Guhring Cutting Tools — Complete Product Guide

guhring · drill · end-mill · tap · thread-mill · reamer

Guhring (Guhring KG) is a German cutting tool manufacturer founded by Gottlieb Guhring in 1898, headquartered in Albstadt-Ebingen, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany. They are one of the world's leading manufacturers of rotary precision tools for metal machining, with a dominant position in drilling tools. Guhring operates 70+ production locations in 49 countries, employing approximately 7,000 people worldwide (3,500+ in Germany). US headquarters: Brookfield, Wisconsin (180,000 sq ft campus, ~280 employees), with additional manufacturing in Novi, Michigan.

Guhring produced the world's first HSS twist drill in 1898, and holds over 600 patents worldwide. The company has been family-owned for over 125 years through three generations of the Guhring family. Dr. Jorg Guhring, grandson of the founder, led the company from 1985 until his death in 2021.

Key differentiators:

One of the few cutting tool manufacturers that produces its own carbide substrate in-house (Berlin and Bavaria facilities, ~2,400 tonnes/year)
Proprietary coating technologies developed and applied in-house (FIREX, nano-FIREX, Signum, Perrox)
World-class drilling expertise — drills are their heritage product and strongest category
Complete vertical integration: own carbide production, own coating facilities, own machine tool engineering
Full-line manufacturer: drills, end mills, taps, thread mills, reamers, countersinks, toolholders

In-House Carbide Production

Guhring is one of very few cutting tool manufacturers that produces its own carbide substrate material. Their Berlin facility (approximately 400 employees) manufactures carbide rod stock that serves as the raw material for all Guhring carbide tools. This vertical integration provides several advantages:

Control over grain structure — Guhring can tailor carbide grades (grain size, binder content, hardness/toughness balance) specifically for each tool application rather than relying on third-party rod suppliers
Proprietary carbide grades — DK460UF (ultra-fine grain, general purpose), DK255F (fine grain, tough), and application-specific grades for stainless steel, aluminum, and superalloy drilling
Quality consistency — Lot-to-lot variation is tighter when substrate production happens under the same roof as tool grinding
Capacity — Approximately 2,400 tonnes of carbide produced annually across Berlin and Bavaria

The Berlin carbide operation was consolidated when German Carbide and Konrad Friedrichs merged under the Guhring umbrella, creating one of the largest independent carbide producers in Europe.

Proprietary Coating Technologies

Guhring develops and applies coatings in-house, which is a meaningful competitive advantage. They operate PVD coating centers at multiple locations including Brookfield, WI and Novi, MI for reconditioning services.

FIREX (Multi-Layer TiN/TiAlN)

Composition: Alternating ultra-thin layers of TiN and TiAlN
Hardness: ~3,300 HV (0.05)
Oxidation temperature: ~1,470 deg F (800 deg C)
Color: Gold-violet
Developed by: Guhring in conjunction with Platit (Switzerland)
Key advantage: Combines the shock resistance of TiCN with the heat resistance of TiAlN in a single multi-layer structure. Performs well in both high-heat and moderate-temperature applications
Used on: General purpose carbide drills, end mills, taps across the product line

nano-FIREX (Nano-Layered TiN/TiAlN)

Composition: Same TiN/TiAlN components as FIREX, but with significantly more micro-layers in the same overall thickness
Hardness: ~3,400 HV (0.05)
Oxidation temperature: ~1,560 deg F (850 deg C)
Color: Dark violet
Key advantage: The nano-layer structure provides superior wear characteristics compared to standard FIREX, especially in applications where shock resistance is critical. Better edge retention under interrupted cuts and cross-hole drilling
Used on: RT 100 U drills, RT 100 XF drills, RT 100 X drills, high-performance carbide drills across the line. This is Guhring's most widely used high-performance coating

Signum (TiAlSiN — Nano-Silicon)

