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

How do I identify a masonry drill bit?

Masonry Drill Bits – Best for Stone and Brickwork

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.

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.

What Colour are masonry bits?

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. Take a look at the screwfix website and search for masonry bits then twist drill (also called high speed steel bits).

How can you tell the difference between concrete and wood drill bits?

How can you tell the difference between a wood bit and a concrete bit? 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.

How to Choose Masonry Drill Bits

Can you use masonry bits on wood?

Masonry bits can be used for drilling rough holes in timber. However, the hole will be rougher and progress slower. This is because the drill just chips its way by brute force through the wood.

Can I use a wood drill bit on brick?

You can never use wood or metal drilling bits to drill holes in masonry, you must use specific masonry drill bits designed for masonry. Masonry bits are excellent for drilling bricks, Thermalite or concrete blocks, mortar (cement), concrete and some tiles as well.

Can I use masonry bit with regular drill?

Drilling into a brick wall with a regular drill requires a high-quality masonry bit at the least. With no hammer action, the tool has to rely on its turning speed. Without a proper hammer drill, the process will take longer. You will also need to remove the drill from the hole more often.

How can you tell a metal drill bit?

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.

What does the tip of a masonry drill look like?

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.

Can you use a regular drill to 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.

Do masonry drill bits go blunt?

Using the wrong drill bits – If you use all-purpose drill bits on abrasive materials like masonry or stone, their edges will become dulled and ineffective on metal or wood. Applying too much or not enough pressure – Too much pressure can break the bit, and not enough pressure can blunt the bit.

Do I need a masonry drill bit for brick?

You just need the tools and the right technique for how to drill into brick. Typically, all it takes is an ordinary drill to bore a few small 1″-deep holes (each a ¼-inch in diameter or less). Just buy a carbide-tipped masonry bit from your local hardware or home center and follow the steps below.

What kind of drill bit do I use for concrete?

Drill a Guide Hole

When you purchase concrete screws, the correct size drill bit is often included in the pack. Otherwise, get a 5/32-inch bit for concrete screws that are 3/16-inch in diameter and a 3/16-inch bit for ¼-inch screws.

Will a masonry bit drill into concrete?

With an impact drill you can drill well through stone, but if you want to make a hole in a concrete wall, a hammer drill is a must. The big difference between a masonry drill and a concrete drill can be seen in the tip of the drill. On a masonry drill bit the cutting head of the drill is made of hardened metal.

Can a cordless drill go through concrete?

In most cases, yes. While a cordless drill will not be as effective in drilling through concrete, it can get the job done. Your drill's battery power and other drilling features will play a role in its ability to drill into the concrete effectively.

Can you use HSS drill bit masonry?

Carbide tipped: Carbide is an extremely strong metal that withstands enormous force. Carbide is also expensive, so tool manufacturers often use HSS for the shank, flutes and leads but add a piece of carbide to the point. Carbide tip bits are popular for masonry, concrete and tile drilling.

Can you use a hammer drill bit on wood?

Because a hammer drill uses a standard drill chuck and round shank bits, it can be used in the drill-only mode to penetrate wood and metal, as well as in the hammer-and-drill mode to penetrate concrete and brick.

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.