Chicago-Latrobe 55448 118 Degree Silver & Deming Drill 1/2 Reduced Shank

Drill Bit for Large Holes

The Chicago-Latrobe 55448 is a silver and deming drill bit designed for creating 3/4 inch holes. Its reduced 1/2 inch shank allows use in standard drill chucks that cannot accept larger straight shanks. The 118 degree point angle provides general-purpose cutting performance in metal. Machinists and maintenance technicians use this bit when a larger hole is needed without changing to a machine with a larger chuck capacity.

Upgrade from Standard Twist Bits

Standard twist drills typically max out at 1/2 inch diameter due to chuck limitations. This bit replaces the need for a taper-shank drill and a separate sleeve or a dedicated large-chuck machine. The jump is worth it when a workshop regularly drills holes above 1/2 inch but relies on portable or bench drills with 1/2 inch chucks. It bridges the gap between common twist bits and industrial taper-shank tooling.

Fits Common Drill Chucks

The 1/2 inch reduced shank fits directly into standard three-jaw chucks on handheld and bench-top drills. High-speed steel construction with black oxide finish resists wear and helps retain lubricant during metal cutting. The bit frees up the operator from sourcing specialised taper-shank holders or larger machines for occasional large-hole work. It requires a drill with sufficient torque to drive a 3/4 inch cutter through the workpiece material.