Composition: Titanium Aluminum Silicon Nitride (TiAlSiN)
Hardness: ~3,500 HV (0.05)
Oxidation temperature: >1,200 deg C (2,192 deg F)
Color: Copper-bronze
Key advantage: Extremely high hot hardness for machining nickel-base superalloys and hardened steels. The silicon content creates an amorphous SiN phase that acts as a diffusion barrier, maintaining hardness at temperatures where standard TiAlN softens. Delivers similar performance to diamond-like coatings without substrate restrictions
Used on: RT 100 HF drills (nickel alloys), high-performance end mills for hardened materials

Perrox (HiPIMS-Applied Coating)

Deposition method: HiPIMS (High-Power Impulse Magnetron Sputtering) — a next-generation PVD process
Key advantage: HiPIMS produces a denser, smoother, and harder coating than conventional PVD. The result is improved wear protection, lower friction, and better adhesion to the carbide substrate. Polished coating surface reduces built-up edge formation
Used on: RT 100 InoxPro drills (stainless steel specialists). This is Guhring's newest coating technology, purpose-built for stainless steel and titanium machining

DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon)

Hardness: ~3,000-5,000 HV depending on variant
Friction coefficient: Extremely low (~0.1-0.2)
Key advantage: Near-zero friction prevents aluminum and copper from welding to cutting edges. Essential for non-ferrous machining at high speeds
Used on: Aluminum-specific end mills and drills

TiN (Titanium Nitride)

Hardness: ~2,300 HV (0.05)
Oxidation temperature: ~1,100 deg F (600 deg C)
Color: Gold
Used on: General purpose drills (GT 100 series), economy taps, RT 100 F drills
Note: The most basic coating in the Guhring lineup; adequate for general purpose work but surpassed by FIREX and nano-FIREX in demanding applications

TiAlN (Titanium Aluminum Nitride)

Hardness: ~3,300 HV (0.05)
Oxidation temperature: ~1,470 deg F (800 deg C)
Used on: RT 100 T deep hole drills, select high-performance tools
Note: Standard high-performance coating; FIREX and nano-FIREX are Guhring's proprietary improvements on this chemistry

Coating Selection Summary

Coating	Hardness (HV)	Max Temp	Best For
TiN	~2,300	600 deg C	General purpose, low-alloy steels
FIREX	~3,300	800 deg C	General high-performance, mixed materials
nano-FIREX	~3,400	850 deg C	Steel, stainless, cast iron — primary HP coating
TiAlN	~3,300	800 deg C	Deep hole drilling, high-temp applications
Signum	~3,500	1,200 deg C	Nickel alloys, hardened steel, superalloys
Perrox	HiPIMS-class	High	Stainless steel, titanium (InoxPro drills)
DLC	~3,000-5,000	300 deg C	Aluminum, copper, non-ferrous

GT 100 Geometry Technology

The GT 100 is Guhring's parabolic flute geometry platform, applied primarily to HSS and carbide general purpose drills. This is not a single drill but a geometry standard that appears across dozens of series numbers.

Key design features:

130-degree point angle — Shallower than the 118-degree standard, reducing thrust forces and improving centering. Eliminates the need for pilot holes in many applications
Parabolic flute profile — Wide, open flutes with a curved cross-section provide significantly more chip clearance than standard straight flutes. Critical for deep holes and long-chipping materials
Web thinning — Type A or GN-B web thinning reduces thrust force at the chisel edge without weakening the drill core
Available substrates: HSS, HSS-E (cobalt), powder metal HSS, and sub-micro grain carbide

GT 100 series in our database:

Series 730 — Type N, Stub, Uncoated HSS, 118 deg (legacy geometry)
Series 732 — Jobber, Uncoated HSS, 118 deg
Series 550 — GT 100 Parabolic, Jobber, HSS, Uncoated, 130 deg
Series 2601 — GT 100 Parabolic, Jobber, Carbide, Uncoated, 130 deg
Series 2602 — GT 100 Parabolic, Jobber, Carbide, TiN, 130 deg
Series 504 — GT 100 Parabolic, Extra Length Series 3, HSS, Uncoated, 130 deg
Series 390 — GT 100 Parabolic, Taper Length, HSS, Uncoated, 130 deg

Guhring claims the industry's largest offering of parabolic drills, covering jobber, stub, taper, and extra-length configurations.

