heated and then quenched in water or oil until it cools. After quenching, tool steel is brittle and should be tempered through mild heating and quenching to draw back the hardness.
Drill rod is soft enough to be machined easily and cut with tools made of high-speed steel or abrasive wheels, although care should be taken not to overheat and harden the steel during cutting.
Drill rod is tempered by heating it to its low critical point. The drill rod is then quenched in water, oil, or air.
Drill rod is not , as this designation applies to SAE steel grades. Drill rod is tool steel, which is referenced by the following grades, per AISI standards: W‑1, O‑1, A‑2, S‑7, D‑2, M‑2, and H‑13. Certain grades of tool steel have similar alloy properties to , but not all tool steel is .
Drill rod grades O‑1, A‑2, S‑7, D‑2, M‑2, and H‑13 are considered specialty metals as defined by DFARS 252.225‑.
Flat bar, or flat stock, can be purchased online or by from Huyett! Our flat stock is available in a variety of lengths and can be custom cut to your specifications. If you don't find what you need, contact our friendly and experienced Sales Team today!
Flat bar stock, or ground stock, refers to rectangular or square steel bar that can be manufactured with Blanchard or Mattison finishes. Once shaped, ground stock may be heat treated to harden. Flat stock is available in stainless steel, cold finished steel, and alloy steel to suit a variety of applications.
A Blanchard finish refers to a grinding method called Blanchard grinding. Blanchard grinding is a rotary grind process that removes stock to a moderate finish accuracy. Blanchard ground flat stock possesses a specific pattern on the surface produced by the movement of the grinding tools across its surface. This method works well for large quantity runs but is less precise when compared to Mattison grinding.
A Mattison finish refers to a grinding method called Mattison grinding. Mattison grinding is a precision grinding process especially suited for along parts and is most often considered a finish operation. This method of grinding is ideal to achieve precise tolerances with ground flat stock, but it is often used in smaller production runs.
No. Flat stock tool steel is annealed for ease of machining. After machining, flat stock tool steel can be hardened.
Ground flat bar, or tool steel, is found in a wide variety of industries ranging from manufacturing and constructions to agriculture and transport. It is often used for dies, punches, templates, stripper plates, gate latches, and bracing.
Flat bar can be cut using a variety of methods. For smaller products or in field work, flat steel bar can be cut using standard hand tools such as a hack saw or reciprocating saw fitted with a metal cutting blade. For larger production runs, wet saws or CNC machines are acceptable methods of cutting flat steel bar.
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