Cutting Tools & Machining

9,000+ products

Expected delivery: Wed, Nov 18

Cutting tools for maintenance shops, fabricators and machine shops: drill bits in high-speed steel, cobalt and carbide, taps and dies for inch and metric threads, end mills and inserts, hole saws and annular cutters, countersinks, reamers and burs and saw blades. Maintenance techs, contractors and machinists all use this range.

How to choose cutting tools

• Match the tool material to the workpiece. High-speed steel (HSS) covers general drilling in mild steel, aluminum and wood. Cobalt HSS holds its edge in stainless and harder alloys. Solid carbide runs faster and lasts longer in rigid machines, but it is brittle in a hand drill. Our guide to drill bits by material explains coatings, point angles and lengths.
• Use the right point angle. A 118 degree point is common for general-purpose work. A 135 degree split point starts without a center punch and suits harder metals.
• Size the tap drill before you tap. Each thread size has a matching tap drill, and the wrong one breaks taps or strips threads. See how to read thread sizes and our taps and dies.
• Control speed and heat. Harder materials and larger diameters need slower speeds. Use cutting fluid on steel and stainless, found under oils and cutting fluids.
• Pick the right hole-making tool. Twist drills suit small holes, step drills suit thin sheet, and hole saws or annular cutters suit large holes.

We carry the Alfa Tool line of drill bits, taps, end mills, countersinks and hole saws. For production tooling, a recurring tool crib order or part numbers you don't see online, ask for a quote. Shops that go through bits every week can set up vendor managed inventory so bins are counted and refilled on a schedule.

Common questions

What drill bit should I use for stainless steel?

A cobalt drill bit with a 135 degree split point is a common choice. Run it at a low speed with steady pressure and cutting oil, so the bit keeps cutting and does not work-harden the steel.

What is the difference between a plug tap and a bottoming tap?

A plug tap has a few tapered threads at the tip and is the general-purpose choice. A bottoming tap has almost no taper, so it cuts full threads close to the bottom of a blind hole after a plug tap has started the thread.

When should I use an annular cutter instead of a twist drill?

Annular cutters cut only a ring of metal and leave a solid slug, so they make large holes in steel faster and with less power. They are usually run in a magnetic drill press.

Cutting Tools & Machining by type

• Drill Bits 5,000+
• Taps & Dies 2,000+
• End Mills & Inserts 700+
• Countersinks, Reamers & Burs 500+
• Hole Saws & Annular Cutters 400+
• Saw Blades 100+
• Other Cutting Tools & Machining 1+