RT 100 Drill Platform (Flagship)

The RT 100 is Guhring's flagship solid carbide drill platform. "RT" stands for Ratio Technology — the optimized ratio between carbide grade, geometry, and coating for each application. The RT 100 platform covers universal, material-specific, and deep hole drilling.

RT 100 U — Universal

The workhorse of the RT 100 line. A 2-flute solid carbide drill designed for universal application across steels, stainless, cast iron, and non-ferrous materials.

Key features:

Self-centering 140-degree point geometry — Eliminates the need for spot drilling. The point design walks less than 0.001" on entry
Wide-open parabolic flute design — Creates short, manageable chips that evacuate cleanly. Eliminates peck drilling in most applications
Through-coolant — Internal coolant channels deliver high-pressure coolant directly to the cutting zone
3x to 5x penetration rate — Operates at 3-5 times the feed rate (IPM) of general purpose carbide drills
DK460UF carbide substrate — Ultra-fine grain for optimal hardness/toughness balance

Available configurations:

Series 5514 — 3xD, Stub, nano-FIREX, 140 deg
Series 5511/5515 — 5xD, Jobber, nano-FIREX, 140 deg
Series 5512 — 7xD, nano-FIREX, 140 deg
Series 5525 — 12xD, nano-FIREX, 135 deg
Series 1242 — 3xD, TiN, 140 deg (economy)
Series 1243 — 5xD, TiN, 140 deg (economy)

Shop floor notes: The RT 100 U is Guhring's direct competitor to OSG's ADO and Kennametal's B211/B216 platform. Its self-centering ability is genuinely excellent — most shops can eliminate spot drilling entirely with this tool. Feed rates of 0.005-0.008 IPR in steel are typical. Always use through-coolant at 600+ PSI for best results.

RT 100 XF — Extra Feed (Steels)

Material-specific variant optimized for carbon and alloy steels. Designed for maximum penetration rates in P-group materials.

Key features:

Optimized point geometry for steels — Reduced walk and improved centering vs. universal designs
Double margin design — Both margins engage immediately upon entry, producing superior hole roundness and surface finish
nano-FIREX coating with specialized pre- and post-treatment process that smooths the coating surface
Self-sharpening carbide — Guhring developed a proprietary carbide grade for the XF that has a micro-structure creating a re-sharpening effect during cutting
Through-coolant

Available configurations:

Series 6498 — 3xD, nano-FIREX, 140 deg
Series 5498 — 5xD, nano-FIREX, 140 deg
Series 5499 — 7xD, nano-FIREX, 140 deg
Series 6499 — 12xD, nano-FIREX, 135 deg

RT 100 T — Deep Hole

Deep hole drilling platform covering 12xD through 40xD depths. TiAlN coated with 135-degree point angle.

Key features:

Requires pilot hole — Must pre-drill with an RT 100 U to m7 tolerance, minimum 1.5xD to 3xD deep
Piloting procedure: Enter pilot hole at 300 RPM/20 IPM, start coolant, then ramp up to recommended cutting data
135-degree point angle — Optimized for re-entry into pilot hole
h7 shank tolerance — Precision shank fits variety of toolholder options
TiAlN coating — Standard on all RT 100 T series

Available configurations:

Series 6509 — 15xD, TiAlN, 135 deg
Series 6511 — 20xD, TiAlN, 135 deg
Series 6512 — 25xD, TiAlN, 135 deg
Series 6513 — 30xD, TiAlN, 135 deg
Series 6514 — 40xD, TiAlN, 135 deg

Aluminum variants (RT 100 T AL):

Series 6515 — 15xD, Uncoated, 135 deg
Series 6516 — 20xD, Uncoated, 135 deg
Series 6517 — 25xD, Uncoated, 135 deg

RT 100 HF — High Feed (Nickel Alloys)

Material-specific variant designed for nickel-base superalloys (Inconel, Hastelloy, Waspaloy).

