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.
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How do I know which drill bit to buy?

How to Choose Drill Bits by Size
  1. Use a bit 1/64” smaller than the target hole size for softwoods.
  2. Use a bit exactly the same size as the hole when working on other materials.
  3. If you're not sure which to select, choose a drill bit 1/64” larger than the hole you wish to create.
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How can you tell if a drill bit is for masonry or wood?

The easiest way to tell the difference is by looking at the cutting tip geometry. On a wood bit there will be a sharp pointed spur in the center whereas the masonry bit has a carbide tipped cutting edges that are ground to 135-degree angle.
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How do you choose the right drill bit size for screw and wall plugs?

Choose a drill bit that corresponds to the necessary pilot hole size for the wall plug you intend to use. In other words, use a 5.0 mm drill bit for a yellow plug, a 6.0 mm drill bit for a red plug, a 7.0 mm drill bit for a brown plug, or a 10.0 mm drill bit for a blue plug.
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How can you tell the size of a screw?

To measure the diameter of screws and bolts, you measure the distance from the outer thread on one side to the outer thread on the other side. This is called the major diameter and will usually be the proper size of the bolt.
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Choosing The Right Size Pre Drill Bit | Beginner



What do the Colours of drill bits mean?

Masonry drill bits normally silver have a wide head on. Gold bits are normally pointed and are for drilling wood etc. Black bits are also pointed headed but for drilling metals.
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What does a masonry drill look like?

Masonry bits look like larger twist drills with a slightly tighter corkscrew shape. 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. You can use them on brickwork, stone, breeze blocks, and other hard stone surfaces.
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What is the difference between a masonry drill bit and a regular drill bit?

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.
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Do all drill bits fit all drills?

No, not all drill bits fit in all drills. 3/8” sized drills will accept up to 3/8” drill bit shafts. ½” sized drills will accept up to ½” drill bit shafts as well as and 3/8” sized bits.
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Should I drill a hole before screw?

It's much easier to drill precise locations with a drill bit than the tip of a screw. Create a pilot hole before inserting the screws for a more reliably accurate screw location. When screwing through dense materials, such as hardwood and laminate.
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What is the most commonly used drill bit?

5 Most Useful Drill Bits

Twist Drill Bit (the most common bit, used in wide rage of materials, such as wood, plastic, or metal).
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Which drill bit is for brick?

Masonry or mortar drill bits are the only type that can penetrate brick or mortar with ease. These bits are designed to deal with particular materials, so the central part of the bit is made of steel, while the tip has tungsten carbide to help it cut through tough walls.
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Can a regular drill drill into concrete?

It is possible to drill into concrete with an ordinary rotary drill. Rotary drills take longer to drill into concrete than hammer drills and more physical effort is required. Excessive heat build-up can break the drill bit. One way to speed up the process and avoid breaking the drill bit is to keep the bit cool.
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How can you tell what 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.
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What is the gold drill bit for?

Bosch Gold Oxide Drill Bits offer added speed and durability for general-purpose drilling applications in wood, metal and plastic. The gold oxide coating helps to provide longer life than ordinary high-speed steel drill bits by resisting heat buildup.
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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.
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What does screw size 8 mean?

The #8 gauge screw has a major diameter of 0.17" and 8 TPI. The screw is 1-1/4" long, a measurement taken from the bottom of the head to the point.
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What do screw size numbers mean?

The first number is the diameter. The bigger the number the bigger the screw. The second number is the number of threads per inch. Check your state and local codes before starting any project. Follow all safety precautions.
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How do you match a drill bit to a wall plug?

How to fit wall plugs
  1. Choose the correct size of plugs and drill bits for your screws. ...
  2. Hold the plug up to your drill and mark its length on the bit with some tape. ...
  3. Use your drill on a hammer setting to drill the hole. ...
  4. The wall plug should be a tight fit, but you only need finger pressure to put it in.
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Which drill bit is for walls?

Masonry drill bits

These bits range in size from 4mm to 16mm and can come in huge lengths of up to 400mm to enable you to drill through walls.
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