Choosing the Right Drill Bit
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Choosing the Right Drill Bit
The whole issue of choosing a drill bit feels a bit of minefield. It doesn’t need to be.
We cover it on lots of our courses, so that you feel confident choosing the right drill bit for the right material.
Want to Learn a bit more?
We cover choosing and using Drill Bits on our DIY Courses.
If you’d like some hands-on practice, lots of support, and expert guidance, why not join our DIY Community
Drilling into Wood
If you are just drilling into wood, you have a couple of choices…..
High Speed Steel (HSS)
HSS Drill bits (High Speed Steel) are usually a gold colour or black.
The point should feel a bit sharp, but not painfully so.
These are actually designed for metal, and they are great at drilling into metal, but they are also great for everyday drilling into wood, and can be used for plastics, as well.
They’re a great all-rounder. I generally buy them in packs of 5 from Screwfix, (in my favourite sizes). This makes them pretty economical to use. When they go blunt, I mark them up, and hang onto them to mark drill holes on plaster & masonry walls.
If you’re using them in metal, then drill slowly and steadily. If you need to drill a large hold, start with a small hole, and gradually move up through the sizes. This gives you, the drill and the drill bits a fighting chance.
Brad Point Bits
You can also use a Brad Point Drill bit in wood.
These have a really sharp point, which hurts when you press it into your finger (no need to try it, just take my word for it).
They are designed to be used on wood, but can be used on plastic, (although they tend to melt it), and plasterboard.
If you use them on metal or masonry, they will go blunt immediately.
Drilling into Solid Walls
When you’re drilling into solid walls, made of brick, concrete or stone, you will need Masonry Drill bits.
These are often Silver-coloured or Gunmetal Grey.
They don’t feel sharp to the touch, but have what looks like a reinforced point. This is because they will be drilling into a hard material, and can be used with a Hammer Drill. Basically they use both blunt force trauma & a cutting action at the same time, so need to be very robust.
They’re not designed for using on soft materials like wood or plastic. If you do, you will probably just create an unpleasant burning smell.
Masonry Drill bits can get very hot when drilling into hard walls. Make sure you wear gloves when changing drill bits – it hurts!
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Drilling into Plasterboard
To get a clean hole in Plasterboard, it is usually better to use an HSS drill bit, but you can use Masonry and Bradpoint drill bits, if that’s all you have.
Be gentle when drilling or screwing into Plasterboard. Its not fantastically robust, and easy to damage. Unfortunately many plasterboard fixings require relatively large holes in Plasterboard. If you use too much force, its easy to make the hole too large, and create problems.
Drilling into Metal
Use HSS drill bits when drilling into metal (that’s what they’re designed for).
Drill slowly, and don’t try using a blunt drill bit.
For larger holes, start by drilling a small hole, then slowly increase the size of the drill bit until you reach the right size. Trust me, this may sound a bit slow and laborious, but it will be more successful more quickly.
Drilling into Plastic
For drilling into plastic, I generally use an HSS Drill bit (see how versatile they are). Plastic can get hot and melt, so make sure the drill bit is sharp, and don’t drill to fast.
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Why not join our DIY Community for tips, support, and a confidence boost……or sign up for a hands-on course and stay one step ahead.
Ready to feel more in control in your DIY skills?
If you want to get some practice using Drills and choosing Drill bits, then why not try one of our Beginners DIY Courses. We will take you through the process slowly and clearly. You can have as much hands-on practice as you need …
Want to learn some DIY Skills?
Why not check out our DIY Courses? They’re hands-on, fun and empowering
Nailing it! DIY for Beginners
Discover the joy of learning how to do DIY at home in a fun and interactive way. If you’ve always wanted to explore the world of DIY but didn’t know where to start, this course is perfect for you.
Learn to use hand tools safely, discover exciting things about screws and finish off learning to use drills and impact drivers.
Fun! Fun! Fun!
DIY "Next Steps"
Ever wondered how to drill into a wall without making a mess ,or felt nervous about putting up a shelf? This is the place for you.
Join our DIY “Next Steps” Course to take your DIY skills to the next level, and learn to drill into all kinds of walls, put up shelves and choose the right fixing.
Its not magic. Its DIY
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Fun! Fun! Fun!
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DIY "Next Steps"
Ever wondered how to drill into a wall without making a mess ,or felt nervous about putting up a shelf? This is the place for you.
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