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IRWIN Industrial Tools

IRWIN Industrial Tools manufactures and distributes professional grade hand tools and power tool accessories worldwide for trade professionals who demand superior performance and durability on the job.

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Irwin FAQ's

Are Irwin cobalt drill bits coated like the titanium ones? If the cobalt bits are rockwell hardness 66 - 67 HRc, what hardness are the titanium bits? Once you sharpen a cobalt bit and the gold coating is gone, is it just a regular bit?

Cobalt bits are not coated, they are cobalt steel through and through. At the end of manufacture a cobalt bit is baked in an oven to turn the surface color of the steel a dull gold color. This is done primarily for easy identification by color. If the gold wears off or is ground off in sharpening on a cobalt bit, it is still solid cobalt steel. Our cobalt drill bits are made of M42 cobalt steel which has 8 percent cobalt content. The Rockwell is approximately 65.5 to 67 Rockwell C. Irwin titanium drill bits have a hardness of approximately 64.5 to 65.5 Rockwell C. The titanium coating is much harder at approximately 82 Rockwell C. If you sharpen a cobalt bit it is still as good as a new bit, assuming it was sharpened correctly. If you sharpen a titanium bit its performance will drop because the coating is gone on the tip; however, you still have the benefit of the titanium coating in the flute of the bit and on the sides of the bit. It will still perform better than a standard bit.

What does the 'Bi-Metal' mean when referring to a utility blade?

The bi-metal terminology refers to how the utility blade is constructed. With a bi-metal blade, the edge of the blade is constructed of a high speed steel while the body of the blade is made of spring steel. The two sections are welded together to form a single blade. The advantages of a bi-metal blade is that the hardened edge of the blade stays sharp longer than a standard carbon blade and the spring steel body allows the blade to flex without breaking which is common among carbon body blades.

What is the function of the hole in an auger bit?

The hole in the flute of the Installer Bits is to hook a wire through to aid in pulling wire through the drilled hole. This technique is used by many telephone and security wire installers. The hole in the Spade Bits was initially for hanging it on a finish nail in a workshop. It is also used to hook wires to help pull wires through drilled holes. Some people think the holes are for heat dissipation in keeping the bits cool but it is not.