Guide To Drill Bits for Concrete, Metal, Tile & Wood

Drill bits are cutting tools used to create a hole by removing material from metals, plastic, wood, concrete, etc. Drill bits come in different shapes and sizes based on various applications. One of the most common duties every project worker performs is drilling holes. It makes no difference if your material is wood, metal, concrete, or a combination of materials. What matters is that you select the appropriate drill bit for the task.

You must choose a drill bit that is suitable for your job. Choosing the wrong drill bit can ruin your workpiece. Wrong bits can slow you down or completely stop your work. choosing the right drill bits is the best way to prevent this. And for that, you must understand the drill bits, their types, and uses based on different applications.

ALL ABOUT DRILL BITS

Although drill bits do the same task, they differ in appearance. All drill bits are not made equal. The best metal drill bits are not the same as the best wood drill bits. Differences can also be caused by the shape and design of a drill bit. The most important parts of a drill bit's anatomy are its overall length, diameter, shank, flute &lead, and point.

Material, in addition to shape, can cause differences. For different applications, each drill bit comes with various materials. Drill bits for wood, for example, are made of a different material than drill bits for tile. Metal drill bits are almost universal. Metal bits are the most practical choice for all surfaces, including wood, concrete, tile, glass, and metal surfaces, with a few exceptions. Drill bits are typically made from high-speed steel, cobalt, carbide tipped, and solid carbide.

To boost performance, lengthen product life, and make workers' jobs easier, manufacturers will coat their parts with specific compounds. Black oxide, tin-coated, titanium-coated, SG Coated, and bright finish are some of the drill bit coatings.

DRILL BITS FOR CONCRETE

Concrete and masonry blocks are unique items. Their characteristics differ significantly from those of metal and wood. As a result, if you want to drill a hole in their surfaces, you'll need various bits. You may come across a vast variety of concrete-based items. Poured or cast-in-place concrete goods, such as pre-cast masonry blocks, roofing tiles, cement-fiberboard, and artificial stone, are popular. Drilling may be required for any or all of these products.

Concrete is made up of a combination of finely ground Portland cement and bigger stone aggregates. You'll find a constant mix of hard and soft pockets while drilling into a block and concrete goods. An electric drill suitable for concrete and blockwork is also required. Hammer drills and slotted drive shaft (SDS) drills are two popular styles. Both drills use a pounding motion to shatter and cut concrete aggregate and powder.

Following is the list of commonly used drill bits for concrete:

MASONRY BITS

masonry drill bits are best to drill holes into tough materials like concrete, stone, and brick. These bits are suitable for home-repair jobs. Masonry drills are used in conjunction with a power drill since utilizing a hand drill requires so much work. The majority of these drill bits are best used with hammer drills that pound while drilling. Keep an eye on the masonry bit as it can shatter due to the pounding effect.

TWIST DRILL BITS

twist drill bits are the most common drilling tool by a professional and are easily available in the market. these drill bits are good for cutting a hole in concrete effortlessly due to their twisted design. Most concrete twist drill bits feature carbide faces and oxide-treated outside surfaces.

HOLE SAWS

In concrete and masonry goods, you may need to cut a large-diameter hole on occasion. Coring is the term used in the commercial concrete cutting industry, and it requires a powerful and sharp hole saw. Diamond cut-edges are common on hole saws built for concrete cutting, but others can get by with a carbide treatment.

SDS BITS

The sliding or slotted drive shaft arrangement (SDS) is one of the best drill bit inventions. SDS bits will not slip in a chuck because of their slotted shank construction. They move back and forth depending on the load. SDS bits are very quick to switch sizes.

DRILL BITS FOR METAL

 Metalworking is a skilled job that requires different techniques and tools to do a job. Drill bits are one of those tools that help in drilling holes in metals. Metals are of two types: hard metal and soft metal. Hard metal requires high speed as well as high force to drill. On the other hand, soft metal requires less speed and force. Therefore, drill bits are designed accordingly with specific compositions for specific materials.

Metals tend to generate heat while drilling or boring. Metalworkers generally use lubricants to cool their bits. Water is sometimes sufficient, but specific oils make the job go faster. Drill bit composition and coatings can help to drill metal if using the right bit to certain material. When drilling metal, the following are common bit types:

TWIST DRILL BITS 

twist drill bits are most frequently used in metalworking. Cobalt or carbide bits, as well as coated bits, are used in metalworking.

