Drill bits are very specific cutting tools employed to remove material from a hole, usually of round cross-section to make holes. Drill bits vary in size and shapes and are made up of many types of metals and plastics. Common drill bits used in home improvement projects include aluminum, nickel, and plastic. This article discusses the common materials and the best types of drill bits for these purposes.
Drill bits can be classified according to the shape of their tip. The most popular drill bits are those that have a tapered, sloping tip. These points are ideal for drilling small holes into various kinds of wood, sheet metal, and plastic. When using drill points of this type, you must keep your distance from the hole equal to the distance between the drilled point and the surrounding surface. If you drill into a material whose thickness varies greatly, you will not be able to get a precise diameter as the drill point will overshoot the surface by too much.
You can choose drill bit types according to their shape and composition. While flat-tipped bits drill holes straight into materials like sheet metals and plastics, ball-bearing bits have an enlarged tapered edge and are useful for drilling hollow objects. Spinning bits have a helical shape and are shaped like a corkscrew. Triple-tail bits have a three-tailed hook and are used to drill into masonry pipes or tiles. Multi-tail bits consist of a pole with several tips and are ideal for drilling various materials used in home improvement projects.
Drill bits with a low shank are perfect for drilling holes in soft metals like brass. They are also useful for drilling into wooden countertops and sinks. You can also purchase step bits with a larger shank for use in drilling through granite, marble, and slate. Drill bit shafts with a diamanttrennscheibe tip are best suited for drilling into softer metals that tend to be more brittle.
Spade bits consist of a metal shaft covered with a wood shank. In contrast to electric drills, which have a threading hole, the spade bits have a cutting shank. These drills are also called trowels. There are two common types of spade bits, one with a sharp end and the other without a shank:
A hole saw is an essential piece of equipment when you want to cut holes in hard materials like sheet rock, ceramics, marble, and granite. A hole saw has a metal blade that you control to cut through the material. The two most popular hole saws are a table saw and a drill press. Table saws have a straight cord, while drill presses have a handle that lets you pull the string back before you start drilling. A table saw cuts in a horizontal direction, while a drill press works in a vertical direction.
A carbide tip is designed to glide along the surface of the material as you drill. Because carbide is a metal material, it usually does not Nick or cut the material when it passes through it. Most carbide bits use two or three concentric circles as a guide to help you align your hole saw point with the hole. To decide on which carbide tip will work best for you, try them out at various distances from a wall before making the purchase. The best drill bits are those that contact the wood directly, with little or no lag. You can tell if the bits make contact with the wood by listening for a scratch or hissing noise.
Flat wood bits and regular wood bits can be used in shallow holes. It is important to choose bits that are suitable for use in deep holes, as well. When you are starting out, try using regular wood bits in shallow holes and then switching to the more specialized flat wood bits as you become more experienced. You may need to invest in some specialty bits to achieve the best results, especially if you are serious about turning and milling.