Popular cutting tools & machining

• Alfa Tool "A" Cobalt Screw Machine Drill SKU SMCO60401 $6.40
• Approved Vendor "A" HSS Black & Gold 135° Split Point Jobber Length Drill Bit SKU 6405 $10.43
• Approved Vendor "A" HSS Black Oxide 118° Standard Point Jobber Length Drill Bit SKU 6406 $4.86
• Approved Vendor "A" HSS Black Oxide 135° Split Point Jobber Length Drill Bit SKU 6407 $9.03
• Approved Vendor "A" HSS Cobalt 135° Split Point Jobber Length Drill Bit SKU 6408 $12.20
• Approved Vendor "A" HSS Polished 118° Standard Point Jobber Length Drill Bit SKU 6409 $8.38
• Alfa Tool "B" Cobalt Screw Machine Drill SKU SMCO60402 $5.82
• Alfa Tool "B" Cobalt Split Point Jobber Drill SKU CO60202 $5.60
• Approved Vendor "B" HSS Black & Gold 135° Split Point Jobber Length Drill Bit SKU 6410 $10.43
• Approved Vendor "B" HSS Black Oxide 118° Standard Point Jobber Length Drill Bit SKU 6411 $4.86
• Approved Vendor "B" HSS Black Oxide 135° Split Point Jobber Length Drill Bit SKU 6412 $9.03
• Approved Vendor "B" HSS Cobalt 135° Split Point Jobber Length Drill Bit SKU 6413 $13.97
• Approved Vendor "B" HSS Polished 118° Standard Point Jobber Length Drill Bit SKU 6414 $8.59
• Alfa Tool "C" Cobalt Screw Machine Drill SKU SMCO60403 $6.02
• Alfa Tool "C" Cobalt Split Point Jobber Drill SKU CO60203 $5.72
• Approved Vendor "C" HSS Black & Gold 135° Split Point Jobber Length Drill Bit SKU 6415 $10.00
• Approved Vendor "C" HSS Black Oxide 118° Standard Point Jobber Length Drill Bit SKU 6416 $4.86
• Approved Vendor "C" HSS Black Oxide 135° Split Point Jobber Length Drill Bit SKU 6417 $8.67
• Approved Vendor "C" HSS Cobalt 135° Split Point Jobber Length Drill Bit SKU 6418 $13.97
• Approved Vendor "C" HSS Polished 118° Standard Point Jobber Length Drill Bit SKU 6419 $8.10
• Alfa Tool "D" Cobalt Screw Machine Drill SKU SMCO60404 $5.94
• Alfa Tool "D" Cobalt Split Point Jobber Drill SKU CO60204 $5.94
• Approved Vendor "D" HSS Black & Gold 135° Split Point Jobber Length Drill Bit SKU 6420 $10.00
• Approved Vendor "D" HSS Black Oxide 118° Standard Point Jobber Length Drill Bit SKU 6421 $4.86
• Approved Vendor "D" HSS Black Oxide 135° Split Point Jobber Length Drill Bit SKU 6422 $8.67
• Approved Vendor "D" HSS Cobalt 135° Split Point Jobber Length Drill Bit SKU 6423 $15.69
• Approved Vendor "D" HSS Polished 118° Standard Point Jobber Length Drill Bit SKU 6424 $8.10
• Alfa Tool "E" Cobalt Screw Machine Drill SKU SMCO60405 $6.10
• Alfa Tool "E" Cobalt Split Point Jobber Drill SKU CO60205 $5.32
• Approved Vendor "E" HSS Black & Gold 135° Split Point Jobber Length Drill Bit SKU 6425 $10.00
• Approved Vendor "E" HSS Black Oxide 118° Standard Point Jobber Length Drill Bit SKU 6426 $4.56
• Approved Vendor "E" HSS Black Oxide 135° Split Point Jobber Length Drill Bit SKU 6427 $8.67
• Approved Vendor "E" HSS Cobalt 135° Split Point Jobber Length Drill Bit SKU 6428 $12.33
• Approved Vendor "E" HSS Polished 118° Standard Point Jobber Length Drill Bit SKU 6429 $8.46
• Alfa Tool "E" HSS Probit Cone Drill Tin Coated SKU MB52505TN $66.22
• Alfa Tool "E"Hss Probit Cone Drill TN Coated Carded SKU MB52505TNC $68.72
• Alfa Tool "F" Cobalt Screw Machine Drill SKU SMCO60406 $7.50
• Alfa Tool "F" Cobalt Split Point Jobber Drill SKU CO60206 $6.96
• Approved Vendor "F" HSS Black & Gold 135° Split Point Jobber Length Drill Bit SKU 6430 $11.27
• Approved Vendor "F" HSS Black Oxide 118° Standard Point Jobber Length Drill Bit SKU 6431 $5.19
• Approved Vendor "F" HSS Black Oxide 135° Split Point Jobber Length Drill Bit SKU 6432 $9.68
• Approved Vendor "F" HSS Cobalt 135° Split Point Jobber Length Drill Bit SKU 6433 $13.84
• Approved Vendor "F" HSS Polished 118° Standard Point Jobber Length Drill Bit SKU 6434 $9.71
• Alfa Tool "G" Cobalt Screw Machine Drill SKU SMCO60407 $7.54
• Approved Vendor "G" HSS Black & Gold 135° Split Point Jobber Length Drill Bit SKU 6435 $11.63
• Approved Vendor "G" HSS Black Oxide 118° Standard Point Jobber Length Drill Bit SKU 6436 $5.72
• Approved Vendor "G" HSS Black Oxide 135° Split Point Jobber Length Drill Bit SKU 6437 $9.96
• Alfa Tool "G" HSS Blitz Bit Jobber Length Drill SKU BB74207 $5.04