Chicago-Latrobe 53472 118 Degree Silver & Deming Drill 1/2 Reduced Shank

Chicago-Latrobe 53472 Drill Bit

The Chicago-Latrobe 53472 is a Silver & Deming drill bit designed for drilling large-diameter holes in metal. Its 118-degree point angle provides a conventional cutting profile suitable for general-purpose machining tasks. The reduced 1/2-inch shank allows the bit to fit standard drill chucks that cannot accept larger shanks. This tool targets machinists and maintenance technicians who need a single large bit for occasional heavy-duty work.

Installation and Common Issues

The bit installs by tightening the reduced shank into a standard 1/2-inch capacity drill chuck. Ensure the shank is fully seated and the chuck jaws grip the flattened surfaces securely to prevent slippage under high torque. A frequent issue is chuck slippage if the jaws are worn or not tightened sufficiently on the reduced shank. Overheating can also occur if cutting fluid is not used when drilling tough materials like cobalt steel.

Practical Limits of 118-Degree Point

The 118-degree point angle is a general-purpose geometry that works across many metals but lacks the self-centering precision of split-point designs. It tends to walk on hard or smooth surfaces unless a centre punch mark is used first. The standard flute design clears chips adequately in shallow holes but may pack in deep holes without frequent pecking. This geometry is not optimised for high-speed production drilling or very hard alloys.