These settlers demanded tough fasteners for tough materials that needed to be drilled.
Silver & Deming Drill Bits
When Silver & Deming drills are mentioned, the people are actually speaking of drill bits. Silver and Deming drills use all-purpose bits wherever the maximum drill chuck capacity is 1/2 inch. They are variously called S&D Drills, Blacksmith Drills (or Prentice Drills in Canada). They run to a 6-inch overall length with a 3-inch shank and are noted for the shank being smaller in diameter than the bit itself.
118-Degree Bits
Silver & Deming bits come in a variety of fractional and metric sizes and functions. Among the standard and heavy-duty bits are those with 118-degree points, used for portable or machine drilling of ferrous or non-ferrous metals, mild steels, aluminum and magnesium alloys.
135-Degree Bits
Among the heavy duty bits are those with 135-degree points. Use them for portable or machine drilling of hard steels, stainless steels, titanium and other hard metals.
Other Features
Silver & Deming bits boast an oxide finish on the flutes that helps to retain lubricants and ease chip welding. A tin-coated shank and tiitanium nitride-coated bit will drill 200% to 700% more holes than uncoated tools. Some bits with split points are self-centering and break up chips during drilling. Some shanks are three-sided for use in three-sided chucks.
Silver & Deming History
Silver & Deming evolved from the 1854 founding by Albert R. Silver and John Deming of a company to make agricultural machines. They made a variety of machines primarily aimed at wheelwrights but eventually moved into drilling machines. They came up with the large-size twist drill bit with a turned-down shaft that someone could use in a chuck smaller than the bit's cutting diameter; however, they did not patent the idea and it was soon copied by other companies. The term Silver & Deming drills continues to be used as a generic term for this type of drill bit.