I know you hate Sandvik, you've most likely told me why in the past but I forget.
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Gregor
Drilling: As mentioned, for solid carbide or brazed tip ( nowadays rare ) Guhring or Titex is better with far more options for approx 20% saving.
Replaceable tip drills, so far I've not found an application where Iscar DCN did not outshine everyone else. Unfortunately Iscar knows it now as well, and the price
for the tips nearly doubled in 10 someodd years.
Insert drills: I have a part that I do very frequently in qty's of 300-600/batch. 347SS, 2.4" long, drilled to .625, then finish bored to .650 +/-.003.
The first op is just a drill 1/2 way, face to clean - flip, drill the other half, face to clean. This op I usually do side by side on two machines, using two different drills.
The Sandvik 880 uses 2 different inner and outer inserts, only 2 edges/insert. The Iscar DR drill uses identical inner and outer inserts with 4 edges/insert at less than 1/2 the price.
Sandvik needs index after approx 100-120 parts, Iscar 200-220, and even then, sometimes only out of respect.
Turning: had a large job of Inco 625, and the inserts I was using lasted only 8-10 pieces for roughing, 20-25 for finishing.
Called local purveyor of Sandvik for recommendation, Sandvik rep direct called me back and sent one box of 3 different inserts. two for roughing one for finishing.
Fair enough, inserts were discounted at 50% for the test. With all things being equal, I could not rough more than 2 with either roughers, and the finisher ( needed a VNMG ) never
made it through one!
On the same part, Iscar 907 lasts 6 pcs guaranteed, never the 7th. Mits VP10RT makes 8 or 16, but inconsistent.
Gave the leftover inserts away ( might have been to someone on PM as a matter of fact )
Same thing for TI ( I turn tons of it ), the best and most reliable I've found is NTK.
Threading: When all else fails, Kenna 5025 is my go-to. Otherwise Carmex MXC.
Had a batch of Sandvik threading inserts, but they were not any better than the 5025. Those inserts did not fit another holder, and other inserts did not fit the Sandvik holder.
Eventually gave all of those away along with the holder.
Grooving, if a Top Notch can't do it, I am 80% Iscar, 20% Mits.
Curiously noone is making inserts for Sandvik's equivalent of TN, but there are a shitton of TN options from various sources.
And finally to boot, I can get just about any brand from multiple sources, Sandvik OTOH is available from one place only at 0% discount, or MSC.
Uhh... almost forgot cutoff!
For the most part I use the GTN inserts from Iscar, but when shit hits the fan it's Stellram.