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+

Cutting Tools & Machining: page 38

• #6-40 UNF HSS Bottoming Tap, Tap America SKU 10682 $6.07
• Approved Vendor #6-40 UNF HSS Plug Tap SKU 10683 $3.84
• #6-40 UNF HSS Plug Tap, Tap America SKU 10684 $6.07
• Approved Vendor #6-40 UNF HSS Taper Tap SKU 10685 $3.84
• #6-40 UNF HSS Taper Tap, Tap America SKU 10686 $6.07
• #6-40 UNF Tin-Coated 2 Flute Spiral Point Tap, Tap America SKU 10687 $14.10
• Approved Vendor #6-40 UNF X 1" OD HSS Round Adjustable Die SKU 10688 $12.70
• Approved Vendor #6-40 UNF X 13/16" OD HSS Left Round Adjustable Die SKU 10689 $26.38
• Approved Vendor #6-40 UNF X 13/16" OD HSS Round Adjustable Die SKU 10690 $10.36
• Approved Vendor #6-48 UNS HSS Plug Tap SKU 10730 $16.48
• Approved Vendor #6-48 UNS X 1" OD HSS Round Adjustable Die SKU 10731 $33.01
• Approved Vendor #6-48 UNS X 13/16" OD HSS Round Adjustable Die SKU 10732 $29.07
• Approved Vendor #6-56 UNS X 13/16" OD HSS Round Adjustable Die SKU 10733 $29.07
• Approved Vendor #60 Cobalt Jobber Length Drill Bit, D/ACO Series SKU 10750 $2.27
• Drill America #60 Cobalt Jobber Length Drill Bit, DWDCO Series SKU 10751 $1.69
• Approved Vendor #60 Cobalt Split Point Stub Drill Bit SKU 10752 $2.26
• Approved Vendor #60 HSS Black & Gold 135° Split Point Jobber Length Drill Bit SKU 10753 $3.30
• Drill America #60 HSS Black & Gold KFD Split Point Jobber Length Drill Bit Killer Force Drill Bit SKU 10754 $0.93
• Approved Vendor #60 HSS Black Oxide 118° Standard Point Jobber Length Drill Bit SKU 10755 $2.74
• Drill America #60 HSS Black Oxide Jobber Length Drill Bit, D/AN Series SKU 10756 $1.26
• Drill America #60 HSS Black Oxide Jobber Length Drill Bit, DWDN Series SKU 10757 $0.74
• Approved Vendor #60 HSS Cobalt 135° Split Point Jobber Length Drill Bit SKU 10758 $5.59
• Approved Vendor #60 HSS Left Hand Jobber Length Drill Bit SKU 10759 $3.11
• Approved Vendor #60 HSS Polished 118° Standard Point Jobber Length Drill Bit SKU 10760 $4.31
• Approved Vendor #60 HSS Polished Jobber Length Drill Bit, D/AP Series SKU 10761 $1.26
• Approved Vendor #60 HSS Split Point Stub Drill Bit, D/AST Series SKU 10762 $1.22
• Approved Vendor #60 HSS Split Point Stub Drill Bit, DWDST Series SKU 10763 $0.99
• Approved Vendor #60 HSS Taper Length Drill Bit SKU 10765 $3.74
• Approved Vendor #60 Solid Carbide Drill Bit SKU 10766 $16.70
• Drill America #60 x 12" HSS Aircraft Extension Drill Bit, DWDA/C SKU 10767 $14.55
• Drill America #60 x 6" HSS Aircraft Extension Drill Bit, DWDA/C SKU 10768 $7.96
• Approved Vendor #61 Cobalt Jobber Length Drill Bit, D/ACO Series SKU 10769 $3.45
• Drill America #61 Cobalt Jobber Length Drill Bit, DWDCO Series SKU 10770 $2.19
• Approved Vendor #61 HSS Black Oxide 118° Standard Point Jobber Length Drill Bit SKU 10771 $2.90
• Drill America #61 HSS Black Oxide Jobber Length Drill Bit, D/AN Series SKU 10772 $1.35
• Drill America #61 HSS Black Oxide Jobber Length Drill Bit, DWDN Series SKU 10773 $0.79
• Approved Vendor #61 HSS Cobalt 135° Split Point Jobber Length Drill Bit SKU 10774 $7.11
• Approved Vendor #61 HSS Polished 118° Standard Point Jobber Length Drill Bit SKU 10775 $4.58
• Approved Vendor #61 HSS Polished Jobber Length Drill Bit, D/AP Series SKU 10776 $1.35
• Approved Vendor #61 HSS Taper Length Drill Bit SKU 10777 $4.00
• Approved Vendor #62 Cobalt Jobber Length Drill Bit, D/ACO Series SKU 10778 $3.45
• Drill America #62 Cobalt Jobber Length Drill Bit, DWDCO Series SKU 10779 $2.19
• Approved Vendor #62 HSS Black Oxide 118° Standard Point Jobber Length Drill Bit SKU 10780 $2.90
• Drill America #62 HSS Black Oxide Jobber Length Drill Bit, D/AN Series SKU 10781 $1.35
• Drill America #62 HSS Black Oxide Jobber Length Drill Bit, DWDN Series SKU 10782 $0.79
• Approved Vendor #62 HSS Cobalt 135° Split Point Jobber Length Drill Bit SKU 10783 $7.11
• Approved Vendor #62 HSS Polished 118° Standard Point Jobber Length Drill Bit SKU 10784 $4.58
• Approved Vendor #62 HSS Polished Jobber Length Drill Bit, D/AP Series SKU 10785 $1.35