Introduction
This blog will take an in-depth look at Drill Bits. The blog will bring more detail on topics such as:
- What Are Drill Bits?
- Types Of Drill Bits
- Drill Bit Construction
- Coatings Used On Drill Bits
- Materials & Finishes
- Maintenance Of Drill Bits
- Related FAQs
- And Much More…….
What Are Drill Bits?
Drill bits are drafted to drill holes in a variety of common applications. These include various types of wood, metal, plastic, clay tile, porcelain, and concrete. There are also drill bits designed for steel, aluminum, brass, wrought iron, wrought iron, fiberglass, brick, vinyl flooring, and more.
Drill bits are manufactured in a variety of shapes and sizes to help with specific applications. Not sure what drill bit you need or what you need in your toolbox? Read on to find out the different types of drill bits you may encounter.
Types Of Drill Bits
There are many kinds of drill bits used in construction & DIY:
- Twist Drill Bit
- Brad Point Drill Bit
- Masonry Drill Bit
- Glass and Tile Drill bits
- Hammer Drill bits
- Bullet Point Drill bits
- Auger Drill Bit
- Self-Feed Drill Bit
- Forstner Drill Bit
- Hole Saw Drill Bit
- Tile drill bits
- Adjustable Wood Drill bits
- Annular Cutter
- Bits for Metal
- Rivet Drill Bit
- Spade Drill Bit
- Installer Drill Bit
- Step Drill Bit
- Countersink Drill Bit
- Plug Cutter
1- Twist Drill Bit
Also known as high-speed bits, they look like corkscrews and are some of the most popular bits. It is often used to drill small holes in wood and walls. The unique design allows dust to flow out of the holes during operation.
- Twist drill bits can be utilized on light metal, wood, plastic, metal, ceramic, & stone surfaces.
- Useful for metal, wood, or ceramic home repair, maintenance, and construction projects.
- all-purpose rotation drilling; A common household drill bit.
2- Brad-Point Drill Bit
Braid-point bits are useful when you need to make clean, precise holes. They come with a rubber stopper that allows you to set a specific depth. Its precision makes it popular with woodworkers.
- Braid point drill bits can be used in wood.
- Helpful or Useful for furniture making, cabinetry & general woodworking.
- W-shaped focal area; for a clean exit hole.
- Generally the best drill bit for wood DIY projects.
3- Masonry Drill Bit
These are the ones you use when looking to make holes in brick, stone, or concrete. Because of the hardness of those materials, masonry wears out quickly, which means you’ll need to replace it more often.
- Masonry drill bits can be used with concrete, brick, and masonry.
- Useful for building and repairing homes.
- It is advisable to use the rope when in use; Some models are designed for use with rotational drills but are somewhat ineffective.
4- Glass and Tile Drill bits
These are unique types of particles that can migrate through plastic, tile, glass, marble, and brick. They can also withstand high temperatures.
- Glass abrasives can be used in plain glass and ceramics.
- Useful for DIY home cleaning and maintenance.
- Designed to drill holes in glass and ceramics; Use only on slow-speed rotating drill.
5- Hammer Drill bits
If you are looking to find the moisture content of a concrete slab, you use a hammer to precisely drill holes in the concrete slab.
6- Bullet Point Drill bits
These are specialized penetrators of wood, plastic, and metal. They make surprisingly clean holes.
7- Auger Drill Bit
These are the little tools you should use when looking to dig through thick, dry wood. Thanks to their innovative design, you don’t have to apply as much pressure when drilling through hard surfaces. Auger bits have a screw tip that provides the first hole as the rest of the bit goes down. As a result, the auger bits keep the holes incredibly clean and accurate.
- Auger drill bits can be used in wood.
- Useful for large woodworking and construction projects.
- The screw-tip helps to pull the drill; Requires minimal pressure.
8- Self-Feed Drill Bit
Like auger bits, self-feed bits have a screw tip that sets the bit. They also make clean and tidy holes. However, since the dust does not move away from the hole during operation, you have to stop working periodically to get rid of the dust.
9- Forstner Drill Bit
These are the same materials you use when you are looking to rip holes easily and cleanly in the woods. This bit also comes with a pointed tip for easy placement of the bit.
- Forstner drill bits can be utilized in wood.
- Useful for carpentry & construction.
- Creates clean holes with flat bases; It works better in a drill press than in a manual drill.
10- Hole Saw Drill Bit
There are bits called hole rays that allow you to drill larger holes, such as door inserts.
- Timber, metal, tile, and hollow stone can be used.
- Useful as a multi-purpose bit of housing, maintenance, and repair.
- Attached to the shank for attachment to the drill; Large cut holes are drilled, often used to install pipes.
11- Tile drill bits
These bits come with carbide tips that allow you to drill a hole in the tile without causing chips or cracks in the tile. Different tile bits are drafted for different kinds of tiles. So be sure to check the packaging for potential digging into your tiles.
