One customer summed it up perfectly after making the switch to stud welding: “I didn’t realize how much time we were wasting until we stopped drilling.”
For shops still relying on drilled holes to fasten parts, the hidden costs add up quickly. What seems like a straightforward process is actually one of the most time-consuming and expensive steps in fabrication.
The Real Cost of Drilling
Drilling holes may look simple, but the true expense goes far beyond the drill bit.
- Consumables: Drill bits, cutting fluids, and worn tooling add recurring costs.
- Labour: Hours spent at a drill press or running a magnetic drill are hours not spent moving a project forward.
- Production Delays: Every hole slows down the workflow and introduces opportunities for error.
And then there is the most overlooked cost of all: material integrity.
Weakened Material Through Drilling
Every drilled hole becomes a stress point. Under vibration or repeated loading, these points can lead to cracks or structural compromise. In applications where strength and longevity matter, this risk cannot be ignored. Back-drilling or tapping into hard-to-reach spaces makes the issue even worse, increasing both labour and risk.
How Stud Welding Eliminates the Problem
Stud welding eliminates the need for drilled holes entirely, providing a fastening solution that is faster, stronger, and cleaner.
- No hole, no damage: The base material remains intact, preserving its full strength.
- One-sided access: Stud welding requires access to only one side, avoiding the need to flip or re-fixture parts.
- Fast installation: Each weld takes only seconds, even on thicker plate.
- Stronger hold: A properly made stud weld is stronger than both the stud and the base material.
The result is a fastening method that improves efficiency while maintaining structural integrity.
Smarter Fastening for Modern Fabrication
Stud welding is not just a cleaner solution — it is a smarter one. By eliminating drilling, teams gain time, reduce consumable costs, and remove unnecessary risks from the process. Increased throughput and reduced downtime directly impact profitability and project success.
For shops that have struggled with broken drill bits, off-center holes, or rework caused by misaligned fasteners, the shift to stud welding is a clear upgrade.
Partner With Davis Stud Welding
At Davis Stud Welding, we provide the equipment, fasteners, and expertise to help businesses move away from outdated fastening methods and toward faster, more reliable solutions. With over 12 years of stud welding experience and more than 30 years in the service industry, our team delivers solutions designed to save time, reduce costs, and improve results.
Contact our sales team today to learn how to eliminate drilling — and the headaches that come with it — by switching to stud welding.