Key features:

Signum (nano-Si) coating — The high-temperature Signum coating withstands the extreme heat generated when drilling nickel alloys
Through-coolant — Essential for superalloy drilling
Geometry optimized for nickel alloys — Lower helix angle for rigidity, modified web thinning for superalloy chip formation

Available configurations:

Series 8521 — 5xD, Signum, Coolant through
Series 8522 — 7xD, Signum, Coolant through

RT 100 InoxPro — Stainless Steel Specialist

The newest addition to the RT 100 platform, purpose-built for stainless steel (M-group) machining.

Key features:

Perrox HiPIMS coating — Guhring's latest coating technology, applied via HiPIMS for maximum density and smoothness
Polished flutes and web thinning — Ultra-smooth surface finish in chip-contact areas prevents material adhesion and built-up edge, which is the primary failure mode in stainless drilling
Sickle-shaped cutting edge — New edge geometry reduces jamming tendency in gummy stainless steels
Application-specific carbide — Substrate tuned for the hardness/toughness balance needed in austenitic and duplex stainless

Performance claims: 50% higher feed rates and 60% longer tool life vs. previous-generation stainless drills. Guhring testing showed 25% shorter cycle times vs. competitor drills at equivalent tool life.

Available configurations:

Series 8512 — 3xD, Perrox, 140 deg
Series 8513 — 5xD, Perrox, 140 deg
Series 6487 — InoxPro Micro (sub-3mm diameters), Perrox
Series 6488 — InoxPro Micro 3xD with coolant ducts
Series 6489 — InoxPro Micro 6xD with coolant ducts
Series 6491 — InoxPro Micro 15xD with coolant ducts

RT 100 F — Economy Carbide

Cost-effective carbide drills with TiN coating for shops that need solid performance at a lower price point.

Series 1702 — 3xD, TiN, 140 deg
Series 1662 — 5xD, TiN, 140 deg

RT 100 FB — Flat Bottom

Carbide drills that produce true flat-bottom holes. Ideal for drilling into oblique or curved surfaces, thin-plate drilling, and pocket entry holes.

Other RT 100 Variants

RT 100 X — High-performance for steels (Series 2477, 3xD; Series 4044, 7xD)
RT 100 Al — Aluminum-specific with polished geometry and uncoated surfaces. Optimized chip formation from wrought to high-silicon cast alloys

Micro Drilling

Guhring has one of the deepest micro-drilling portfolios in the industry, covering diameters from 0.05mm to 3.0mm across 21+ series.

Carbide micro-precision drills (without coolant):

Diameter range: 0.1mm to 3.0mm
Depth options: 4xD, 7xD
2-facet point grind with ground cutting edge honing for optimal chip breaking

Carbide micro-precision drills (with internal cooling):

Diameter range: 0.5mm to 3.0mm
Depth options: 5xD, 8xD, 15xD
Through-coolant critical for chip evacuation at these diameters

HSS/Cobalt micro drills:

Diameter range: 0.05mm to 1.0mm
Series 3899 — Precision Micro Drill, Type N, 5xD
Reinforced shank available for sub-0.5mm diameters

ExclusiveLine Micro Precision:

Series 6400 — 4xD, Carbide, Super A coating
Series 6405 — 5xD, Carbide, TiAlN, Coolant through
Series 6408 — 8xD, Carbide
Series 6412 — 15xD, Carbide, TiAlN, Coolant through

RF 100 End Mill Platform

The RF 100 is Guhring's solid carbide end mill platform. "RF" stands for Ratio Frase (Ratio Mill) — applying the same optimized-ratio philosophy as the RT 100 drills.

RF 100 Diver — Universal Multi-Function

The RF 100 Diver is Guhring's flagship end mill, designed to perform five operations with a single tool: drilling, ramping, slotting, roughing, and finishing.

