Stellite and other special/unusual tool bits

Bob Korves

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Not sure if this is the correct place for this post, not really a tool gloat or anything similar, but I did not see a better choice of where to put it.

As part of a tool lot I bought several years ago, included were some tool bits and blanks that I was not familiar with:
SAM_1729.JPG
The bits oriented horizontally in the middle, and the single bit on the right, are Stellite tool bits, intended for high heat well above the M2 and M42 high speed steel that is typical in our shops. The bits in the picture range from 5/16" to 1/2" square in cross section.

The four bits top middle are Stellite 2400. All I can find on this alloy is that it is Cobalt (37%), Chromium, and Tungsten. Very hard and tough stuff, extremely high hot hardness.

The four bits at lower center are Stellite 98M2, which I first thought might be just our everyday M2 high speed steel, but not so:
http://www.steel-grades.com/Steel-Grades/Tool-Steel-Hard-Alloy/Stellite-98M2.html
Again, very hard and tough stuff, extremely high hot hardness.

The single bit on the right is Stellite Star J:
http://www.conradhoffman.com/stellite.htm

The two small 5/16" bits on the left are Latrobe Crusader XL. My cross reference shows that to be T-15 tool steel, a Tungsten based high speed steel. "T' is for tungsten based alloys in cutting tools, "M" like in our M2 and M42 high speed steels is for Molybdenum. Tools usually (always?) have both, but the dominant one is the class the alloy is placed in. Molybdenum is used more today because it is cheaper.

The remaining tool to the right of the two small ones is Union 757 "Cobalt Super HSS." This is from Union Butterfield, and is also a T-15 alloy.

These tools are all tougher than HSS, especially when near red heat, and will cut at red heat. They are stronger than HSS but somewhat more brittle. They are harder than HSS but softer than carbide. You can tell the Stellite alloys even with the writing abraded off, because they are not magnetic at all, zero. The notches in the ends of the blanks also identify them. The T-15 tools have a fairly strong magnetic attraction.

Bring a magnet when you are looking at old HSS tooling. If you find ones that are non magnetic, pick them up. The Stellite tools are cast and some of them can be quite nasty looking, but are still gems. All of mine look to the eye smooth and shiny just like HSS, but seem heavier.

These tools are safe to handle, but do not breathe the dust if you grind them. Seriously.

Time for the (unplanned) gloat: I probably did not pay more than $1.00 for all those tools. If you bought similar ones new today they would probably be closer to $500.

Oh, and here is a very good cross reference for cutting tools:
http://www.varcoprecision.com/tools.html
Very helpful when sorting tool lots of old HSS.
 
Last edited:
Not sure if this is the correct place for this post, not really a tool gloat or anything similar, but I did not see a better better choice of where to put it.

As part of a tool lot I bought several years ago, included were some tool bits and blanks that I was not familiar with:
View attachment 240327
The bits oriented horizontally in the middle, and the single bit on the right, are Stellite tool bits, intended for high heat well above the M2 and M42 high speed steel that is typical in our shops. The bits in the picture range from 5/16" to 1/2" square in cross section.

The four bits top middle are Stellite 2400. All I can find on this alloy is that it is Cobalt (37%), Chromium, and Tungsten. Very hard and tough stuff, extremely high hot hardness.

The four bits at lower center are Stellite 98M2, which I first thought might be just our everyday M2 high speed steel, but not so:
http://www.steel-grades.com/Steel-Grades/Tool-Steel-Hard-Alloy/Stellite-98M2.html
Again, very hard and tough stuff, extremely high hot hardness.

The single bit on the right is Stellite Star J:
http://www.conradhoffman.com/stellite.htm

The two small 5/16" bits on the left are Latrobe Crusader XL. My cross reference show that to be T-15 tool steel, a Tungsten based high speed steel. "T' is for tungsten based alloys in cutting tools, "M" like in our M2 and M42 high speed steels is for Molybdenum. Tools usually (always?) have both, but the dominant one is the class the alloy is placed in. Molybdenum is used more today because it is cheaper.

The remaining tool to the right of the two small ones is Union 757 "Cobalt Super HSS." This is from Union Butterfield, and is also a T-15 alloy.

These tools are all tougher than HSS, especially when near red heat, and will cut at red heat. They are stronger than HSS but somewhat more brittle. They are harder than HSS but softer than carbide. You can tell the Stellite alloys even with the writing abraded off, because they are not magnetic at all, zero. The notches in the ends of the blanks also identify them. The T-15 tools have a fairly strong magnetic attraction.

Bring a magnet when you are looking at old HSS tooling. If you find ones that are non magnetic, pick them up. The Stellite tools are cast and some of them can be quite nasty looking, but are still gems. All of mine look to the eye smooth and shiny just like HSS, but seem heavier.

These tools are safe to handle, but do not breathe the dust if you grind them. Seriously.

Time for the (unplanned) gloat: I probably did not pay more than $1.00 for all those tools. If you bought similar ones new today they would probably be closer to $500.

Oh, and here is a very good cross reference for cutting tools:
http://www.varcoprecision.com/tools.html
Very helpful when sorting tool lots of old HSS.
The notch in the end of the Stellite tools marks the pouring gate end of the tools (they are cast in molds), and the gate end may have defects, so it is marked and the finished tool shape is ground on the end opposite the notch. Stellite is also used on gas engine and other valve seats and discs, where other materials tend to erode and consequently leak.
 
I’m using for the most part, Super MoMax, have a lot of it! Kinda forgot about Stellite! I have that too, but have not used it for a very loooooong time! Thanks for the senior moment reset!
 
It just entered my memory (or should I say, exited)? That there is another one of these cast alloys like Stellite, that is Tantung, rather similar in it's uses, but different alloying ingredients, mostly tungsten and tantalum??? Here is a web site with some info; http://www.tantung.com/
 
I have some Tantung . Have never tried grinding it. What would be good for a grinding wheel?
 
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