Tungsten-Carbide Set Core Bits

This type of bit uses seismic grade tungsten-carbide as the cutting media. Tungsten-carbide does not possess the hardness of diamond and as such has a limited range of application as a core drilling cutting media. Tungsten-carbide bits are however a very cost effective means of drilling softer unconsolidated formations.

There two types:the “carbide-chip” and the “saw-tooth” types.

T.C Core Bits“carbide-chip”type
These bits are set with rectangular-shaped or octagonal-shaped tungsten-carbide elements that are physically embedded into the crown of the bit. The bit crown itself is composed of a tough, wear resistant metal-bond matrix material.
The application of this bit is primarily in geotechnical soil investigation or for core drilling in overburden layers that are mainly composed of clay, sand, gypsum or soft shale.
Broken Carbide Core Bits “saw-tooth” type
The cutting media used in this type of core bit are crushed tungsten-carbide that are bonded in a metallic alloy. This type of core bit has more cutting edges than the regular T.C bit and as such have a wider range of application in some formations.
This bit is similar to impregnated diamond core bits in that the bit crown is composed of several layers of cutting media. The bit face regenerates itself with new cutting edges by wearing away the metallic alloy during operation to continually expose new layers of carbide-chips until the bit crown is consumed.