Axminster drills

[woodfarmer]

On my last visit to Axminster I bought a set of cobalt drills for a project I have in stainless steel. As it happened I used the 9mm drill from the set to drill in aluminium. The drill shattred as soon as it touched the aluminium. Work mounted using a pillar drill. I finshed the hole and another 15 using a normal HSS drill. (shown as the black drill),

I sent Axi a photo of the shattered drill thinking they might just replace the broken one. A week later I received a new complete set from them here in France. I call this excellent service.

 

[DiscoStu]

Excellent service but that is a concern.

I have a few cobalt drill bits. I had to get one to drill a brake disc. Normal HSS wouldn't touch it but Cobalt breezed through it. I'd be very concerned about one shattering.

 

[woodfarmer]

I am hoping it is some kind of flaw in that particular drill. I have cobalt "jobber" drill that has done a lot of work, but this isone from a set (different make).

 

[NickWelford]

Not sure I would use cobalt drills on ally simply because they can catch and on a pillar drill, there's nowhere for the resulting torque to go, so it shatters. On a much harder material a catch is less likely. Or use a very slow speed perhaps. If using a handheld drill, the torque would probably just pull the drill round.

 

[Ali]

Axminster do have excellent customer service, but a bit worrying that happened. Could have been very nasty