If you need to bore a precise hole, you’ll need a Forstner bit.
You can easily identify a hole saw bit thanks to their distinctive serrated edge. If you only want to gouge out a small divot in a piece of wood without piercing through the other side, you’ll want to use a wood spade bit instead. However, this also means they have to cut a hole right the way through a surface. Unlike wood spade bits, hole saw bits cut through wood rather than gouge it out, so they’re a little bit neater. They’ll still cut rough circles in wood, but they can also handle other materials like plastic and metal, too. Hole saw bits are similar to wood spade bits, but they have a few key differences. This is because spade bits cause splintering when they pierce all the way through a piece of wood. If you do use one, remember to use a “sacrificial” piece of scrap wood underneath your workpiece. Unless you work in construction or are a fan of woodworking, you probably won’t have much use for these. They’re used for quickly boring out large, circular holes into wood. Wood spade bits are also called paddle bits because of their wide, flat shape. There are many different drill bits which are specially designed to bore wide, circular holes in material, and there are a few differences between them all. Perhaps you want to put a cable-tidy hole in the back of a desk, or maybe you need a hole big enough to feed a pipe through. Sometimes, you’ll need to drill a bigger hole than a standard bit will allow. You can use them on wood, although the hole will be ragged and it’ll probably take longer than a proper wood drill. You can use them on brickwork, stone, breeze blocks, and other hard stone surfaces. You can identify them thanks to their wide arrow-shaped heads. They’re commonly used in hammer drills to grind masonry down as they cut through it. Masonry bits look like larger twist drills with a slightly tighter corkscrew shape. Masonry Drill Bits – Best for Stone and Brickwork However, you won’t really notice any benefit if you’re using titanium bits on wood and plastic. The titanium makes the bit much harder and is slightly self-lubricating, which makes it perfect for drilling hard metals. They’re easily recognisable as they have a gold-coloured coating. Titanium bits look like twist bits, but they’re coated in a titanium alloy. They’re made using special alloys which helps them resist temperatures of up to 500☌, which is especially useful when drilling harder metals! HSS bits are a little tougher and can drill through harder materials quicker and without blunting. High-Speed Steel (HSS) Bits – All-Round Drill Bits For drilling through these hard surfaces, you’ll probably want a harder drill bit to match. Blunt bits can snag as they bore through materials, leading to ragged holes and splits. They’re good for drilling wood or plastic, and while they can be used to drill through harder materials like brick or metal, they will blunt quite quickly. Steel bits are the softest, cheapest bits you can find. Steel Drill Bits – Best for Wood and Plastic You use twist bits to drill holes in flat surfaces, but depending on the material you’re drilling (metal, wood, brickwork, etc) you’ll need a slightly different twist drill to get the job done right. They’re easy to recognise thanks to their corkscrew-like groove. Most standard drills will usually come with a few differently-sized twist drill bits. Twist bits are the most common kind of drill bit.
A specialist drill bit can offer more power, more precision, and a cleaner hole depending on what you’re drilling. Most cordless drills come with a few basic drill bits anyway, but for some DIY jobs, you might need something extra. You’ll need a drill to do even the most basic DIY jobs around the house, whether it’s putting up a shelf or installing a light fitting. This goes double for when you’re using a drill! As you might imagine, drilling holes around your home without the knowledge or tools to do it properly can get messy pretty quickly. When it comes to DIY, it’s important that you have the right tools for the job. Which Drill Bits Should I Use? Your Complete Guide to Drill and Screwdriver Bits