Which Drill Bit Should I Use?
It’s pretty likely that during your home improvement projects you’ll have the opportunity to drill many holes in all sorts of materials – after all, electric and cordless drills are two of the most used power tools in most homeowners’ workshops. However, it’s not quite as easy as just picking up a drill, installing a bit, and starting to drill your hole – you could do it that way, but if you choose the wrong bit, a quick job could easily turn into a lengthy task, wear out or break the bit, and possibly even damage the drill.
Drill bits are similar to saw blades – there are different designs for working with various materials and size selections can be based on the type of drill they’re being used in. There can even be specific shaft configurations for use with a particular drill. Choosing the right bit for your drill, the material, and your task can be an important part of working efficiently on your project.
Types of Drill Bits
The first consideration when choosing a bit is whether it will work with the drill you’re using. The most common drills used by homeowners have 3/8 inch and ½ inch chucks – this is true regardless of whether you have electric or battery powered models. The measurement designates the maximum bit shaft the drill is able to accept – that means that just about any bit that can be installed in a 3/8 inch drill can also be used in a ½ inch model, but the reverse isn’t true. Always make sure the shaft size of the bit matches the drill you own before making a purchase only to discover the bit can’t be used – of course, if you have numerous types and sizes of power drills, this issue might not be a concern.
The type of material being drilled can also dictate what type of bit should be used. A few types of bits and the materials they’re designed for:
- Twist bits – these are the type of bits most people picture when they think of drill bits – they can be used for wood, metal, and many other materials. When used for wood a carbon steel designation can be desirable and a titanium coating is preferable when drilling metal.
- Masonry bits – these are designed for drilling in concrete, brick, block, and other similar products – a tungsten carbide tip is desirable. If you’re using a rotary hammer drill for your masonry drilling, you may need a special shaft design for your bit.
- Tile bits – a tungsten carbide tip on these bits with a unique appearance allows them to drill through ceramic tile and glass. Masonry bits can also be used to drill through many types of ceramic tiles.
- Flat wood bit – these bits are ideal for drilling holes with fairly large diameters in wood products. The bits have a small shaft and a spade-like head sized for the diameter of the hole you desire – they can be ideal for drilling bolt holes for framing and deck projects.
- Hole saws – if you need to drill a large hole for a plumbing pipe or door lock, these can be ideal – they feature a small center pilot bit to accurately start the hole and a large diameter bit with saw-like teeth that actually cuts the hole.
These various bits are just a small sampling of the many types available, but one of these selections should help you accomplish just about any home improvement project that may be on your agenda.