Key features:

45-degree ramping capability — Where competitors typically max out at 8-15 degrees ramping angle, the Diver achieves 45 degrees. This eliminates the need for separate drill and ramp tools in many applications
Drilling capability to 2xD — Can plunge-drill straight down to 2 times the tool diameter, far exceeding typical end mill plunge limits
Dual coolant system — Both axial and radial coolant ducts cool the face geometry (when drilling/plunging) and the circumference geometry (when side milling)
Unequal helix angles — Variable helix breaks up harmonics, suppresses chatter, and enables higher feed rates while eliminating the corkscrew pull-down effect
Signum coating — High-performance nano-silicon coating standard on metric versions
Up to 40% longer tool life compared to previous-generation universal end mills
Up to 100% higher cutting speeds possible in roughing operations in steel

Available configurations (18 series in database):

Series 6737 — RF 100 Diver, Metric, HA shank, Signum
Series 6873 — RF 100 Diver, Standard length, corner chamfer
Multiple variants covering 2-flute through 4-flute, standard and long reach, metric and inch

Shop floor notes: The Diver genuinely reduces the number of tools needed for many jobs. If you are running a job that requires ramping into a pocket, slotting, and finishing the walls, the Diver can do all three without a tool change. The 45-degree ramp angle is real and field-proven. Direct competitor to the Kennametal HARVI Ultra 8X and OSG AE-VMS, but the Diver's drilling capability sets it apart.

RF 100 Diver Micro

Micro-diameter version of the Diver platform, available in 4 series. Same multi-operation capability scaled down for small features and thin-wall work.

RF 100 Sharp — Finishing Specialist

Designed for high-quality finishing operations with minimal burr formation.

Key features:

Extremely sharp cutting edges — Ground to achieve the finest possible edge preparation for minimal cutting forces and excellent surface finish
Available from 1mm diameter — Covers micro to standard sizes
4-flute configuration — Higher flute count enables fine finishing after roughing
Used for: Finish passes after RF 100 Diver roughing, thin-wall finishing, precision contouring

Available configurations (11 series in database):

Series 6479 — RF 100 Sharp, Metric, Standard Length, HB Shank
Series 6486 — RF 100 Sharp, Inch, Standard Length (kit available)

RF 100 Speed — High-Speed Machining

Designed for maximum material removal rate in roughing and semi-finishing operations.

Key features:

48-degree helix angle — Steep helix for aggressive chip evacuation and smooth cutting action
Unequal cutting edge distribution — Asymmetric flute spacing produces a quiet, vibration-free cut at high spindle speeds
Optimized for HSM/adaptive toolpaths — Performs best with trochoidal and adaptive clearing strategies

Available configurations (26 series in database):

Multiple variants covering different flute counts, reach lengths, and shank types

RF 100 90-Degree

Square-shoulder end mills with true 90-degree walls. 5 series available for precision shoulder milling.

SelectMill — Economy Line

Guhring's cost-effective end mill program for shops that need German-made quality at competitive prices.

Key features:

20%+ lower pricing than Guhring's RF 100 lines
FIREX coating standard on most variants
Made in Germany — Same quality standards, achieved through streamlined manufacturing and selective size ranges
Available in: 2-flute, 3-flute (aluminum), 4-flute general purpose, standard and long length, HPC, and fine-tooth rougher configurations
Ideal for: Job shops with varied work, shorter production runs, shops machining different materials daily

Available configurations (9 series in database):

Series 19952 — 2-flute GP, Standard, Inch, FIREX
Series 19953 — 2-flute GP, Long, Inch, FIREX
Series 19956 — 4-flute GP, Standard, Inch, FIREX
Series 19957 — 4-flute GP, Long, Inch, FIREX
Series 19958 — 3-flute Aluminum, Standard, Inch, Bright
Series 19959 — 4-flute HPC, Standard, FIREX
Series 19960 — Fine Tooth Rougher, Standard, FIREX

Chamfer and Deburring End Mills

21 series of chamfer mills and deburring tools covering single-flute through multi-flute configurations, various chamfer angles, and back-chamfering tools.

