Alpha
Think about how often a tradie reaches for a drill on a construction site. Chances are, they grab the first one to hand, with a standard drill bit.
This might not be a problem for light work, but what about when tradies need different diameter holes? Or when they need to drill through steel - again and again and again? Extra changeovers can waste time and rough holes, burrs, wandering and premature dulling can slow the job down, especially if re-work is required.
For under-pressure tradies, these small, recurring inefficiencies across the day can be as much of a risk to productivity as major tool failures. This is where the Alpha Onsite+ Step Tip Step Cutter can help, enabling tradies to maintain productivity by delivering cleaner starts, smooth cutting and consistent multi-size drilling performance even in tough, repetitive applications.
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The benefits of the step tip step cutter.
The Alpha Onsite+ Step Tip Step Cutter is not a standard drill bit. Its patented step tip design is engineered to start the hole accurately, without the need for a pre-drilled pilot hole to prevent wandering. This helps improve efficiency and reduce unnecessary steps on the job.
Four cutting edges are engineered to deliver fast drilling performance while producing clean, accurate holes across a range of materials, including 316 stainless steel, mild steel, plastic and timber. As it spins, it removes chips to prevent blockages.
The step design helps minimise burr formation with the next step up deburring during drilling, reducing the need for additional finishing work and helping tradies move onto the next task sooner. A durable, layered AlCrN aluminium chromium nitride coating is designed to withstand demanding site conditions, with a rated heat resistance of up to 1050oC, while the 10mm cutting depth allows for drilling through thicker materials.
The cutter is available in multiple sizes to suit different applications, including 3.3-10.2mm (which correlates to M4-M12 tapping sizes to thread holes), 4-12mm, 8-20mm and 9-19mm. With multiple bore sizes incorporated into a single cutter, there’s no need to keep changing out the drill bit to suit different jobs, helping to speed up work while maintaining consistent quality. The Alpha Onsite+ Step Tip Step Cutter is versatile, suiting cordless drills, handheld and drill presses.
Testing to demonstrate durability.
Alpha Tools set up a test of the Alpha Onsite+ Step Tip Step Cutter to demonstrate sustained performance under extended drilling conditions. In a single in-house test using a 40V drill, lubrication on every hole, and 6mm black mild steel, the cutter drilled 1,000 holes over 7.5 hours*. Three batteries were used, with one battery alone delivering 399 holes. By the end of that test, one Alpha Onsite+ Step Tip Step Cutter had drilled through the equivalent of six metres of steel*.
Designed to streamline the drilling process.
ALPHA Tools representative Hayley McMahon says the step tip step cutter can help tradies save time and the expense of buying multiple drill bits.
“You move up diameters in one cut without having to switch out drill bits, so you can start from no hole to a 20mm hole in a matter of seconds really. It also helps stay on course and you can start cutting without a pilot hole,” she says. “The Onsite+ range is all about speeding up those traditional processes that tradies use in the industry and making their life easier.”
She also emphasises the importance of continued lubrication during drilling to help reduce the heat that shortens the life of drill bits, whether it’s using the step tip step cutter or any other type.
Available at Blackwoods – Your construction equipment partner.
As Australia’s leading supplier of industrial solutions, Blackwoods has everything you need to keep your operations running smoothly. Talk to your Blackwoods representative about the how the Alpha Onsite+ Step Tip Step Cutter can maximise drilling efficiency.
*Test results: the test was performed in-house by Alpha under controlled conditions, using a tool and materials Alpha supplied, and has not been independently verified. Results are indicative of that test only. Blackwoods makes no representation that Alpha Onsite+ Step Tip Step Cutter will deliver the same level of performance under different operating conditions or using different tools or materials.
