In short: Choose a tapered drill bit in this order: first match the drill system and rod interface, then match the taper angle and bit diameter, and only then choose between a chisel, cross, or button face for the rock and drilling conditions. For an H22 × 108 mm rod with an 11° taper, an 11° chisel or cross bit can be a direct system match when the socket dimensions are also correct; a tapered button bit must likewise be supplied with the same taper and compatible socket. Never assume that two bits fit simply because they have the same nominal diameter.
This guide is for mine and quarry procurement teams, tunneling contractors, distributors, and site supervisors using small-hole top-hammer drilling with hand-held or air-leg pneumatic rock drills. It focuses on the practical choice between tapered chisel bits, cross bits, and button bits in H22-style drill strings. It does not claim that one face design is universally best: rock structure, abrasiveness, flushing, drill energy, rod condition, and bit maintenance can change the result.
The First Decision Is Compatibility, Not Bit Face
Chisel, cross, and button describe the cutting face. They do not define the complete connection. A buyer still has to confirm the rod shank, rod taper, bit socket, insertion depth, hole diameter, and flushing arrangement.
The current PerfoMax H22 tapered drill rod uses a 22 mm hexagonal shank, a 108 mm striking interface, and an 11° tapered bit connection. PerfoMax's 11° taper chisel bits and 11° taper cross bits are listed for compatible H22 / 11° systems. The current tapered button-bit range is offered in multiple diameters and must be ordered with a taper angle that exactly matches the rod.
That angle match is not a minor preference. OEM catalogs treat 7°, 11°, and 12° tapered systems as distinct configurations. Sandvik currently lists tapered bits in 7°, 11°, and 12° versions, while Epiroc's top-hammer catalog uses different product codes for different taper-angle and rod combinations. The purchasing implication is straightforward: verify the interface before comparing cutting performance.
Procurement rule: Rod system → taper angle → socket fit → bit diameter → face design. Reversing that order is a common source of incompatible parts.
Chisel vs Cross vs Button Bit: What Actually Changes?
| Bit type | Cutting face | Why a buyer may consider it | What must be checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chisel bit | One main carbide cutting edge | Simple, serviceable profile for small-diameter drilling where a straightforward cutting geometry is preferred. | Rock structure, edge wear, gauge retention, flushing, and whether the single cutting line remains stable in the actual ground. |
| Cross bit | Four carbide cutting arms arranged in a cross | Multiple cutting edges provide contact around the hole circumference; PerfoMax considers this profile where fractured or variable rock requires stable gauge contact. | Cross-profile symmetry, brazing and carbide condition, flushing openings, gauge wear, and actual performance in the site's jointing pattern. |
| Button bit | Multiple discrete carbide buttons | More design variables can be tuned to the application, including button layout, face design, flushing arrangement, and diameter. | Correct taper/socket, button and body wear, regrinding practice where applicable, flushing, and whether the selected face and carbide configuration suit the ground. |
This table is a selection framework, not a performance guarantee. A button bit should not automatically replace a cross or chisel bit just because it is a newer-looking design, and a cross bit should not automatically be specified for every fractured formation. The decision should be tied to the drill string and measured site results.
When a Chisel Bit Makes Sense
A tapered chisel bit concentrates impact along one carbide cutting edge. In the PerfoMax range, the current H22 / 11° chisel family is listed in 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, and 42 mm nominal diameters. It is positioned for small-diameter blast, anchor, quarry, tunneling, and underground development work where a simple cutting profile is preferred.
Consider a chisel bit when the installed system already uses that geometry successfully and the site values straightforward replacement, inspection, and servicing. A current working bit is valuable evidence: record penetration, the meters drilled before sharpening or replacement, edge wear, gauge loss, jamming, and hole quality. Those observations are more useful than ordering by a generic rock label such as "medium hard."
Avoid making the chisel decision from unit price alone. If the cutting edge wears unevenly, loses gauge quickly, or struggles in highly variable ground, the apparent saving per bit may not translate into a lower cost per drilled meter. Conversely, if the geology and drill setup favor the design, there is no reason to add complexity simply to change technologies.