Replaceable Tip Drilling Systems

Guhring's modular drilling platform uses steel drill bodies with interchangeable carbide inserts. This system is more cost-effective than solid carbide for larger diameter holes (typically 12mm+).

HT 800 WP System

The HT 800 WP is Guhring's primary replaceable-tip drill platform, designed for high-accuracy production drilling.

Key features:

H6 shank tolerance — Precision shank fits a variety of toolholder options (hydraulic, shrink-fit, collet)
Open flute geometry with internal cooling for optimal chip evacuation
Reinforced shank for strong, accurate clamping
Material-specific inserts — Different insert geometries and coatings optimized for specific workpiece materials

Drill bodies:

Series 4105 — 1xD Pilot/Countersink body
Series 5243 — 5xD body

Insert series by material:

Series 4112 — Inserts for steels (nano-FIREX)
Series 4114 — Inserts, Uncoated
Series 4115 — Inserts for stainless steel (nano-A coating)
Series 4229 — Inserts for construction beam drilling (nano-FIREX)

RT 800 System

Series 5243 — RT 800 drill body, 5xD
Series 2747 — RT 800 insert, Carbide, Bright

Advantages over solid carbide:

Only the insert is replaced — the steel body lasts through hundreds of insert changes
Cost per hole is lower for large diameters where solid carbide drills are expensive
Multiple insert grades allow one body to serve different materials
Insert changes take seconds with no need to remove the holder from the spindle

1,748 items in our database across the replaceable tip category.

Threading Products

Guhring offers a comprehensive threading program covering cut taps, form taps, thread mills, and related tools.

PowerTap — Universal Taps

Guhring's flagship tapping line, designed for universal material application.

Key features:

HSS-E and HSS-E-PM substrates — Cobalt and powder metal steels for maximum toughness and wear resistance
TiN coating standard — Gold-colored for visual identification
Golden color ring — Quick visual identification of PowerTap series
Available forms: Form B (general), Form C (blind hole), Form E (short chamfer for maximum thread depth near hole bottom)
Thread standards: Metric, Metric Fine, UNC, UNF, BSW, BSP, BSPP, BSPT, NPT, pipe threads
Universal material capability: Cast iron, aluminum (drawn and wrought), stainless and acid-resistant steels, high-tensile steels, general steels

Available configurations:

Series 5717 — Powertap Metric 40-degree Spiral Flute, Form C, Oxide
Series 5731 — BSPP PowerTap, Through Hole, HSS-E, Steam Oxide
Dozens of additional series covering all thread forms and chamfer styles

Cut Taps (3,270 items in database)

Traditional chip-cutting taps in spiral flute, spiral point, and straight flute configurations:

Spiral flute — For blind holes. Chips are pulled up and out of the hole. Most common in CNC applications
Spiral point (gun tap) — For through holes. Chips are pushed forward through the hole. Fastest tapping style
Straight flute — For short-chipping materials (cast iron, brass, bronze). Simplest geometry, most economical

Available in HSS, HSS-E (cobalt), HSS-E-PM (powder metal), and solid carbide substrates. Coatings include TiN, TiCN, steam oxide, and bright.

Form Taps (710 items in database)

Chipless thread forming (roll taps) that displace material rather than cutting it.

Advantages:

No chips — eliminates chip evacuation problems in blind holes
Stronger threads — cold-worked thread flanks are 10-25% stronger than cut threads
Longer tool life — no cutting edges to wear
Better for ductile materials — aluminum, copper, low-carbon steel

Available in: Metric, UNC, UNF thread forms. HSS-E and HSS-E-PM substrates. TiN and TiCN coatings.

Thread Mills (586 items in database)

Solid carbide thread mills for helical interpolation threading.

Advantages over tapping:

One tool can produce multiple thread sizes (within pitch family)
Thread can be produced to the bottom of a blind hole
Broken thread mill does not destroy the workpiece (unlike a broken tap)
Adjustable thread fit via CNC compensation
Better for interrupted cuts and difficult materials

Reamers (1,066 items in database)

Solid carbide and HSS reamers for precision hole finishing. Available in standard, oversized, and adjustable configurations.

