Metalworker FAQ

I was trying to tap a hole in aluminum with a 1/4" tap. Half of the tap broke off in the workpiece. How do I get it out?

Ideally you would want to use a tap extractor. These are readily available ... read more

Are Irwin cobalt drill bits coated like the titanium ones? If the cobalt bits are rockwell hardness 66 - 67 HRc, what hardness are the titanium bits? Once you sharpen a cobalt bit and the gold coating is gone, is it just a regular bit?

Cobalt bits are not coated, they are cobalt steel through and through. At t... read more

When would I use a tap and die set and how would I properly use them?

Tap and dies are metal threading tools. Taps make internal threads inside a... read more