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A Guide to Understanding Drill Bit Types
Learn what twist, brad-point, spade, auger, Forstner, masonry and hole saw bits are designed to do, so you can match the right family of bit to the job.
Drills, Hand Tools and Air Tools
Bit types, materials and sizes explained.
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Learn what twist, brad-point, spade, auger, Forstner, masonry and hole saw bits are designed to do, so you can match the right family of bit to the job.
Understand drill bit materials and coatings, from carbon steel and high-speed steel to cobalt, black oxide, titanium nitride and carbide, and match them to wood, metal or masonry.
Work backward from the hole you need: diameter, depth, clean exit, and whether it is a pilot, clearance or through hole, then pick a bit that fits.
Plan the bits for a whole project: how to build a small starter kit, which sizes are worth buying individually, and how to avoid paying for bits you will not use.
What to look for when buying drill bit sets: typical sizes in an index, case quality, shank types, material and which pieces most people actually use.
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