Countersinks (78 items in database)

Single-flute and multi-flute countersinks in 60, 82, 90, and 120-degree included angles.

Material Application Guide

Guhring organizes material recommendations using ISO material classification groups:

Material Group	ISO Code	Examples	Recommended Drill	Recommended End Mill	Recommended Tap
Carbon/Alloy Steel (P)	P1-P4	1018, 1045, 4140, 4340	RT 100 XF or RT 100 U (nano-FIREX)	RF 100 Speed or RF 100 Diver	PowerTap (TiN)
Stainless Steel (M)	M1-M3	304, 316, 17-4PH, duplex	RT 100 InoxPro (Perrox)	RF 100 Diver (Signum)	PowerTap Form E (TiCN)
Cast Iron (K)	K1-K3	Gray, ductile, nodular	RT 100 U (nano-FIREX)	RF 100 Speed	Straight flute tap
Aluminum/Non-Ferrous (N)	N1-N3	6061, 7075, brass, copper	RT 100 Al (uncoated/DLC)	SelectMill 3-flute (bright)	Form tap (TiN)
Superalloys (S)	S1-S4	Inconel 718, Ti-6Al-4V, Hastelloy	RT 100 HF (Signum)	RF 100 Diver (Signum)	Carbide tap or thread mill
Hardened Steel (H)	H1-H4	D2 (>45 HRC), H13, S7	RT 100 HF (Signum)	RF 100 Sharp	Thread mill

Material-specific notes:

Stainless 304/316: Use RT 100 InoxPro for best results. The Perrox coating and polished flutes prevent the built-up edge that kills tools in austenitic stainless. Through-coolant at 800+ PSI is essential
Aluminum: Use uncoated or DLC-coated tools. Do NOT use TiAlN-based coatings (FIREX, nano-FIREX) on aluminum — the aluminum content in the coating has chemical affinity with workpiece aluminum, causing adhesion
Inconel/Nickel alloys: RT 100 HF with Signum coating is the first choice. Conservative speeds (40-60 SFM), moderate feeds, and high-pressure through-coolant are mandatory. Peck drilling may be required above 5xD
Titanium: RT 100 U or RT 100 InoxPro work well. Keep speeds below 150 SFM, feeds moderate, through-coolant mandatory. Avoid rubbing — stay in the cut

Key Competitors and Positioning

Competitor	Guhring Advantage	Competitor Advantage
OSG	Own carbide production, deeper drilling portfolio, RT 100 platform	OSG stronger in threading (heritage tap maker), wider end mill range with VGM
Kennametal	Better coating technology (nano-FIREX, Perrox), vertical integration	Kennametal much stronger in indexable tooling and turning
Sandvik Coromant	Full-line rotary tools under one brand, German engineering	Sandvik dominant in turning/indexable, stronger distribution network
Walter	Own carbide production, deeper drilling specialty	Walter has Walter Titex drills as direct competitor, stronger in aerospace
Emuge	Deeper threading portfolio, more tap variants	Emuge is the threading specialist — wider form tap and thread mill range
Dormer Pramet	Higher-end coating tech, better deep hole capability	Dormer has wider HSS range and lower price points
Mitsubishi	More application-specific drill variants	Mitsubishi stronger in indexable drilling and milling

Guhring's strongest positions:

Solid carbide drilling — The RT 100 platform is world-class. The combination of in-house carbide, in-house coating, and deep engineering makes this their best product line
Deep hole drilling — RT 100 T series from 12xD to 40xD with a proven piloting procedure
Micro drilling — 0.05mm minimum diameter, 21+ series, one of the deepest micro portfolios available
Multi-function end milling — RF 100 Diver's 45-degree ramp angle and 5-in-1 capability is a genuine differentiator
Vertical integration — Few competitors make their own carbide substrate, coat in-house, and grind tools all under one roof

Guhring's relative weaknesses:

