As an Omail subscriber, you will receive several benefits, including:
Omail Exclusive Coupons like free shipping and 10% off
Site-wide Promotion Notifications including $1 shipping
Personalized Product Recommendations
by Paul Sanders
When you need to drill holes for an automotive or home improvement project, the right drill bits can make your life a lot easier. A wide array of drill bits have been designed for drilling wood, metal and other materials. Described below are several common drill bit types that you may find in drill bit sets or as power tool accessories that come with a cordless drill or drill press.
Twist bits: These are the common, spiral-shaped drill bits most commonly included in drill bit sets. Twist bits are designed to drill holes less than 12 mm wide. They aren't ideal for very deep holes, since the flutes get clogged with wood shavings and need to be withdrawn and cleared out.
Core drill bits: Core drill bits have no point because they are meant to enlarge existing holes, not drill new ones. They have multiple spiral flutes that are meant to enlarge a drilled hole into a cleanly finished shaft. Contrary to the name, core drill bits don't produce a "core" of material.
Dowel bits: Similar to twist bits, dowel bits are spiraled and have a center point and dual spurs on the point. The spurs help keep the drill bit straight. They produce clean holes with parallel sides that are ideal for holding wooden dowels for joints.
Spade bits: Spade bits are used for boring wide holes through wood. The head of the drill bit is flat, like a spade, and features a centering point to help align the drill bit with a marked hole-center. Spade drill bits tend to splinter wood as they exit the other side, so they're not ideal for drilling clean holes.
Forstner bits: If you need to drill a hole with a flat surface at the bottom, you can use a Forstner bit. The cutting is all done by the drill bit's head, so the shaft can't steady the drill bit as it turns. For this reason, it's usually best to use these drill bits with a drill stand or other guide to help steady the drill bit as it spins. Otherwise, you may get a crooked hole, and the flat bottom will not be level with the surface of the wood.
