How can you tell the difference between a wood and metal drill bit?

The main difference between a metal and wood drill bit is in geometry. The wood bit has a spur in the center that will penetrate the wood and keep the bit stable during drilling. The metal bit is a twist bit with conical cutting tips followed by spiral flutes.

How can you tell if a drill bit is for metal?

Usually, drill bits that are for metal can be distinguished by their black color. They are also usually made from tungsten carbide, cobalt or titanium, which should be noted on the packaging if you're buying new.

How can you tell if a drill bit is for wood?

Wood Drill Bits: These can be identified by a small, pointed tip at the very end. If you look closely, you can see spurs on each side. These grab wood and carve it away. Steel bits are great for softwood varieties; hardwoods will eventually dull them.

How can you tell if a drill bit is a material?

For most drill bit types, the angle of the point helps determine what type of material the bit can drill. Flatter points, such as those with 135-degree angles, are suited for drilling into harder material. They may require a pilot hole to keep the bit from wandering.

Can I use a metal drill bit on wood?

There are also different materials used to make the types of drill bits used for concrete, brick or tile. Almost all drill bits are made of metal. With few exceptions, metal bits are the most practical choice for every surface including wood, concrete, tile, glass and metal surfaces, as well.

Metal vs. Wood (Lip

How do you tell a masonry bit from a wood bit?

Masonry bits resemble wood bits at a casual glance because they'll also have a deep spiral groove to help channel debris from the hole as you drill. The main visual difference is that masonry bits don't have the blunt, gently rounded tip you'll see on standard general-purpose bits.

Why are some drill bits gold?

Twist bits are also available coated with Titanium nitride (TiN), these are easily identified by the gold like colour. This coating increases the hardness of the bit and adds a self-lubricating property.

What kind of drill bit goes through metal?

Cobalt drill bits are used for drilling hard metal and steel. They dissipate heat quickly and are highly resistant to abrasions, making them better for drilling into hard metals than black oxide- or titanium-coated drill bits.

What are black drill bits for?

Black Oxide Drill Bits – Basic and Inexpensive

This reduces friction between bit and workpiece, thereby speeding up the drilling process. Bits made with a black oxide coating are suitable for work on steel, copper, aluminum, brass, oak, maple, MDF, pine, PVC, polycarbonate, acrylic, ABS, nylon, and composite materials.

Why won't my drill bit go through metal?

Regular drill bits are not designed to cut through metals. Therefore, they can easily wear away. So you need hard bits which can drill through metals without being damaged.

What do the colors mean on nail bits?

In fact the colour indicates the coarseness of your burr. Simply put the grit is how “rough” your burr is. You can easily tell the difference using the colours. Yellow is X fine, Red is fine, blue is medium, green is coarse, black is extra coarse, yellow xx coarse and killer 3X coarse is pink.

What colour is a concrete drill bit?

Masonry bits have a toughened tip which is quite different to normal twist drills. There is no special colour. Most masonry bits we use are plain grey or silver.

How do I know which drill bit to use?

The diameter of the hole you drill should be slightly smaller than the diameter of the screw. So, for example, if you're using a 3.5 mm screw, use a drill bit with a diameter of 3 mm. If you're using wall anchors as well as screws, the drill bit and anchors should have the same diameter.

What colour are Bosch metal drill bits?

Twist drill bit ground from solid metal with high surface quality due to titanium-nitride coating. Shank equal to drill bit diameter, drill bit colour: golden.

Can a drill bit go through metal?

In general, it's a good idea to drill through metal using as slow a speed as possible using a drill bit for metal. Hard metals like steel and larger drill bits require even slower speeds. With a small twist bit (1/16 in. to 3/16 in.), you can drill through most metals at 3,000 rpm.

Is wd40 good for drilling?

It works under extreme pressure and is ideal for cutting and drilling machinery and equipment.

Why is my drill not making a hole?

The most common reason a drill won't penetrate a wall at all is because the drill is spinning in the wrong direction. If the drill bit enters the wall and then hits resistance, the typical cause is a metal plate or masonry obstruction.

What is the blue coating on drill bits?

TiCN (Titanium Carbonitride):

With a blue-gray tone to it's surface, TiCN coated drill bits is harder and more resistant to wear than most other coatings. This makes it an excellent choice for drilling harder materials such as iron, steel or aluminum.

How do you identify a cobalt drill bit?

New cobalt drill bits are a dull gold color, making them distinctive on the shelf (or in your toolbox). The color occurs when the drill bits are baked in the process of production; it's not a paint or plating -- cobalt drill bits are cobalt alloy through and through.

How is a masonry drill bit different?

Drill bits that can drill through concrete are called masonry bits. They are also good for drilling through brick and stone. Drill bits with a tungsten carbide tip are the strongest; when it comes to solid concrete, the sharper the better. Masonry bits cut holes through concrete in two steps.

Can you drill aluminum with a wood bit?

Drill bits made of high-speed steel (HSS) can be used to drill wood, fiberglass, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and soft metals like aluminum.