Indexable tooling — Not a significant player compared to Sandvik, Kennametal, or Walter
Turning tools — No turning insert or boring bar program
Brand awareness in US — Less well-known than OSG or Kennametal in many US shops despite comparable or superior products
End mill breadth — RF 100 line is strong but narrower than OSG's VGM or Harvey/Helical ranges

Ordering and Identification

Series Numbers

Guhring uses numeric Series Numbers as the primary product family identifier. Series numbers are typically 3-5 digits (e.g., 5511, 6737, 19956). Each series represents a specific combination of:

Tool type (drill, end mill, tap)
Geometry (point angle, helix, flute count)
Substrate (HSS, HSS-E, carbide grade)
Coating (uncoated, TiN, FIREX, nano-FIREX, Signum, Perrox)
Length (stub, jobber, extra length, deep hole depth ratio)

EDP Numbers

Individual tool sizes within a series are identified by EDP (Electronic Data Processing) numbers. These are 13-digit numeric codes (e.g., 9055110123000). When ordering from distributors, the EDP number is the most precise identifier.

Type Designations

Guhring uses alphabetic type codes for general purpose drills:

Type N — Standard geometry for general materials
Type W — Soft materials (aluminum, copper)
Type H — Hard materials (hardened steel, cast iron)

Platform Naming Convention

RT 100 = Ratio Technology drill (RT = Ratio, 100 = carbide platform)
RF 100 = Ratio Frase (mill) — same ratio optimization philosophy
GT 100 = Geometry Technology (parabolic flute platform)
HT 800 / RT 800 = Replaceable tip system designators

Catalog PDFs Available

guhring_drills_full.pdf (22MB) — Complete drill catalog
guhring_endmills_full.pdf (17MB) — Complete end mill catalog
guhring_taps_full.pdf (22MB) — Complete threading catalog

Database Coverage

Our Supabase product database contains 154 Guhring series with detailed specifications. Coverage by category:

Category	Series Crawled	Total Items
General Purpose Drills	6	Multiple
Deep Hole Drills	12	Multiple
Micro Drills	21	Multiple
3-Flute Drills	7	Multiple
Straight Flute Drills	10	Multiple
Flat Bottom Drills	4	Multiple
High-Performance Drills	(items only)	4,714
Replaceable Tip Drills	(items only)	1,748
HSS/HSCO/PM Drills	(items only)	12,153
Gun Drills	(items only)	1,521
RF 100 Speed End Mills	26	Multiple
RF 100 Diver End Mills	18	Multiple
RF 100 Sharp End Mills	11	Multiple
SelectMill End Mills	9	Multiple
Micro RF 100 Diver	4	Multiple
RF 100 90-deg End Mills	5	Multiple
Chamfer/Deburr End Mills	21	Multiple
Variable Helix End Mills	(items only)	2,442
General Purpose End Mills	(items only)	1,658
Precision Contouring End Mills	(items only)	731
Cut Taps	(items only)	3,270
Form Taps	(items only)	710
Thread Mills	(items only)	586
Reamers	(items only)	1,066
Countersinks	(items only)	78

Reconditioning and Coating Services

Guhring operates tool reconditioning and coating service centers in the US:

Brookfield, WI — Full reconditioning and recoating facility
Novi, MI — Regional reconditioning center

Reconditioning restores worn tools to original factory specifications including regrinding, recoating, and inspection. Guhring reconditions both their own tools and competitor tools. Available coatings for reconditioning include TiN, TiAlN, FIREX, nano-FIREX, and DLC.

Tech Support and Resources

US Website: guhring.com
Global Website: guehring.com
US Phone: 1-800-776-6170
Technical Support Email: techsupport@guhring.com
Sales Email: sales@guhring.com
US Headquarters: 1445 Commerce Avenue, Brookfield, WI 53045
Product Search: guhring.com/BrowseProducts
Series Lookup: guhring.com/ProductsServices/SeriesDetails?Series={series_number}
Catalogs: guhring.com/Catalogs
Videos: guhring.com/Videos
Made in: Germany (tools and carbide), USA (reconditioning and select tooling)