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Different Types Of Drill Bits Explained

There are many different kinds of drill bits for certain applications. Some bits are made for drilling into wood, concrete, brick, stone, stainless steel, metal, tile, glass, and more. Here we have the most common types and explain what each one is best used for. Knowing the different types and sizes of drill bits and what they are used for, can help any DIYer to complete a project faster.

different types of drill bits explainedWhich drill bit is best for the material I am going to be drilling into?

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Auger Drill Bits (for hard wood)Auger Drill Bits
Used for drilling into dry, hard wood.
The spiral auger effectively removes wood chips as you drill.
The screw head on the tip draws the bit into the wood eliminating the need for pushing.

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Cobalt Drill BitsCobalt Drill Bits
Used for drilling into high tensile metals.
Resistant to ultra high temperatures and severe abrasion.
Specifically good for stainless steel, cast iron, welded seams, and bronze.

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Masonry Drill BitsMasonry Drill Bits
Used for drilling into stone, concrete, and brick.
This bit has a tungsten carbide tip that allows it to drill into these materials.
This type of bit should be used at the correct RPM to avoid melting the tip.

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Reduced Shank Drill BitsReduced Shank Drill Bits
Used for drilling into wood, plastics, and metals.
This bit makes drilling a larger hole with a common drill chuck possible.

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Spade Drill Bits (Large holes in wood)Spade Drill Bits
Used for drilling into wood.
This dril bit is for drilling large holes in wood and should be used for wood only.

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Spear Point Drill Bit (for tile and glass)Spear Point Drill Bit
Used for drilling into porcelain, glass, and ceramic.
This drill bit has a diamond carbide tip to allow for extra cutting power.

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Step Drill Bit (for multiple sized holes)Step Drill Bit
Used for drilling into almost any surface (depending on thickness).
This bit is for drilling multiple sized holes in most surfaces.
It is meant to be used on thin and softer materials for enlarging holes and deburring.

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Twist Drill BitsTwist Drill Bits
Used for drilling into metal, wood, and plastics.
This is the most common type of drill bit and is meant for multiple uses.
This is the most common type of drill bit to use in a cordless drill.

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Wood Drill Bits (Brad Point)Wood Drill Bits
Used for drilling into all types of wood.

Also called Brad point and W point, this bit is designed to not grab or snag.
The wide tip allows for entrance before the shaft which makes cleaner holes in wood and some plastic.

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Are we forgetting a common type of drill bit? If you know of more, please remind us by leaving a comment below.

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4 thoughts on “Different Types Of Drill Bits Explained”

  1. DIY Project Help Tips

    Delores,
    Simply use a drill bit for wood as this will be the cleanest for making holes in WOOD.
    -RR

  2. Thanks for sharing this! My son is planning on drilling to make a birdhouse, and he wants to know which drill bits would be the best. I will definitely share this with him so he knows which ones work. Hopefully he will be able to make a clean looking birdhouse with the right type of bit!

  3. DIY Project Help Tips

    Joe,
    A quick list of more drill bit types would be the twist bit – screwdriver bit – masonry bit – spur point bit – bullet pilot bit – countersink bit – tile bit – flat wood bit – hole saw bit – forstner bit – wood auger bit….
    These are most common but their are other types of drill bits that are used for more specialized applications.
    -RR

  4. With drill bits, it is important to use the right kind of bit. You wouldn’t want to use a masonry drill bit on metal. That would be quite silly and it would probably break the bit. In addition to the ones you have listed here, are there any other types of drill bits? I work in construction so I need to have a vast array of bits in my tool box.

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