When a Cross Bit Deserves a Trial
A cross bit uses four cutting arms rather than one main edge. PerfoMax's current 11° H22 cross-bit range is listed from 32 to 42 mm. Its product specification identifies fractured or variable rock as a condition in which the four-arm profile may be considered because it provides multiple cutting edges and stable gauge contact.
That does not mean "cross bit = fractured rock" is a universal rule. Joint orientation, voids, abrasiveness, drill feed, rotation, rod stiffness, and flushing all affect the result. Use the cross profile as a technically plausible candidate, then validate it against a controlled field trial.
For procurement, inspect more than the nominal diameter. Ask for confirmation of the 11° socket, insertion depth, cross-profile symmetry, carbide placement, brazing, flushing holes, and dimensional tolerance. On repeat orders, compare a new sample with the worn bit that performed well. If a site is switching from chisel to cross, keep the rod, drill, hole diameter, and operating settings as consistent as practical during the comparison so the face design is not confused with several other changes at once.
When a Tapered Button Bit Is the Better Candidate
A button bit breaks the face into multiple carbide contact points. That gives the designer more variables than a single chisel edge or four-arm cross: button count and position, face geometry, flushing arrangement, skirt design, carbide shape, and grade can all change the behavior of the bit.
Sandvik's current tapered-bit range illustrates the broader system concept: its tapered top-hammer bits are listed for hand-held, bench, quarrying, and bolting applications, in several taper angles, with different flushing and carbide options. The lesson for a PerfoMax buyer is not to copy another manufacturer's specification; it is to recognize that a "button bit" is a family of configurations, not one universal design.
PerfoMax currently lists tapered button bits in nominal diameters from 30 to 40 mm, with 32, 34, 36, 38, and 40 mm among the stocked variants shown on the product page. The page requires the taper angle to match the rod exactly and states that face design and flushing arrangement should be selected according to the rock and drilling system.
A button bit is therefore a strong candidate when the buyer wants more application-specific control over the cutting face, but that flexibility creates a more detailed RFQ. Do not order "38 mm H22 button bit" and assume the rest is determined. Confirm the taper, socket, face, button layout, flushing, drill model, rock condition, and current failure mode.
How to Compare the Three Bit Types on Site
If two or three face designs are technically compatible with the same drill string, compare them with a simple controlled trial. The goal is not to prove a preferred design; it is to identify which option produces the best stable drilling result in the actual ground.
- Keep the system constant. Use the same drill model, H22 rod specification, taper angle, nominal hole diameter, flushing method, and normal operating procedure.
- Choose a representative drilling interval. Do not compare one bit in massive rock and another in a heavily fractured zone and call the difference a bit result.
- Record penetration. Use time per hole, time per rod length, or another repeatable site metric.
- Record consumable life. Track meters or holes before regrinding, retirement, carbide damage, or gauge loss.
- Record hole behavior. Note collaring, jamming, deviation, cuttings removal, and whether the finished diameter remains acceptable.
- Calculate cost per usable meter. Include bit consumption, regrinding labor if used, downtime for bit changes, and rejected or re-drilled holes where relevant.
Do not compare only the fastest new-bit penetration. A bit that starts fast but loses gauge or requires frequent intervention may cost more over a shift. Likewise, a durable bit is not automatically economical if it materially reduces drilling productivity. The useful commercial metric is the cost and stability of the complete drilling outcome.
Diameter and Taper Checks for the Current PerfoMax H22 Range
| Current PerfoMax item | Listed connection | Listed nominal size range | Buyer check before order |
|---|---|---|---|
| H22 tapered drill rod | H22 × 108 mm shank; 11° bit taper | Rod lengths from 600 to 2400 mm are currently listed | Rock-drill chuck, rod length, working space, and 11° bit compatibility |
| 11° taper chisel bit | H22-compatible 11° tapered socket | 30–42 mm | Socket dimensions, insertion depth, hole diameter, flushing, rock condition |
| 11° taper cross bit | H22-compatible 11° tapered socket | 32–42 mm | Socket dimensions, insertion depth, hole diameter, flushing, rock structure |
| Tapered button bit | Taper must match the selected rod | 30–40 mm currently listed | Exact taper angle, socket, face/button layout, flushing, and application |
Availability, tolerances, and the final configuration should be confirmed in the quotation. If you are replacing an existing bit, a clear photograph and measured dimensions of the rod end and bit socket are often more useful than a part nickname.
