Buying a good drill is not enough to drill any material! To make the most of your work tool you need to match the right bit.
Each material has different characteristics and using the wrong bit can ruin the tool, that will be forced to work under stress for too long; ruin the bit, after reaching a certain temperature it loses its hardness characteristics and, above all, often not even being able to make the hole.
You can’t use wood drill bits on concrete or metal (and so far it would seem obvious: wood is soft, concrete is hard). Even bits for metal would get damaged drilling wood (they heat up and lose their temper), while non-pointed concrete bits are substantially useless in cutting any type of fibrous, metal or plastic material.
Drilling metals
The best and most flexible metal drill bits are those with the shank marked HSS or DIN 338 – Steel tip with a cobalt content higher than 5%. Suitable for high cutting speeds.
These bits are ideal for cutting steel, or even hardened steel, rolled steel such as car bodywork, aluminum alloys, non-ferrous metals, bronze or plastic.
To drill these materials the percussion function must be disabled, you must drill at low speed making high pressure, it would be better if possible to use a drill press.
Most common drill bits are:
– TiN HSS DIN 338 – TiN stands for titanium nitrite, a titanium compound evaporated in an inert nitrogen atmosphere. This treatment forms a characteristic golden coloured coating, much more resistant than normal hardened carbon steel. This treatment forms a characteristic golden coloured coating, much more resistant than normal hardened carbon steel.
These drill bits allow cutting at a higher speed (about 10% more than standard speed) with a better penetration that means less stress on the tool.
HSS indicates a steel with a chromium – vanadium content higher than 5%.
This type of drill bit is suitable for cutting steel, hardened steel, aluminum alloys, non-ferrous metals and plastic.
– HSCo DIN 338 – Steel bit with a cobalt content higher than 5%. Ideal for high cutting speeds. Suitable for cutting steel, hardened steel, rolled steel such as car bodywork, aluminum alloys, non-ferrous metals, bronze and plastic.
– HSS DIN 338 – High strength chrome vanadium drill bits, suitable for standard cutting on non-special steels, aluminum, non-ferrous metals and plastics.
Drilling wood
To drill wooden materials the percussion function must be disabled and the hole must be drilled at low speed.
Most common drill bits are:
– CV – Tips in special steel with chromium and vanadium content higher than 5%. Suitable for cutting even hard wood and in particular for coated material, where greater cleaning of the cut is required.
– CV – Tips in special steel with chromium and vanadium content higher than 5%. Suitable for cutting even hardwood.
– Drill bits in normal tempered carbon steel, suitable for drilling even very thick beams.
