This split allows us to increase the angle of the split and provide greater chip clearance without grinding away large portions of the heel of the point as we would with a conventional split. Large diameter drills are used with increased feed rates which require more torsional stiffness and greater chip clearance . The standard or conventional split with an angle greater than 500 would weaken the point due to the large amount of steel removed from the heel of the point. The radial split allows the performance advantage of greater chip clearance, without a decrease in torsional stiffness. These flats allow for a strong positive chuck grip of the shank and virtually eliminate the potential for the drill to slip in the chuck , even if all 3 jaws have not been tightened securely.
Flats are a very strong feature for maintenance and associated hand drilling applications.
The Magnum series is an effective replacement for cobalt drills in work hardening stainless applications. The key to Magnum's performance success against cobalt is the difference in the point and web construction . Now compare it with the Magnum web on the right. The thicker the web of the drill the greater the thrust required to cut a given type of metal. The cobalt drill with it's thick web requires substantially more feed force to cut than does the Magnum drill.