Common Purchasing Mistakes
- Choosing the face before the connection: a technically attractive button or cross bit is useless if the taper and socket do not fit the rod.
- Mixing taper angles: do not combine 7°, 11°, and 12° tapered parts because their nominal diameters look similar.
- Assuming H22 alone defines the bit: H22 identifies the hex rod family, but shank length, taper, socket geometry, bit diameter, and flushing still need confirmation.
- Using only the rock name: "granite," "limestone," or "hard rock" does not describe fractures, abrasiveness, water, or the current wear mode.
- Comparing unit price instead of cost per meter: bit life, penetration, regrinding, downtime, and hole quality can outweigh purchase price.
- Changing several variables in one trial: switching the bit, rod, pressure, feed, and flushing at the same time makes the result difficult to interpret.
- Ordering repeat parts from an old description only: verify the current rod, taper, worn-bit sample, and dimensions before a large replacement order.
RFQ Checklist for H22 Tapered Drill Bits
Send the following information when requesting a chisel, cross, or button-bit recommendation:
- Rock drill: make/model and whether the tool is hand-held or air-leg supported;
- Drill rod: H22 confirmation, shank length, rod length, and current rod model;
- Taper: 7°, 11°, 12°, or measured/unknown—never guess;
- Hole: required finished diameter, typical depth, and drilling direction;
- Rock: rock type, hardness data if available, abrasiveness, fractures/joints, and water condition;
- Current bit: chisel/cross/button, photos, diameter, taper, flushing layout, and any part marking;
- Current result: penetration, bit life, regrinding interval, gauge loss, jamming, breakage, or hole-deviation problem;
- Commercial requirement: quantity, destination, packing requirement, and trial quantity before volume purchase.
For current options, review PerfoMax drill bits and drill rods. If your system is H22 × 108 mm / 11°, start with the matching H22 rod, then compare the chisel, cross, and button-bit configurations that fit the same interface.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does H22 mean any H22 drill bit will fit my rod?
No. H22 describes the 22 mm hex drill-steel family, but the full interface still includes the shank arrangement, taper angle, socket dimensions, insertion depth, bit diameter, and flushing path. Confirm the complete connection before ordering.
Can an 11° tapered bit be used on a 7° or 12° rod?
No. Treat different taper angles as different connection systems. PerfoMax's 11° H22 chisel and cross bits are intended for compatible 11° rods, and OEM catalogs likewise list taper angles as distinct configurations.
Which is best for hard rock: chisel, cross, or button?
There is no universal answer from hardness alone. Button bits offer more face and carbide configuration options, while cross and chisel profiles can remain effective in suitable systems. Abrasiveness, fractures, flushing, drill energy, diameter, current wear mode, and field economics should decide the trial.
Is a cross bit automatically better in fractured rock?
Not automatically. PerfoMax considers the four-arm cross profile for fractured or variable rock because multiple cutting edges can provide stable gauge contact, but field performance also depends on the fracture pattern, drill settings, rod condition, flushing, and wear. Validate with a controlled trial.
What should I send a supplier if I do not know the taper angle?
Do not guess. Send the drill and rod model, clear photographs of the rod taper and existing bit socket, dimensional measurements, current bit markings, and—if possible—a physical sample or drawing. The supplier should confirm compatibility before a volume order.
References
- Sandvik Rock Tools: Tapered Bits
- Sandvik Top Hammer Drilling Tools Catalog
- Epiroc Top Hammer Rock Drilling Tools Catalog
Last reviewed: August 11, 2026. Product availability and manufacturer specifications can change; verify the current quotation and operating documentation for the system being purchased.