#BEST DRILL BITS FOR METAL HOW TO#

Masonry drills are usually used in a power drill although they can be used with a lot of effort in a hand brace. Some masonry drills are described as 'durium tipped', this term refers to a highly durable silicon bronze alloy used instead of tungsten as the cutting point. The cutting tip is often made from tungsten carbide bonded to a spiralled steel shaft. Masonry bitĪs the name suggests, these are designed for drilling into brick, block, stone, quarry tiles or concrete. They are ideal for drilling pilot holes but are limited by the low power of these type of screwdrivers and the limited size of small bits available. Screwdriver bit drillsĭesigned to fit in rechargeable screwdriver these bits have a hexagonal shank. Forming the correct angle at the tip is important for efficient cutting. Titanium nitride bits cannot be sharpened without destroying the coating (although if the drill needs sharpening, the coating will probably have already been destroyed).

Sharpening - use a drill sharpener, a grindstone jig or an oilstone. Always hold the drill square to the work and apply only light pressure when drilling. Special care is required when using the smallest sizes since these bits are thin and brittle. They are designed for drilling relatively small holes, they sometimes tend to clog quickly especially when the wood is 'green' so when drilling deep holes (especially in hardwood) the bits should be withdrawn regularly to remove the waste. Twist drills are usually available in sizes 0.8-12 mm plus. The coating is only really effective when metal is being drilled, it has little effect when working with other materials. This coating increases the hardness of the bit and adds a self-lubricating property. Twist bits are also available coated with Titanium nitride (TiN), these are easily identified by the gold like colour.

'carbon steel', these bits are specially ground for drilling wood and should not be used for drilling metals, they tend to be more brittle, less flexible than HSS bits.'high speed steel' (HSS), these are suitable for drilling most types of material, when drilling metal the HSS stands up to the high temperatures.

They can be used on timber, metal, plastics and similar materials. The front edges cut the material and the spirals along the length remove the debris from the hole and tend to keep the bit straight.

Usuallyreferred to as twist drills, twist bits are probably the most common drilling tools used by the handyman with either a hand or electric drill. A sharp bit will also give a cleaner hole. A sharp bit cuts better with less effort whether used in a power or hand drill.

#BEST DRILL BITS FOR METAL HOW TO#

Learning how to sharpen drill bits is cost effective, it better to keep a bit sharp by occasional sharpening rather than waiting until it becomes really blunt. Good quality drill bits can be expensive, so take care of them, keep them in a case or box if possible, rather than allowing them to roll around loose in a toolbox where the cutting edges may be damaged. But for more sophisticated jobs/material, others bits will be required - perhaps larger, or designed for a specific material/purpose. Many jobs around the house require a hole of some kind to be drilled - whether it is putting up a shelf, building a cabinet or hanging a light fitting.įor basic requirements, a set of high-speed steel twist drills and some masonry bits will probably be sufficient for the average handyman. To drill a satisfactory hole in any material, the correct type of drill bit must be used it must be used correctly and be sharpened as appropriate. Twist bit - screwdriver bit - masonry - spur point - bullet pilot - countersink - tile - flat wood - hole saw - forstner - wood auger

Best drill bits for metal