Buy Stub Drill Bits Online in Australia
Stub Drill Bit Selection — Quick Reference (Screw Machine Length)
Stub drill bits (screw machine length drills) = SHORTER version of standard jobber drill — REDUCED flute length + overall length vs DIN338 jobber geometry. SHORTER STIFFER design = better accuracy + reduced wandering + production use.
| Stub Drill Type | Best For |
|---|---|
| Standard Stub (Screw Machine) | Production + workshop where standard length excessive |
| HSS Standard | Mild + low-alloy steel |
| HSS Cobalt | Stainless + tough alloys |
| Solid Carbide | Production + extended life + high speed |
| TiN-Coated / Black Finish | Extended life |
| 118° Standard Point | General materials |
| 135° Split Point | Self-centering + harder materials |
| Diameter Range (1mm-13mm typical) | Match to hole required |
| Imperial Sizes (#80 to 1/2") | US workshop + tap drill matching |
Why stub vs jobber: SHORTER = STIFFER = less deflection + better hole accuracy + less wandering. Production use — high volumes don't need jobber length. NOT for deep holes (use jobber or long-series). Brands: Sutton Tools, Bordo. Companion: drilling, jobber drill bits, micro drill bits.
Stub Drill Bits
Stub drill bits — also called screw machine length drills — are a shorter version of the standard jobber drill, with a reduced flute length and overall length compared to DIN338 jobber geometry. The shorter, stiffer design reduces deflection and runout, making stub drills the preferred choice for CNC drilling, tight-tolerance work and applications where hole position accuracy is critical.
Sutton Tools and Bordo
AIMS stocks stub drill bits from Sutton Tools and Bordo. Sutton's D186 Blue Bullet stub series uses premium HSS in the standard DIN1897 geometry — a practical choice for general-purpose CNC drilling in mild steel, cast iron and aluminium. The D151 and D177 CNC stub series are made from cobalt steel (HSSE) with TiAlN coating, designed for stainless steel, titanium and high-tensile alloys in production CNC environments. Sutton's D153 Black Magic stub series adds a R40 VA geometry with cobalt TiAlN — optimised for stainless and austenitic steels where work hardening is a concern. Bordo supplies cobalt TiAlN-coated stub drills as an alternative option for hard-material drilling.
DIN1897 — The Short-Flute Standard
DIN1897 defines the short-flute (stub) drill standard — shorter overall and shorter fluted section than the DIN338 jobber standard. The reduced length means a stiffer drill with less tendency to wander on entry and deflect during cut, which is particularly important in CNC applications where hole position tolerances are tight and drilling is done without centre-punch guidance.
TiAlN Coating
TiAlN (titanium aluminium nitride) coating increases hardness and oxidation resistance, enabling higher cutting speeds and extending tool life in demanding materials. In cobalt stub drills, TiAlN is the standard coating for stainless, cast iron, hard aluminium alloys and other materials that cause rapid uncoated drill wear.
When to Use Stub vs Jobber Length
Use stub drills in CNC machining centres for position-critical drilling, in short-grip toolholders with limited spindle clearance, and for drilling hard or work-hardening materials where a stiffer drill improves performance. Jobber-length drills remain the standard choice for general bench drilling, hand drilling and deep-hole work where the extra flute length is needed for chip clearance.
People Also Ask — Stub Drill Bits
Q: What's a stub drill bit and when do I use one?
Stub drills are short-length twist drills — typically about 6-8 times the drill diameter, vs jobber length at 12-14 times diameter. Their shorter length gives much higher rigidity, so they wander less, drill more accurately, and resist breaking under aggressive feed. Use stub drills for accurate hole starts, precision drilling in production, and any application where rigidity matters more than reach.
Q: What's the trade-off between stub and jobber drills?
Stub drills are more accurate and rigid but have shorter useful depth — they can't reach as deep into the work. Jobber drills handle deeper holes at the cost of reduced accuracy and rigidity. For most workshop drilling jobs in 6mm thick material or less, stub drills give better results. For deeper holes, start with a stub drill for accuracy, then complete depth with a jobber length.
Q: What point angle do stub drills come with?
135-degree split point is the modern standard — self-centring on smooth surfaces without needing a centre punch, suiting most workshop drilling. Some specialty stub drills come 118-degree for general work or 140-degree split point for hardened materials. Match the point angle to the material: 135-degree handles 90+ percent of workshop drilling cleanly.
Q: Do stub drills come in the same material grades as jobber drills?
Yes — stub drills are available in HSS, HSS-Cobalt (M35 and M42), and solid carbide. For precision work in stainless steel or harder alloys, HSS-Cobalt stub drills outperform HSS jobber drills (both rigidity and material capability matter). Solid carbide stub drills are the production choice for CNC and mag-drill work in any material.
Q: Can stub drills be resharpened?
Yes — same as jobber drills. A drill bit sharpener (Drill Doctor or Tradesman style) or a bench grinder with the right wheel handles HSS and HSS-Cobalt stub drills cleanly. The shorter flutes give less material to work with, so each sharpening removes proportionally more usable length — stub drills go through fewer sharpening cycles than equivalent jobber lengths. Solid carbide stub drills need specialist regrinding.