- A tile drill bit can be used with ceramic and porcelain tile.
- Useful for installing or refinishing floors, backsplashes, and tile walls.
- Carbide-tipped bit reduces scratches and cracks when driving different types of tile.
12- Adjustable Wood Drill bits
As their name suggests, these bits can be adjusted in size to produce different-sized holes, so there is no need to buy different-sized bits.
13- Annular Cutter
These bits have a special design that allows them to drill a hole into a material to extract its core.
Utilized to drill larger through-holes in metal (7/16″ and up), these bits wanted a unique system. Similar to a hollow saw, annular cutter bits reduce the outer diameter of the hollow and depart a solid center slug.
This creates a much extra green drilling process with burr-free holes in tubing, sheet metallic, and iron bar inventory.
14- Bits for Metal
Metal bits are built for heavy-duty work, such as cutting steel. They are one of the best costlier bits out there.
15- Rivet Drill Bit
Rivet bits feature a special draft that enables them to drill rivets into thin sheets of metal.
16- Spade Drill Bit
The spade bits have a spade-like tip that allows them to thrust into softwood. It is often used to make holes in pipelines.
- A spade drill bit can be used in wood.
- Useful for drilling holes in wall retainers for framing, electrical, plumbing work, and fine woodwork.
- Large diameter holes.
17- Installer Drill Bit
Workers use installer bits to drill holes for wiring to accommodate entertainment or security systems. The tip of the bit has a small hole where you insert the wire you want the needle to go through. The installer bits are incredibly long, reaching 18 inches in length to make their job easier.
- Can be used with installer bit sticks.
- Utilization for woodworking & cabinet work.
- Manufactures wooden plugs for storing countersink fasteners.
18- Step Drill Bit
Named after their pyramid-shaped series of step-like lips, experts use these pieces to dig through metal sheets. Their step design allows you to make holes of different sizes. Step bits are known for their versatility.
- Step drill bits can be used with steel and wood.
- Pilot holes are useful for drilling in woodworking and metal works.
- Allows multiple diameter holes to be drilled with one drill bit; It can be used to clean the weeds away from the holes.
19- Countersink Drill Bit
These are versatile products that allow you to drill counterbore, countersink, pilot holes, and other holes in the wood.
- A countersink drill bit can be used in wood.
- Useful for both woodwork and ceramics.
- Pilot drills holes etc. to proper depth.
- The head of the fastener is in place to flush the countersink.
20- Plug Cutter
Plug cutters help with professional projects, because they cut holes in the wood when cutting the wood plugs needed to store the fasteners that go into them.
Drill Bit Construction
When it comes to learning, there are two easily identifiable parts you need to know – the shank and the chuck. Here are some tips to help you better understand how drills and drill bits work:
The shank has a drill used in the drill and is secured with a chuck. The round shank helps in centering a little more precisely in the chuck. The flat surface on the hex shank allows the chuck to securely grip the drill bit.
Four-inch hex shank bits are designed for use on 1/4-inch impact drivers and can be easily replaced. SDS (slotted drive system) shanks are used for concrete drills and demolition bits and work particularly well with SDS-Plus and SDS-Max rotary hammer drills.
The chuck is the part of the drill that connects the drill bit. Most household power drills have 3/8-inch or 1/2-inch chucks. Larger chucks are 5/8 inch by 3/4 inch in size but are typically installed on heavy industrial power drills and drill presses.
Coatings Used On Drill Bits
A-Black oxide:
The most cost-effective coating. Black oxide adds corrosion protection, enhances tempering and stress relief of the bit, reduces galling and chip welding, and helps maintain drilling lubricant Black oxide is suitable for drilling iron and steel but not recommended for drilling aluminum, magnesium, and similar materials are not recommended.
B- Copper Oxide:
Copper oxide heats the bit and reduces stress and is generally used alone for visual detection of cobalt metal or in combination with black oxide for optimal high-speed metal detection.
C- Titanium Nitride (Tin):
An expensive coating that makes the bit stronger and provides a thermal barrier resulting in increased productivity and longer tool life on hard surfaces Tin offers uniform advantages the same for like black and copper oxides. Tin-coated structures are suitable for mining iron and steel as well as aluminum and magnesium.
Materials & Finishes
It is generally classified by materials and coatings.
- High-speed steel (HSS) drill bits are used to drill wood, light steel, fiberglass, and PVC.
- Black oxide-coated drill bits are harder than standard HSS bits and the coating helps the drill bits resist corrosion. These are ideal for hardwood, softwood, PVC, fiberglass, and steel.
- Titanium-coated drill bits have low friction, need less effort, and last longer than black oxide-coated bits. These are ideal for hardwood, softwood, PVC, fiberglass, and steel.