STEP BITS

These bits can be used to drill into metal and wood as well. Step bits are commonly used by electricians for drilling holes in sheet metal and other thin metal materials.

HOLE SAWS

hole saws are also used to cut holes in metal. They work well with thin metals. On the saw's cutting face, the teeth are usually carbide or diamond.

REDUCED SHANK BITS

These drill bits are used widely and come in different compositions. Reduced shank bits require drilling large holes with small drill chucks. The shank of reduced-shank drill bits is smaller in diameter than the cutting head.

COUNTERSINK BITS

Countersink bits are used to cut holes in metal giving a smooth surface. These screws can be countersunk. 

DRILL BITS FOR TILE

Drilling into tile is more complicated than drilling into any other material. The person who knows the right trick will do it perfectly. This also includes the right type of drill bits.

Types of Tile:

• CERAMIC TILES: ceramic tiles are the most popular. These tiles are soft but breakable.
• GLASS TILES: Glass tiles are popular in interior design. They have the same density as ceramic but are more brittle.
• PORCELAIN TILES: Porcelain tiles are the hardest tile of all three. Drilling porcelain requires a unique skill set and tool.

Hard, sharp-angled tips are the best drill bits for tile work. Some resemble the point of a spear or an arrow. Diamond or carbide cutting faces are also seen on high-quality tile bits. The tile requires a strong drill bit face and a precise drill trigger touch.

Following is the list of most commonly used drill bits for tile:

TILE AND GLASS BITS 

a tile and glass drill bit is commonly used with an electric drill to make holes in glass and tile. You should choose a bit that the manufacturer recommends for the type of tile you're working with. You must ensure that the bit's leading edge will bore into the tile without shattering it, in addition to having the precise diameter for the hole you require

SPEAR POINTS

A needle-like tip on spear tips slowly engages the work with a slight contact and then gradually enlarges the hole. You can choose from a variety of spear tips with carbide or diamond-cutting faces.

DIAMOND DRILL BITS

Some diamond bits for tile cutting do not have spear points. Diamond drill bits are available in a variety of traditional designs.

DRILL BITS FOR WOOD

You have a wide range of softwoods and hardwoods to choose from if you are a woodworker. You can also work on a limitless number of projects. This can range from drilling holes in furniture to boring through timbers in house construction. Because there are so many different types of woodworking jobs, manufacturers have come up with some creative and specialty-purposed equipment. Wood drill bits come in many shapes and sizes including thick and thin bits, and long and small bits.

Here is the list of best drill bits for wood:

TWIST DRILL BITS

twist drill bits are the most commonly used drill bit. It drills faster because of its twisted design.

COUNTERSINK DRILL BITS 

these drill bits are used to drill and countersunk screws giving a smooth surface.

AUGER BITS

Augers are designed specifically for drilling deep holes in wood. Their leads and flutes have strong twists that make them stand out. Augers have a threaded screw tip on the tip and a sharp cutting edge on the face.

SPADE BITS

Spade bits drill into wood surfaces swiftly and easily, removing a lot of material in a short amount of time. Spade bits have the disadvantage of breaking through wood and leaving a harsh trailing edge.

HOLE SAWS

Hole saws are best for cutting large holes. An inner twist drill creates a centering pilot hole, and an outer cupped ring contains saw teeth on hole saws. Hole saws drill and saw at the same time, allowing you to cut a custom-sized plug from your material.

FORSTNER BITS

Forstner bits are best to drill flat-bottomed holes. For shallow drillings, such as installing cabinet hinges, Forstner bits are ideal.

BRAD POINTS

Brad-point drill bits are designed to drill and bore clean holes without straying in both hard and softwoods. These drill bits have a center pin. A Brad Point Drill creates a hole in wood that is clean, straight, and precisely sized.

REDUCED SHANK BITS

reduced drill bits are used to drill large holes with small-sized chuck.

STEP BITS

When you want to drill varied-sized holes without changing your bit, cone bits are best.

SELF FEED BITS

These bits contain a center feed screw that helps drill large holes cleanly by guiding the bit into the wood. Professional plumbers and electricians frequently use these to drill huge holes for utilities.

To summaries, drill bits are useful when used with the appropriate material and bit composition. Drill bits can help you achieve perfection in your task. I hope the above drill bit guide for concrete, metal, tile, and wood will be useful in deciding which drill bits to use.