| Drill Bit Materials |
The materials from which bits are manufactured play a big role in the life and performance of the bit.
Drill bits are available in:
- Steel Bits— inexpensive and work well for boring in softwood.
However, steel bits dull quickly in hardwood.
- High-Speed Steel Bits (HSS)— harder than steel blades and stay sharper longer.
- Titanium Coated Bits— cost slightly more than HSS bits, but their titanium coating is tougher and
stays sharp longer than HSS or steel bits.
- Carbide-Tipped Bits— more expensive than other bits, but they stay sharp much longer than
steel, high-speed steel or titanium bits.
- Cobalt Bits— extremely hard and dissipate heat quickly, they are most commonly used for boring
in stainless steel and other metals.
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Good idea:
Drill bits have many different shank sizes and styles.
Always choose your bits based on the drill manufacturer's recommendations.
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Type |
Uses |
Example |
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Twist Bit
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- General purpose drilling in wood, plastic and light metal
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Brad Point Bit
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- Boring in wood
- Has high points (brads) for easier positioning and accurate cuts
- Has extra-wide flutes for chip removal
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| Spade Bit |
- Boring large diameter holes in wood
- Range from 1/4" to 1 1/2" in diameter
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Adjustable Wood Bit
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- Wood boring, adjustable blade allows boring of multi-diameter holes
- Adjusts from 3/4" to 3" in diameter
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Auger Bit |
- Wood boring
- Coarse screw end for quick drilling
- Has large flutes for chip removal
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Hole Saw |
- Boring large diameter holes in wood and light metal
- Usually range from 1/2" to 6" in diameter
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Forstner Bit |
- Boring flat-bottomed holes in wood
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Drill Saw Bit |
- Cutting irregular contours and holes in wood or metal
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Counterbore, Pilot and Countersink Bit
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- Drilling pilot, countersink and counterbore holes in one step
- Has replaceable and interchangeable pilot bits
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Installer Bit |
- Installing phone wire, TV cable, computer and security system wire
- Has a hole in the bit head for pulling wire through hole
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Left Hand Bit |
- Extracting broken, right-hand-threaded studs, screws and bolts
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Step Bit |
- Repetitive drilling in steel, copper, brass, aluminum, plastic and wood
- Deburring holes
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Glass/Tile Bit |
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Masonry Bit |
- Boring in masonry
- Used in rotary hammers or hammer drills
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Scaling Chisel |
- Chiseling, scaling and chipping masonry
- Used in rotary hammers or hammer drills
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| Find Your Drill Bits |
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