A drill is an utterly indispensable tool that is made use of more than any other kind of basic power tool. A number of attachable bits serve to make the drill extremely versatile, as each bit is suited to particular tasks or materials.
The drilling of any material requires the use of the correct bit in order to ensure the quick and easy boring of holes. Knowing which drill bits to use to for a particular business can be a challenge but there are some expert tips that can make it simpler to choose the right ones.
Types of drill bits
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The medium on which a drill bit is meant to be used is the first way in which they are organised, which is why bits are frequently labelled for use on masonry, metal and wood. Once both the medium and the material for use has been identified, the size best suited to specific needs can then be chosen.
Masonry drill bits come with a gently sloping tip and are sometimes coated with carbide that helps to ensure they stay sharper for a lengthier period of time. Masonry bits are best suited to working with cinder block and stone, and may also be suited to certain tiles. Masonry drill bits are very durable.
Metal drill bits come with a wide-angled point on the end and are also often painted black. When purchasing new metal drill bits it is a good idea to look for labels marked HSS, which stands for high-speed steel. Cobalt can be an ingredient in some of the more expensive metal bits, as can titanium coating.
Steel bits are capable of drilling through soft aluminium although different metal types will require high-speed steel.
Wood drill bits are identifiable by the small and pointed tip on the end, and with closer examination will also reveal spurs on either side that are capable of grabbing wood and carving it away.
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Steel bits are very good for softwood varieties but will eventually be dulled by hardwoods, with the longest-lasting wood drill bits being those coated with titanium. The wood drill bit is not only the most common form of drill bit but also the most flexible.
Choosing the size of drill bits
There are pilot hole charts that come provided with drill bits that help users to identify the right drill bits for particular jobs. The shank of the screw is the factor that these charts are based upon, but are only meant to be seen as a general guideline.
For softwoods, a bit that is 1/64th smaller than that of the target hole size should be used, but with other materials, the bit size should actually be the same as that of the hole.
When uncertain as to which drill bit to choose, select one that is 1/64th bigger than the desired hole in order to make allowances for variable factors such as screw type and wood density.
It can take practice to become knowledgeable on how to choose the right drill bits, but the organisation and careful referencing can make the experience far less intimidating.
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