At Valor Holemaking, we know that drilling stainless steel and titanium isn’t just difficult, it’s one of the most demanding challenges manufacturers face. These materials are unforgiving, known for their toughness, low thermal conductivity, and tendency to work harden, which often result in significantly reduced tool life.

Before releasing Valor Holemaking’s High Performance Drills for Stainless Steel & Titanium in September 2025, Harvey Performance Company engineers performed extensive testing, during which time more than 117,000 holes were drilled across multiple materials and setups.

Our objective was to evaluate tool life, hole quality, and tolerance under production-level parameters. By benchmarking the performance of the Valor drill against several best-in-class competitors, we aimed to provide data-driven insight into how it performs in demanding stainless steel and titanium applications.

Testing in 316L Stainless Steel

Stainless Steel Testing Information

Tool Life in Stainless Steel

This chart displays the total number of holes drilled in AISI 316L stainless steel before tool failure or test completion. The Valor drill reached the testing limit of 2,000 holes with no signs of failure, while other tools showed significant variation in tool life, ranging from more than 200 holes to 1,300. This proves that this Valor high-performance drill can run longer, compared to that of top competitors, particularly in stainless steel where premature wear is common.

Finished Hole Diameter Consistency in Stainless Steel

The data in the chart to the left shows the average finished hole diameter across the test range for each tool. The Valor drill consistently held the nominal 12.7 mm diameter within the IT7 tolerance band. All competitors drifted into the IT9 range, indicative of inefficient chip formation or inefficient cutting.

Valor Drill – Finished Hole Diameter Consistency Across 2,000 Holes

This chart displays the finished hole diameters measured from Valor’s drill over the course of 2,000 holes in 316L stainless steel. Each point represents an actual measurement, and the data shows the drill maintained exceptional consistency throughout the test. The variation across all holes was just 8 microns, with every measurement falling within the IT7 tolerance band.

What is an IT Band?

In the context of precision machining, IT stands for International Tolerance grade—a standardized system used to define the allowable variation in hole dimensions. The lower the IT number, the tighter the tolerance and the higher the precision. For example, a hole finished within IT6 tolerances is more precise than one within IT8.

IT band values vary depending on the nominal diameter of the hole being machined. In our testing, we focused on a 12.7 mm drill diameter, so the range of acceptable deviation for each IT band is scaled accordingly.

Geometric Accuracy in Stainless Steel:

In addition to maintaining tight hole diameters, Valor’s High Performance Drills for Stainless Steel & Titanium held excellent geometric tolerances throughout the stainless steel test.

• True Position: 43 µm
• Cylindricity: 24 µm
• Straightness: 11 µm

These results indicate that the Valor drill stayed stable in the cut, minimizing drift and taper even after 2,000 holes. For parts where positional accuracy is critical, this helps reduce the need for secondary operations or in-process adjustments.

Testing in 6Al-4V Titanium

Titanium Testing Information

Tool Life in Titanium vs. Leading Competitors

In this titanium drilling comparison, the chart illustrates total hole count before tool failure or the test’s 1,200-hole cap. The Valor drill, again, reached the maximum without failing, whereas all competitor tools experienced failure beforehand.

Finished Hole Diameter Consistency in Titanium

This chart compares the average finished hole diameters produced by Valor’s drill and several leading competitors in Ti-6Al-4V. Valor’s drill consistently held hole size within the IT6 tolerance band, the tightest shown, while other drills produced holes that fell into IT7 or IT8 ranges. This distinction highlights Valor’s ability to maintain high dimensional accuracy even in a challenging material like titanium. The tighter tolerance indicates better tool stability, less deflection, and more reliable performance across extended runs, which is critical for precision-focused industries like aerospace and medical manufacturing.

Valor Drill – Finished Hole Diameter Consistency Across 1,200 Holes

This chart illustrates the finished hole diameters recorded from Valor’s drill over the 1,200 holes drilled in titanium. Throughout the entire run, the drill consistently held dimensions within the IT6 tolerance band, with hole sizes deviating by only 9 microns from the nominal diameter (12.7mm).

Geometric Accuracy in Titanium

Valor’s drill also demonstrated tight geometric control throughout the titanium test.

• True Position: 46 µm
• Cylindricity: 23 µm
• Straightness: 7 µm

These values remained consistent across all 1,200 holes, reinforcing the tool’s ability to cut clean, accurate features in a challenging material. This level of consistency is especially beneficial in aerospace or medical applications where tight tolerances are required.

Conclusion

These internal tests offer insight into how Valor High Performance Drills for Stainless Steel & Titanium perform under consistent parameters in stainless steel and titanium. In both tests, the drills showed the ability to maintain hole quality over extended cycles, potentially improving cost-efficiency and reducing downtime in production settings. While results may vary depending on material, fixturing, and machine setup, this testing provides a data-driven starting point for evaluating suitability in demanding drilling applications.

Explore Valor’s High Performance Drills for Stainless Steel & Titanium

Harvey Performance Company

Harvey Performance Company’s team of engineers works together to ensure that your every machining challenge – from tool selection and application support to designing the perfect custom tool for your next job – is rectified with a thoughtful, comprehensive solution.