Professional-grade HSS, cobalt and solid carbide cutting tools engineered for precision metalworking. Backed by Sandvik and trusted by engineers across the UK for over a century.
Dormer was founded in 1913 as The Sheffield Twist Drill Co. Ltd on the corner of Solferino Street and Cemetery Road in Sheffield, England, with a workforce of around 20. From that small start in the heart of Britain's steel capital, Dormer grew into one of the world's most respected names in precision cutting tools for the engineering and metalworking trades.
Acquired by the Sandvik Group in 1992 and merged with the Pramet brand in 2014, Dormer Pramet now offers a programme of over 40,000 products covering drilling, milling, threading and turning. With 30 offices worldwide serving over 100 countries, the Sheffield heritage lives on in every precision-ground tool that leaves the factory.
Precision cutting tools for every engineering and metalworking application
Precision-ground cutting tools trusted by engineers and tradespeople
RANGE
The industry-standard HSS jobber drill bit with titanium nitride coating for extended tool life. Precision-ground 118-degree split point for accurate starting without a centre punch. Available in every metric and imperial size.
BESTSELLER
Complete threading solutions for the workshop and jobsite. HSS taps and dies in metric coarse and fine threads, presented in robust cases. The trade standard for thread cutting and repair.
Sheffield-made precision cutting tools backed by over a century of engineering excellence
Founded in Sheffield, the world capital of steel and cutting tools. Over 110 years of continuous manufacturing expertise in precision-ground HSS, cobalt and carbide tools.
Part of the Sandvik Group since 1992 — a global engineering leader in materials technology. Dormer Pramet benefits from world-class R&D, metallurgy and manufacturing infrastructure.
Dormer's HSS drill bits are precision-ground to exacting tolerances, delivering consistent hole quality and extended tool life. Available in HSS, HSS-E (cobalt) and solid carbide grades.
Over 40,000 products covering drill bits, taps, dies, end mills, reamers, countersinks and carbide burrs. Whatever the material or application, Dormer has the right tool.
TiN, TiAlN and other advanced coatings extend tool life, reduce friction and enable higher cutting speeds. Matched to material and application for optimum performance.
As an official Dormer stockist, we carry the full range and can advise on the right tool for your application. Competitive trade pricing and next-day delivery on orders over £99.
From precision HSS drill bits to complete threading solutions
HSS, cobalt and solid carbide drill bits in jobber, stub and long series. TiN and TiAlN coated options for extended life in steel, stainless and non-ferrous metals.
Shop NowSpiral flute, straight flute and spiral point taps in HSS and HSS-E. Complete tap and die sets in metric coarse and fine threads for workshop and site use.
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Solid carbide and HSS end mills, reamers, countersinks, counterbores and carbide burrs for milling, finishing and deburring applications.
Shop NowDiscover how Dormer Pramet's precision-ground cutting tools deliver consistent performance across steel, stainless, aluminium and cast iron.
Common questions about Dormer drill bits, taps, dies and cutting tools
HSS (High Speed Steel) is the standard material for general-purpose drilling in mild steel, aluminium and plastics. Cobalt (HSS-E) contains 5-8% cobalt for improved heat resistance — ideal for stainless steel and harder metals. Solid carbide is the hardest and most wear-resistant, suited to high-volume production and CNC machining at higher speeds.
Consider three factors: material (HSS for mild steel, HSS-E for stainless), hole type (spiral flute for blind holes, spiral point for through holes, straight flute for general purpose), and thread form (metric coarse M, metric fine MF, or BSP/BSW for pipe and legacy threads). For hand tapping, use a set of taper, second and bottoming taps.
TiN (Titanium Nitride) is the gold-coloured coating that increases surface hardness and reduces friction, extending tool life by up to 3x in steel. TiAlN (Titanium Aluminium Nitride) offers higher heat resistance for faster cutting speeds and is ideal for stainless steel and harder alloys. Uncoated HSS is suitable for softer metals and general-purpose work.
Dormer Pramet was formed in 2014 by merging Dormer Tools (founded 1913 in Sheffield) with the Pramet brand. Both are part of the Sandvik Group. Dormer products focus on rotary tools — drill bits, taps, dies, end mills and reamers — while Pramet covers indexable inserts and toolholders. Both brands are now united under the Dormer Pramet name.
For stainless steel, use a cobalt (HSS-E) drill bit with a 135-degree split point. Cobalt's superior heat resistance prevents the work-hardening that causes standard HSS bits to fail in stainless. For higher volumes, consider a TiAlN-coated solid carbide drill. Use a slow speed, steady feed rate and cutting fluid for best results.
Yes. We offer competitive trade pricing across the full Dormer range including drill bits, taps, dies and end mills. Contact our trade team on 01843 593 440 or email sales@invictatools.co.uk for volume discounts and trade account enquiries. Free next-day delivery on all orders over £99.