HSS Rivet BitsĮspecially designed for drilling holes for rivets, these drill bits commonly have flutes on both ends, so you can get twice as many holes out of one drill bit. If you decide to use a pilot drill first, the diameter of the pilot drill should not exceed 25% of the reduced shank bit’s diameter. These bits can drill through wood, metal and plastics. For instance, if you have a 13mm (½”) chuck, you can get a reduced shank drill bit with a 16mm diameter and a 13mm shank. These drill bits allow you to drill a larger hole than your drill’s chuck would normally allow. They are used for drilling materials like stainless steel and other high tensile steels, including cast iron, cast steel, bronze, and weld seams. These drill bits are precision ground from solid cobalt alloyed high speed steel and are very resistant to high temperatures and abrasion. Just like regular HSS drill bits, they can be used on wood, metal and plastics. When they are used correctly, the titanium nitride coating greatly extends the cutting life of these drill bits (4-6 times longer than conventional drills) by reducing any heat build-up and increasing the bit’s lubricity. Therefore, for regular and/or repetitive masonry drilling (especially into concrete), the use of dedicated masonry drill bits is still recommended. Some manufacturers will recommend only using this type of drill bit on rotary mode when drilling masonry to preserve the integrity of the modified tip. They are capable of drilling nearly every type of material, including wood, masonry, ceramic tiles, plastic, and metal. These bits have a special diamond ground tungsten carbide tip that can (generally) be used in both rotary and hammer modes. To keep the temperature of the bit down, you should withdraw the bit regularly to clean its flutes and use the correct drilling RPM. These drill bits heat up rapidly during use, and this can melt the tungsten brazing on the drill bit’s tip, allowing the tip to move and chip when drilling. Some professional quality masonry drill bits will also feature a hexagonal shank (instead of a cylindrical shank) to stop the bits from slipping in the chuck when the drill is experiencing substantial loads, and also a percussion ground carbide tip. These tungsten carbide tipped bits are used on hammer drills (on hammer mode) for drilling into bricks, concrete, and stone. These drill bits will sometimes come packaged with small rubber rings called depth stops that fit around the bit and allow you to choose the depth you would like to drill to. It is therefore perfect for drilling into wood and some plastics and for jobs like dowelling.
This results in the bit not grabbing and producing a very clean hole. These drill bits have a brad point tip (also known as a W-point tip) that allows the outside cutting edges of the drill to cut the diameter of the hole before the centre breaks through.
This shank also allows tools such as cordless screwdrivers and impact drivers to perform small drilling tasks.Ĭheck out Drill Bit Sets Brad Point (Wood) Bits They will normally have a cylindrical shank, but some will be modified to feature a ¼” hex shank. High Speed Steel (HSS) BitsĪlso known as ‘twist’ drill bits, these bits are the most common of the many drill bit types and are ideal for everyday drilling through wood, metal and plastics. It is important to note that you should not use a drill bit that exceeds the maximum drilling capacities of your drill, as this could cause permanent damage to your tool. There are many different drill bit types, with each being designed for different, specific applications and operated in different ways. Drill bits are the most common accessory for drills.