Different types of drill bits and their main uses
There are 4 main types of drill bits you can use and it's key to know their characteristics to make sure your project goes completely to plan.
The 4 main drill bits you’ll need for your walls or DIY projects are a wood bit, a masonry bit, a tile bit and finally a twist bit. Drill bits from different brands will look slightly different but they will still feature the same main characteristics to help you distinguish between them.
Masonry Drill Bits
Featuring a larger angled tip, masonry drill bits are used to bore into concrete, brick, quarry tiles, stone, and breezeblock. These are best used at a slow rotational speed to prevent overheating and can be used in hammer mode and gear 1 for tougher jobs. You will need to pull out the bit from the material often to prevent dust build-up as this can make drilling more difficult and cause overheating. These bits range in size from 4mm to 16mm and can come in huge lengths of up to 400mm to enable you to drill through walls.
Tile Drill Bits
If you're installing shower tiles or tiling a wall, you might find yourself having to drill through the porcelain, ceramic tile, or even glass. A standard drill bit will crack and chip the material. Tile bits feature a spear-like point that helps cut into the material and prevent cracking and chipping. These sizes usually range from 3mm to 10mm.
Twist Drill Bits
These can be used on several materials including metal, wood and plastics and will likely be your most used type of bit. The pointed tip cut through the material and the spiral length allows the material to be drawn out of the hole and keep the bit straight as you drill. They come in two types – Carbon steel or HSS.
High-Speed Steel (HSS) can be used in any material, so are the ones you’re most likely to use, however they can withstand very high temperatures caused by friction which allows them to be used on metal. Most HSS twist bits are gold in colour thanks to the Titanium nitride coating which helps them self-lubricate when drilling into metal.
Wood Drill Bits
It’s not often you’d need a wood drill bit for walls, as you can drive screws straight into wooden studs for a superior hold, but when working with plasterboard or working with timber on other building projects, you’ll come across a few different types of wood bits to get the job done right. The most common you’ll find is a spur point bit, (commonly known as a dowel bit).
There are also other common types of wood drill bits you may come across for your projects: a countersink with a clearance drill bit, a flat wood bit, a plug cutter, a hole saw and a Forstner bit.
So, for all your timber requirements look no further than the team at Wood Lane Timber Merchants Ltd. Call us today on 0115 964 0888 or email sales@woodlanetimber.co.uk.