Your Complete Drill Bit FAQ & Resource Guide

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Your Complete Drill Bit FAQ & Resource Guide

Drill Bit FAQ’s – Expert Answers & Buying Guide

Welcome to Drill Bits World’s ultimate FAQ library — your one-stop source for answers to everything drill bit related. Whether you’re a contractor, machinist, DIY enthusiast, or industrial buyer, we’ve organized our most common questions by category so you can find exactly what you need fast.

From choosing the right drill bit for your material to understanding specialty designs like auger, masonry, carbide, diamond, and extra long drill bits, you’ll find detailed, straightforward answers backed by decades of experience.

Need to know what bit works best for stainless steel, how to drill without cracking brick, or what “SDS” really means? It’s all here — plus tips to help extend tool life, improve drilling accuracy, and avoid costly mistakes.

If you don’t see your question here, contact us and our team will be happy to help.

Not recommended. Wood bits dull quickly on metal and may break. Use bits specifically made for metal.

Cobalt bits are best for hard steels, while HSS with titanium coating works well for mild steel.

A drill bit made from high-speed steel, cobalt, or carbide designed to cut through metal with the right speed, feed, and lubrication.

TCT (tungsten carbide tipped) is better for hard materials like stainless steel and cast iron; HSS (high-speed steel) is more forgiving and cost-effective for mild steel.

Tungsten carbide is the primary material used to make solid carbide tools. “Solid carbide” usually means the whole cutting edge is carbide, while some tools just have carbide tips.

Hole saws are for wood, plastic, and light metal, while annular cutters are precision tools for metal, offering cleaner cuts and longer life in heavy-duty applications.

A drill bit removes all material inside the hole, while an annular cutter removes only a thin ring, leaving a solid slug in the center.

They cut large-diameter holes in metal efficiently, removing only the material at the hole’s perimeter, which reduces cutting time and effort.

Mostly, yes—they’re optimized for through holes, but with careful depth control, they can be used for blind holes.

For hole saws or circle cutters, attach them to the drill using the appropriate arbor/mandrel, ensuring it’s tightened securely before use.

They’re extremely precise compared to twist drills, producing burr-free holes with tight tolerances and clean edges.

With correct feed, speed, lubrication, and material matching, a quality cutter can last dozens to hundreds of holes before resharpening.

Use the correct arbor or adapter for your drill type. For annular cutters, you’ll typically use a Weldon shank adapter in a magnetic drill.

Very accurate—most produce holes within ±0.005" tolerance when used in a stable setup with proper feed and speed.

No. Annular cutters use a pilot pin that helps center the cut and eject the slug. A separate pilot hole is not required.