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 42

• Approved Vendor #76 Cobalt Jobber Length Drill Bit, D/ACO Series SKU 11060 $4.55
• Drill America #76 Cobalt Jobber Length Drill Bit, DWDCO Series SKU 11061 $2.88
• Approved Vendor #76 HSS Black Oxide 118° Standard Point Jobber Length Drill Bit SKU 11062 $3.79
• Drill America #76 HSS Black Oxide Jobber Length Drill Bit, D/AN Series SKU 11063 $1.84
• Drill America #76 HSS Black Oxide Jobber Length Drill Bit, DWDN Series SKU 11064 $1.09
• Approved Vendor #76 HSS Cobalt 135° Split Point Jobber Length Drill Bit SKU 11065 $9.22
• Approved Vendor #76 HSS Polished 118° Standard Point Jobber Length Drill Bit SKU 11066 $6.05
• Approved Vendor #76 HSS Polished Jobber Length Drill Bit, D/AP Series SKU 11067 $1.84
• Approved Vendor #76 HSS Taper Length Drill Bit SKU 11068 $6.35
• Approved Vendor #77 Cobalt Jobber Length Drill Bit, D/ACO Series SKU 11069 $4.55
• Drill America #77 Cobalt Jobber Length Drill Bit, DWDCO Series SKU 11070 $2.88
• Approved Vendor #77 HSS Black Oxide 118° Standard Point Jobber Length Drill Bit SKU 11071 $3.79
• Drill America #77 HSS Black Oxide Jobber Length Drill Bit, D/AN Series SKU 11072 $1.84
• Drill America #77 HSS Black Oxide Jobber Length Drill Bit, DWDN Series SKU 11073 $1.09
• Approved Vendor #77 HSS Cobalt 135° Split Point Jobber Length Drill Bit SKU 11074 $9.22
• Approved Vendor #77 HSS Polished 118° Standard Point Jobber Length Drill Bit SKU 11075 $6.05
• Approved Vendor #77 HSS Polished Jobber Length Drill Bit, D/AP Series SKU 11076 $1.84
• Approved Vendor #77 HSS Taper Length Drill Bit SKU 11077 $6.35
• Approved Vendor #78 Cobalt Jobber Length Drill Bit, D/ACO Series SKU 11078 $4.55
• Drill America #78 Cobalt Jobber Length Drill Bit, DWDCO Series SKU 11079 $2.88
• Approved Vendor #78 HSS Black Oxide 118° Standard Point Jobber Length Drill Bit SKU 11080 $3.79
• Drill America #78 HSS Black Oxide Jobber Length Drill Bit, D/AN Series SKU 11081 $1.84
• Drill America #78 HSS Black Oxide Jobber Length Drill Bit, DWDN Series SKU 11082 $1.09
• Approved Vendor #78 HSS Cobalt 135° Split Point Jobber Length Drill Bit SKU 11083 $9.22
• Approved Vendor #78 HSS Polished 118° Standard Point Jobber Length Drill Bit SKU 11084 $6.05
• Approved Vendor #78 HSS Polished Jobber Length Drill Bit, D/AP Series SKU 11085 $1.84
• Approved Vendor #78 HSS Taper Length Drill Bit SKU 11086 $6.35
• Approved Vendor #79 Cobalt Jobber Length Drill Bit, D/ACO Series SKU 11087 $4.55
• Drill America #79 Cobalt Jobber Length Drill Bit, DWDCO Series SKU 11088 $2.88
• Alfa Tool #79 HSS Alfa Usa Jobber Drill Bright SKU J160179B $8.44
• Approved Vendor #79 HSS Black Oxide 118° Standard Point Jobber Length Drill Bit SKU 11089 $3.79
• Drill America #79 HSS Black Oxide Jobber Length Drill Bit, D/AN Series SKU 11090 $1.84
• Drill America #79 HSS Black Oxide Jobber Length Drill Bit, DWDN Series SKU 11091 $1.09
• Approved Vendor #79 HSS Cobalt 135° Split Point Jobber Length Drill Bit SKU 11092 $9.22
• Approved Vendor #79 HSS Polished 118° Standard Point Jobber Length Drill Bit SKU 11093 $6.05
• Approved Vendor #79 HSS Polished Jobber Length Drill Bit, D/AP Series SKU 11094 $1.84
• Approved Vendor #79 HSS Taper Length Drill Bit SKU 11095 $6.35
• DeWalt #8 - 350 MCM Aluminum Die Kit SKU 115-DCE3100AK $904.56
• Milwaukee #8 Aluminum U Style Die SKU 495-49-16-U008 $122.20
• Approved Vendor #8 Carbide Tipped Jobber Length Drill Bit SKU 11102 $38.34
• Approved Vendor #8 Cobalt Jobber Length Drill Bit, D/ACO Series SKU 11104 $3.71
• Drill America #8 Cobalt Jobber Length Drill Bit, DWDCO Series SKU 11105 $2.69
• Approved Vendor #8 Cobalt Long Threaded Shank Drill Bit SKU 11106 $5.45
• Approved Vendor #8 Cobalt Short Threaded Shank Drill Bit SKU 11107 $4.66
• Approved Vendor #8 Cobalt Split Point Stub Drill Bit SKU 11108 $3.49
• Approved Vendor #8 Cobalt Stubby Threaded Shank Drill Bit SKU 11109 $5.53
• Approved Vendor #8 Cobalt Very Stubby Threaded Shank Drill Bit SKU 11110 $6.82
• Approved Vendor #8 Extra Long Cobalt Threaded Shank Drill Bit SKU 11111 $6.82