- Cobalt drill bits are utilized for drilling hard metals and steel. They dissipate heat quickly and are less corrosive, making them better for hard metal drilling than black oxide or titanium-coated drill bits If you are considering cobalt drill bits and titanium, cobalt bits tend to be better drill bits than stainless steel.
- Carbide-tipped drill bits remain very sharp over long periods of use and are used primarily for concrete, tile, and masonry. These are often good masonry drill bits for your project.
- Bi-metal drill bits are useful for a variety of materials such as lightweight steel, wood, and PVC; Two steel drills provide fast and smooth cutting, and vibration is greatly reduced.
- Diamond drill bits are ideal for cutting glass, sea glass, fused glass, rocks, and gemstones.
- Alloy drill bits are commonly used in machine shops for cutting steel of varying thicknesses. These tend to be good metal drill bits if you only work with thin materials.
Maintenance Of Drill Bits
Proper drill bit maintenance is no different than maintaining most tools and helps extend the life of your drill bit and prepare it for the next job Maintaining your drill bit can also be a safe profile; Dull or damaged drill Bit can also be a safe profile; Dull or damaged drill bits can reason troubles for the job in addition to the worker.
Drill bits are cutting tools. If you do a lot of housework or heavy construction work, you will need to sharpen your drill bit from time to time. Dull drill bits can increase the time and effort needed to complete the job and possibly damage, and even injure, the materials you are working with
A polishing tool can be an amazing funding to preserve your drill bit in top shape. More experienced DIYers can get the job done with good grinding tools.
Most drill bit sets are sold in a case with room for each bit. This prevents the drill bit from moving or slipping and also provides better organization. Each area is marked for bit size and type, making it easy to quickly find the right bit for the finished job.
If your set didn’t come with a case or you were buying drill bits individually, add a storage box with dividers to your toolset. Do not store more than two items together and mark each area with a permanent marker by the size and type of drill bit stored there.
Additional Tips for Proper Drill & Drill Bit Maintenance:
- Allow the drill bit to cool down after completing your work.
- Wipe the drill and drill bit with a clean, dry towel or cleaning cloth.
- A clean, dry brush can be used to brush away any tooth chips or other dirt attached to the appliance.
- Use a paper towel or microwave cloth to lightly coat with machine oil. Let it sit for a few minutes, then wipe off the excess oil with another paper towel.
- Check the drill bits for any major damage and remove the damaged drill bits from the set so they can be replaced.
- Put the drill bits back in their bag and store them in a cool, dry place.
Related FAQs
What makes a drill bit good?
Answer: Titanium-coated HSS drill bits reduce friction. They are stronger than basic HSS bits and stay sharper longer. They work in the mining of wood, steel, fiberglass and PVC. Drill bits with carbide tips stay sharper longer than steel, HSS or titanium bits.
What drill bit is used for what?
Answer: For example, drill bits made of high-speed steel (HSS) are best for mild steel, while cobalt is the best drill bit for stainless steel. However, hard carbide or tungsten carbide drill bits are needed to cut hard metals. Also, check the coating on the drill bit.
How do you choose a drill bit?
Answer: The diameter of the hole you drilled should be slightly smaller than the diameter of the screw. So, for example, if you use a 3.5mm screw, use a 3mm diameter drill bit. If you are also using wall anchors and screws, the drill bit should be the same size as the anchor.
How many drill bits do you need?
Answer: Unless you’re a technical genius, you won’t need an index with dozens of bits. A basic 21-bit set will work. The more money you spend, the stronger the bit and the longer it will hold the edge. Most holes you iron need screws.
What is the good material for a drill bit?
Answer: Carbide bits are the hardest drill bit material and can cut through hardened metal. However, titanium and cobalt drill bits can also be used if they are not available. However, drilling with any of these materials will take longer than with a carbide drill bit.
What size drill is best?
Answer: The most popular is the 3/8 inch drill. The 1/4-inch diameter has a lightweight design and is generally one of the best practices for home use. The heavy drill is about 1/2 inch in diameter.
How long do drill bits last?
Answer: The length of time drill bits last can also depend on the material being drilled. It is also affected by the weight and type of material being moved. For example, expect to drill between 150 and 250 holes in the concrete with each hole.
What is a drill bit made of?
Answer: Drill bits are typically made of high-speed steel (HSS), which is a uniform tool steel. Other materials for drill bits are cobalt steel alloy, carbide, and titanium-coated HSS.
What Colour are drill bits?
Answer: Standard HSS bits are black in color, while industrial bits look like regular steel. Others have a golden color, which comes from their titanium nitride coating.
What is the strongest drill bit?
Answer: Carbide is the hardest drill bit used in metallurgy and is generally reserved for professional tools. Black oxide is a coating on HSS drill bits to help reduce friction and speed up drilling through hard metal.
