Spade & Indexable Drilling Guide — MSC Industrial Supply Co.

Spade Drills

Replaceable Blade Drill Bits:

Features a replaceable flat-end cutting blade with two cutting lips, designed for deep hole drilling or larger diameters from 1 inch to 6 inches.
Uses special shanks called Holders, with quick-change blades (Inserts) to reduce setup time.
Enables drilling of multiple hole sizes by simply changing the blade — saving time and increasing versatility.
Universal and high-performance options to choose from.

Straight Flute

Ideal for horizontal machining centers, designed to maximize chip evacuation.

Helical Flute

Also recommended for horizontal machining centers, with enhanced chip removal efficiency.

Modular Drills

Deliver performance comparable to solid carbide drills with added flexibility.
Features a unique locking system that requires no screws or clamps.
Insert blades can be quickly changed using a simple tool provided.
The drill body stays in the machine or holder during blade changes, minimizing downtime.
Insert blades are interchangeable across drill bodies of the same seat size for greater versatility.

Indexable Drills

More complex in design compared to spade drills and modular drills.
Increase efficiency by reducing cycle time, achieving higher penetration rates, minimizing chip friction, and improving chip control.
Offer versatility beyond drilling — can also perform boring, facing, and turning operations.

Utilize two inserts:

Inner insert cuts the core of the hole.
The outer insert defines the final hole diameter.

Types of Inserts for Indexable Drilling

Straight Flute:

The inside insert leads, creating a clearance path for the lead corner of the outside insert.

Trigon:

The outside insert leads, guiding the cutting edge of the inside insert.

High-Speed Steel (HSS: M1, M2, M7, M50)

• Offers durability and efficiency at a reduced cost.

• Performs well in free-cutting and carbon steels as well as soft non-ferrous materials (aluminum, brass, bronze, copper, etc.).

• Can handle less-than-ideal machine setups reliably.

Cobalt (M35, M42, T-15)

• Offers greater wear resistance, hardness, and toughness compared to HSS.

• Resists chipping and microchipping under severe cutting conditions, enabling up to 10% faster speeds than HSS.

• Most cost-effective for machining cast iron, heat-treatable steels, and titanium alloys with proper point angle and helix design.

• Handles imperfect setups with durability.

Solid Carbide

• Ideal for high-performance applications, running at higher speeds and tolerating elevated temperatures.

• Provides superior rigidity and dimensional accuracy, often eliminating the need for reaming.

• More brittle than HSS or Cobalt, with a higher risk of chipping under poor conditions; heavy feed rates favor HSS and Cobalt.

• Commonly used for abrasive or tough-to-machine materials, including cast iron, non-ferrous alloys, glass, plastics, and composites.

TiN (Titanium Nitride – Gold Color)

• Multi-purpose coating that extends tool life and enhances performance.

• High hardness and heat resistance enable tools to operate at 25–30% higher speeds and feeds than uncoated tools.

TiCN (Titanium Carbonitride – Violet Gray Color)

• Harder and more wear-resistant under moderate temperatures.

• Ideal for stainless steel, cast iron, and aluminum.

• Allows 35–50% higher machining speeds compared to uncoated tools.

TiAlN (Titanium Aluminum Nitride – Violet Black Color)

• Designed for high-temperature or abrasive conditions.

• Best for stainless steel, high-alloy carbon steels, nickel-based high-temp alloys, and titanium alloys. Not recommended for aluminum.

• Supports 75–100% higher machining speeds than uncoated tools.

FIREX® – Exclusive Guhring Coating

• Alternating ultra-thin layers combine the benefits of single-layer coatings:

◦ TiN for universal applicability

◦ TiAlN for hardness and heat resistance

◦ TiCN for shock resistance

Spade Bit & Drilling Guide