Drill bits are cutting tools that rotate to help you to create holes. They come in different types, shapes, and sizes, giving you different options to choose from. The design and rigidity of your material determines the type of drill bit to choose.
What are the Different Types of Drill Bits?
Let us consider the different types of drill bits available and how they function.
Pocket Hole Drill Bits
This drill bit is best when you want to drill an angled hole for making your wood joints. These angled holes present in wood can be called pocket holes. Also, they must have the capability to use screws to ensure that you hold the joints of your workpieces together.
When you use it appropriately, a pocket hole drill bit creates a hole inside a wood, working with a particular angle to create a hole that can offer enclosure to the screw.
Screwdriver Drill Bits
You can find driver and drill bits in different options that work fine with different screw types as well as other types of fasteners. Screwdriver drill bits can help you with your DIY tasks as well as for professional jobs to help you complete your construction as well as renovation tasks.
Also, these drill bits can help you manufacture your furniture, dismantle machinery for repair or maintenance purposes, etc.
Installer Drill Bits
If you are an electrician, you install cables or you’re an expert in handling the security system, then you may use an installer drill bit for your equipment. This drill bit can go as far as 18 inches, which allows easy penetration through the floor and even walls.
In addition, you may use them for drilling into plaster and wood. Also, the tip has a hole where you can secure the wire. Therefore, immediately you drill into the desired material, you have to pull back the bit via the hole, fit the wire inside the tip, then insert the bit again to help thread your wire through ceilings, floors, or walls.
Hole Saw Drill Bits
These drill bits work perfectly with plastic, metal, and wood, and at times, work with masonry. Hole saw drill bits are known to cut holes in large diameters, but the cores are left in place. Also, you can identify these drill bits through their circular blade used for cutting. These blades feature pivots and they are great for door hardware installations. Their cuts are also very neat compared to other drill bit types.
Glass Drill Bits
Glass drill bits feature a special tip that helps you drill glass. This is a very perfect process that ensures your glass doesn’t shatter or crack. They are usually used for drilling ceramic glass, while some types can drill through tiles.
Moreover, take note that you must use the drill bits slowly, ensuring that you use very little pressure on the material. When you use too much force, it will break your glass.
Rivet Drill Bits
Rivet drill bits serve a special purpose for drilling rivet holes inside thin sheets of metals. Rivets are simply described as mechanical fasteners that feature a head and a stem or tail (cylindrical shape) on its ends.
When you create holes inside the metal, you can now inset the rivets in them. This allows you to permanently join at least two metal pieces together.
Title Drill Bits
Title drill bits are great for drilling into glasses and several ceramic tiles. You can use them with hand drills; however, it is advisable that you use them at slow speeds. While drilling through glass, you should make use of some lubricants to ensure that the tip of the drill bit remains cool.
In addition, you may drill ceramic tiles making use of masonry bits. However, this must be done without using a hammer and at a reduced speed.
Masonry Drill Bits
You can use masonry drill bits if you want to make drills into tough masonry materials. These are standardized bits for professionals who wish to bore into the brick exterior of their homes.
In addition, these bits can withstand strong forces and stay on without breaking. This is because they are normally used with rotary hammers. Considering the drilling method that masonry drill bits use and the material’s durability, masonry drill bits usually wear out very quickly.
Brad-point Drill Bits
The main function of a brad-point drill bit is its ability to keep the hole clean. This is possible due to the brad found on the bit’s center area. The brad keeps the drill bits in place, with the other wide grooves found close to the bit taking out unwanted materials with ease.
In addition, brad-point bits are very important for creating perfect holes in wood and creating clear exit points in your workpiece. This drill bit is appropriate for drilling holes into doors of cabinets to help you install handles and other cabinet-related hardware.
Also, you may find rubber stoppers in several brad-point bits, ensuring that you set the hole’s depth beforehand.
