What Is Wood Drill Bit?
Today, a drill is a basic power tool that every homeowner should have. It is used in many parts of the house to drill larger holes and cut clean hole to hang pictures on the wall or to mount cabinets.
If you are a first time DIY’er, or just someone who is looking to get into the hobby, then you will need to know the drill bits for wood.
Owning the right drill bit can make a world of difference in drilling a precise hole. But what exactly are the different drill bits you will encounter when working with wood?
A drill bit is an essential component of any drill. There are many types of drill bits available, and each one has a specific use.
For example, you would use a twist drill bit to drill shallow holes in metal and a spade bit to drill holes in wood.
A drill bit comprises a shank, which is the long, narrow end, and the drill tip, which is the pointy end that you place against your work surface.
The larger the drill bit, the larger the rough hole it will drill. When choosing your drill bit, you will want to use the drill bit that is appropriate for the type of material you plan to drill.
It is important to use the right drill bit for the job.
If you want to learn about the different types of wood drill bit, just keep reading!
Let’s start!
What Are The Different Drill Bits?
Not all drill bits are made equal. The different drill bits, while they all have the same function of drilling holes, are made to have different sizes and shapes.
There are a few different drill bits made for drilling woods. They include:
1. Twist Drills
These are most often found in household tools such as jigsaws, sawlogs, screwdrivers,.. They come in various sizes from 1 to 4 inches up to 3 inches in diameter.
Their purpose is simple: to create straight lines by twisting them around a shaft while spinning at high speeds. They’re mainly used to drive screws.
2. Spade Bits
Spade bits are also known as “drill points” because they look like small shovels. This kind of drill bit is useful for cutting through hard materials such as stone and concrete.
You’ll find these mostly in construction sites where heavy-duty machines are being used.
3. Center-Drilled Holes
As its name suggests, this type of drill bit creates circular holes.
They’re commonly used in carpentry projects because their shape allows easy fitting of fastening devices, such as nails and screws.
4. Dado Tapers
A special variety of center drilled bits. In fact, dado taper drills were invented after standard center drilled bits failed to produce accurate cuts.
While both kinds of drills do the same thing, center drilled bits are better suited for creating deep grooves than dado tapers.
5. Recess Bits
Also called “recessed,” recess in wood bits is placed inside a pre-existing hole to add depth to it so it can hold more weight.
Usually, there is not much room between two surfaces since the drill bit itself is made of steel or hardened plastic.
Therefore, if you don’t remove enough debris during wood-type drilling, you might damage surrounding objects. So before using this drill bit, check whether there is sufficient space left over.
6. Threaded Bits
These are very similar to regular drill bits, but instead of having only one sharpened edge, they feature several threads; making them perfect for tight spaces.
Their primary usage is to thread fasteners into wooden parts with large diameters.
7. Spline Bits
Splines are thin metal rods that connect multiple pieces of wood. These are usually seen on furniture legs and other structural elements.
8. Reamer Bits
Dreamers are those bits whose sole purpose is to enlarge an existing hole. You might think reaming would make things worse rather than better, but this isn’t true when done properly.
9. Hole Saw bits
Hole saws are basically variations of hand-held power drills. While some people consider them as toys, others see them as valuable instruments. However, I wouldn’t recommend any of them unless you know how to operate one safely.
10. Wood Chisels
Wood chisels are generally considered safer alternatives to splitting logs. Their main use lies in breaking down larger blocks of wood without damaging surrounding material.
Tips Before you Begin Drill in Wood
- Determine your objectives
Before you choose tools, ask yourself what exactly you want to achieve from your project. What’s your objective?
Is it to cut a certain distance within a specific time frame? Or maybe it has something to do with strength requirements. Once you have determined your objectives, choose the right tool accordingly.
- Measure yourself first
The next step should always measure yourself first! Check which size will fit best depending on where you plan to place your drill bit.
If you are planning to work on thicker items, go for a bigger diameter drill bit. Conversely, if you wish to use smaller drill bits, opt for thinner ones.
Don’t forget to take measurements along with the length of your arm, too. Also, include these numbers when shopping around because different manufacturers offer various sizes based on their customers’ preferences.
- Choose your material carefully
Once you’ve chosen the type of materials to work on, determine its thickness. For example, you’d need to avoid working with softwoods like pine or cedar if you intend to create grooves in them.
Similarly, hardwoods such as oak won’t allow you to get deeper holes than 1/4″ whereas softer woods may require up to 3/16″.
Always remember that the hardness level of your material determines the maximum depth you can reach. This means that harder woods can withstand higher levels of torque, while softer ones cannot.
- Make sure that everything works well together
If you’re going to use electric motors to drive your drill, ensure that your motor works well with yours. Electric motors handle high speeds so they’ll generate more heat than manual drills.
Therefore, it’s advisable to keep away from noisy machines. In addition, you must also check whether your cord runs smoothly before plugging it in.
If there are frayed wires, replace them immediately. It’s important to note that electricity travels through electrical cords at a very high speed. So even small amounts of damage in the wire could cause problems later.
- Have proper safety gear ready
While drilling screws into wood can seem easy enough, you still need safety gear. Be sure to wear goggles, ear protection, heavy-duty gloves, and protective clothing.
The last thing you want is to injure your eyesight after all the effort you put into making your project look great.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are many drill bits for wood. When choosing the right drill bit, consider what you will use it for.
If you are drilling holes for a fence or wooden peg, then a pointed bit is the right choice. For wood drilling bit holes for nails, a straight bit is the best choice.
When drilling into wood bits, be sure to use a pilot bit to make the hole, and then use the right type of bit to make the hole the correct size.
I recommend you use a spade drill bit when drilling holes in softwood, and then use a brad point wood drill, hollow, or a forstner drill bit when drilling holes in harder woods.
A brad point and a Forstner drill bit produce a cleaner hole compared to a spade drill bit. A forstner drill bit can also be used to create a counterbore.
