Wood Drill Bits
Wood drill bits have a special tip that cuts wood. Do not use them for harder materials!
Lip and Spur Drill Bits
| ToolInfoBox Lip and Spur Drill Bits | |
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| Synonyms: | brad point bits, "wood twist drill bits", "wood drills"; DE: Holzspiralbohrer, Holzbohrer |
| Type: | bits |
| Material: | wood |
| Used with: | drills |
| Similar (More or Less): | twist drill bits |
In contrast to other twist drill bits, these typical wood drill bits have a central spur and are much harder to sharpen.
We have a set of 3/4/5/6 mm bits with typical wood countersinks hugging the shaft. These require some filing down to give the countersink's set screw more purchase (already done for the 3 and 4 mm bits).
Forstner Bits
| ToolInfoBox Forstner Bits | |
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| Synonyms: | "Forstner drills", "hinge cutters"; DE: Forstnerbohrer, "Astlochbohrer", Zylinderkopfbohrer |
| Type: | bits |
| Material: | wood |
| Used with: | drill press |
| Location: | drilling table |
| Access Requirements: | upon reading |
| Tutors: | Lukas |
Forstner bits can have much larger diameters than twist drill bits and create holes with a flat surface (except where the pilot tip leaves its mark). This makes them especially well suited for installing pot hinges! If you need a hole that goes all the way through your piece, hole saws may be an option as well.
They are usually used in a stationary setup, i.e. with a drill press.
Although they look pretty complicated, they can be sharpened by hand with medium effort.
Spade Bits
| ToolInfoBox Spade Bits | |
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| Synonyms: | "paddle bits", "flat drills"; DE: Flachbohrer, Flachfräsbohrer, Spatenbohrer |
| Type: | bits |
| Material: | wood |
| Used with: | handheld power drills (e.g. cordless drill) |
Spade bits are easy to sharpen, commonly available in large diameters and usually have pretty long shafts. As they are not designed for transporting wood chips, you may have to pause and clean the hole now and then.
Auger Bits
| ToolInfoBox Auger Bits | |
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| Synonyms: | augers; DE: Schlangenbohrer |
| Type: | bits |
| Material: | wood |
| Used with: | brace or slow handheld power drills |
Auger drill bits are long and helical, with a threaded tip that pulls them into the workpiece. Typically one would drive them by hand, using a brace to deliver high enough torgue. Going slowly is important as the lead screw would otherwise strip its hole and lose purchase. Drilling pilot holes is a bad idea (nothing for the screw to grip!) but you may like to drill the first few mm with a Forstner bit for a good start with clean edges.
Lukas has a 19 mm auger bit to prepare dog holes in workbenches. In addition, Patrick brought in a few ancient ones and a matching brace that we are going to restore to their former glory!
Have a look at this video by James Wright on some auger bit basics, including sharpening.
