Similar Tools, Big Difference

Some products in the maintenance, repair and operations world are unique. In fact, the Kimball Midwest team constantly seeks out the latest, distinctive new products to add to our vast selection of more than 55,000 products.

On the other hand, it’s easy to get products confused, especially if they seem to be designed to complete similar tasks. That’s where experience comes in handy, helping you zero in on just the right tool for the job at hand.

Here are a few examples of situations where there might be more than one tool for the job, but there’s a choice that’s clearly superior:

Annular Cutters vs. Drills

The main difference between twist drills and annular cutters is with an annular cutter you are only cutting the outside edge of the hole, so there is less material removed.

With a twist drill, you have to remove the entirety of material within the boundaries of the hole. This translates to longer time per hole and fewer holes per bit.

With a drill bit, there are only two cutting edges versus many on an annular cutter, so the cutting edges on an annular cutter will stay sharper longer.

Because they cut holes faster, annular cutters are a lot easier on the user. If you’re the person who needs to drill a bunch of holes, particularly larger sizes, an annular cutter will get it done with much less user fatigue.

Roto-Kut Hole Cutters vs. Large-Diameter Drills Bits

Similarly, if you’re looking to drill large holes, the Roto-Kut Hole Cutter is a far superior option to using a traditional drill bit with a large diameter.

It’s the same story: A Roto-Kut will cut holes faster, last longer and lead to much less user fatigue.

Power Taps vs. Traditional Drill and Tap Process

With a Power-Tap, you are creating a hole and tapping, using the same tool in a single process. 

The traditional way is to drill a hole first and then use a tap to cut the threads. The drawbacks of this are that you need multiple tools (the correct size drill bit to match the tap, the tap and a tap wrench) and two processes to complete a threaded hole.

If you need help making sure you always have the right tool for whatever comes your way, your Kimball Midwest sales representative is a perfect resource for you. If you don't have one, we can help you .