Annular Cutter Drill Bits
These drill bits will help you cut clean and circular holes into a material ensuring that the core of the hole remains intact. Note that annular cutter drill bits can help you cut into metals but you cannot cut into wood. Also, they help in creating accurate holes, which allows you to take out the material’s core.
Wood Auger Drill Bit
You can use the wood auger drill bit when you need to create large-diameter holes in woods. The bit will create deep holes on the board with precision. This drill bit comprises a single spur and a chisel-like cutting edge. The part which cuts and shapes the edge of the hole is the single spur. On the other hand, the chisel-like cutting edge gets rid of the waste in the cut circle.
Countersink Drill Bit
If you need to install fasteners like bolts or nuts in a material, the countersink drill is the right choice for this application. Also, you can use this drill bit for creating counterbore holes.
Step Drill Bit
Step drill bits can help you drill holes in soft materials. These custom-made feature a running flute you can move to any direction of your choice. With the help of the flute, you can eject the chips while drilling.
How to Make the Different Types of Drill Bits
There are different types of drilled bits based on their materials. Each of these drill bits has its own mechanical properties. Also, you can use each in different applications. However, it is crucial to understand where to use these drill bits and how they function.
Polycrystalline Diamond
Drill bits made from polycrystalline diamond are always very hard. You can use these drill bits on any type of material. This makes them suitable for use in many applications. However, they are very expensive, making them a less preferred option.
Carbon Steel
The carbon steel used for making these drill bits can be either high or low. This usually depends on how much carbon is being used.
High-carbon steel bits undergo a type of treatment where you subject them to heat. This process makes them durable. You can use these drill bits on hard materials like metal and hardwood. Too much exposure to heat can make them lose their cutting edge.
On the other hand, you can use a low-carbon steel bit on soft materials like plastic. This type of drill bit isn’t strong enough to hold its edge firmly.
Tungsten Carbide
Tungsten carbide is a popular material used for making drill bits due to its hardness. However, it is more expensive than other materials. Tungsten carbide drill bits are versatile as they can be used on almost all materials.
High-speed Steel
This type of drill bit is made of different materials. Due to the combination of various materials used in their production, these drill bits are extremely hard, strong, and durable. Also, they are resistant to wear and can tolerate heat. These drill bits can work at high speed. You can use them on hard materials like hardwood.
Cobalt Steel Alloy
This drill bit is very hard due to a little blend of cobalt present in it. You can use them on very hard materials. Also, cobalt steel alloy drill bits are heat resistant.
How to Choose the Best Types of Drill Bits
Since there are a wide range of drilling bits available, you can find it difficult to choose the right one for your application. It is important you consider some factors before you choose drill bits for your next project.
Materials
When you are choosing the most suitable drill bit for your project, always consider the material. The material of your drill bit has a significant impact on its performance. Also, each of these materials have its distinct properties and applications. While high-speed steel is compatible with materials like aluminum and fiberglass, cobalt drill bits are more suitable for harder materials.
Material of the workpiece
Before you choose a drill bit that suits your requirement, you need to consider the material of the workpiece. The workpiece you want to drill a hole on could be wood, ceramic, metal or even stone. For instance, you can use twist and step drill bits on metal workpieces while auger wood drill bits are ideal for woods. You need to be sure of the workpiece material before opting for a drill bit.
Drill bit coatings
Coatings can improve the performance of a drill bit. A good example is a high speed steel drill with titanium nitride coating. Such drill bits are usually very hard due to the coating used on them. Therefore, you can use them to drill very hard materials.
Conclusion
Drill bits play a vital role in the manufacturing and assembly of parts. These tools can create smooth, perfect holes for different types of fasteners in a workpiece. They are made of different materials and are available in different shapes.
Also, they have their distinct properties, functions, and applications. When you are choosing drill bits for your projects, ensure that you consider all the necessary factors. To help you make the right choice, contact us at KDMFAB today and you’ll be glad you did.