5 Drill Bits Every Woodworker Needs and 1 You Don't
The right drill bit can make or break a woodworking project. Let’s talk about 5 bits that every woodworker should have in their shop, what you will use them for, and one that every woodworker should avoid most of the time. Here they are.
Affiliate links are used on this website to help support this website. For more information, read our affiliate disclaimer.
#1 – Twist Bits
DeWALT Drill Bit Set - https://amzn.to/3KuUQIr
First on the list are multi-use twist bits, sometimes called angle bits. There are a lot of different names for them, and they usually come in packages with assorted sizes. My dad and grandpa both had sets that came in metal boxes that must have sold for really cheap at Sears. These types of drill bits have their place in woodworking on some level. We use them for a multitude of reasons. A lot of times I use mine for pilot holes to prevent the board from splitting when you drive screws in.
Every woodworker needs a quality set of regular drill bits.
The ends of these bits are just angled, so sometimes when you try to drill a hole or pinpoint a specific spot, these bits have a tendency to walk around on you. It’s always good to use a center-punch or a spring-loaded punch to set the mark where you want to start. That will help the bit to stay in that spot while you drill.
These do have a tendency to tear out a little bit on the backside, especially on the bigger bits. That’s one of the drawbacks of angle bits, but they do have their place in the woodworking shop, and everyone should have a set. I recommend the set from DeWALT that comes in a nice case to store them in. You get bits all the way from 1/16” to 1/2”, and you also get extras of the three smaller sizes because those tend to break if you hold the drill wrong.
#2 – Brad-Point Bits
Brad Point Bit Set - https://amzn.to/43fVHp4
These are some essential bits in the shop and have a couple of unique features that no other bit has. I picked up a 12-pack set from Owl Tools. The first is the point on the end, kind of like a brad nail. That allows you to pinpoint with accuracy the exact spot where you want to drill. The point sticks into the material, and you don’t have to worry about it walking on you the way the angle-point bits do.
Brad point bit on top / regular drill bit on bottom.
The other feature is that the shoulders behind the tip slope slightly back toward the tip. That allows the bit to cut the wood as it’s going through. This makes the hole smoother on the inside as the bit is going through. The shoulders on the angle-point bit slopes away from the tip.
#3 – Forstner Bits
Fisch Forster Bit Set (top of the line) - https://amzn.to/3UrH7a4
Irwin Forstner Bit Set (budget pick)- https://amzn.to/3mmICKb
Forstner bits are by far my favorite bit to use in the shop. A forstner bit is basically a larger round bit than your standard bits, and they also have a brad point. They also have blades in the center that actually cut the wood as you drill. This gives you a clean edge around your hole, as well as a flat bottom.
Use forstner bits to drill clean holes in wood.
I discovered forstner bits back in 2017 when I was building my dog kennel. I wanted something to make clean holes, so I ordered one the right size for the rebar I was using, and from then I was hooked. I went on to use them in my stove covers by drilling two holes and connecting them with a jigsaw to create a handle.
You can also use forstner bits to drill angled holes, which is very hard to do with other types of bits. You can use them to drill at the edges of boards, connect several together to make oblong holes, or to just hog out material for your mortises.
Fisch forsten bit on the left compared to Irwin Forster bit on the right.
I have a nice set of Irwin forstner bits that I bought for $50 or so. It’s a pretty good set, but I do see that they start to dull after several uses, especially if they start heating up. They’re still a very good option for beginners or those on a budget.
Fisch bits drill a much cleaner hole vs the more budget friendly Irwin bits.
I’ve recently invested in a set of Fische Wave forstner bits. These are very expensive compared to the Irwin bits, but you’re getting what you paid for. Around the outer rim of the Wave bits there’s a serrated, wavy design, which makes a really smooth cut. The Irwin brand has more of a sawtooth design, which more tears through the wood like a saw blade. The Wave bits are more slicing the wood fibers. That wavy design also creates less friction, which creates less heat build-up. Heat is the enemy of sharp blades. The lower the temperature you can keep your bits and blades at, the longer they’re going to last you. Fische bits can also be resharpened up to 30 times, so that’s going to be a long-life bit for you.
When you’re using forstner bits, or any larger bit, the lower the speed will actually help the bit out. The higher the speed and you’re actually going to create more heat and more work for the bit, on drill presses especially.
The hole I made with the Fische bit is very smooth all the way around on the inside, with just a tiny bit of fraying at the edge, but with a little bit of sandpaper and that’s gone. With the Irwin bit, there’s a little bit of tear-out all the way around the edge, and the inside of the hole is quite a bit rougher. The bottom is also rougher.
One of the best ways to prevent tear-out with a forstner bit is to drill until just the point goes through the other side, and then drill in from the other side.
#4 – Wood Owl Overdrive Bits
Wood Owl Overdrive Bit Set (TayTools) - https://lddy.no/1dld5
These are very unique in a couple of different ways. They’re basically a brad-point bit, but they have extremely long flutes down the sides to clear away material much faster. Wood Owl claims that these bits will give you 35% more battery life over other bits because these were specifically designed for cordless drills. These bits are made from high-carbon steel, and they will actually work in an impact driver. They have the standard ¼” driver bit on one end so that they’ll work in any drill or impact driver.
Woodowl Overdrive Bits
The unique design of these has the brad-point on the end and are similar to a forstner bit. The edges are cutting that wood instead of tearing it. What’s impressive about these overdrive bits is they actually do what they say. There’s minimal tear-out. You do get some here and there, but nothing like with other styles of bit. For higher chances of a cleaner hole, if you have to drill all the way through, the Wood Owl overdrive bits are the way to go.
I’ve tested these against forstner bits and regular drill bits, and these outperformed both of those when drilling a through-hole. I really like these Wood Owl bits.
Forsnter bit on the left vs a Woodowl Overdrive Bit on the right. The Woodowl does a much better job at drilling a cleaner through hole.
#5 – Countersink/Self-Centering Bits
Self-Centering Bit Set - https://amzn.to/43q3uks
Irwin Counter Sink Bits - https://amzn.to/3o7yA04
Wood Owl Countersink Set - https://amzn.to/3Urb2z3
Counter Sink Bit with Depth Stop - https://amzn.to/3zVkm4J
I’m including countersink bits and self-centering bits in the same group. Self-centering drill bits are made for centering in a hole, especially for hinges. If you take a regular drill bit and try to hit the exact center of a hole on a hinge, you’re likely going to be a little off one way or the other. That’s going to throw your cabinets off when the screw pulls the hinge wrong. These self-centering drill bits will center that hole perfectly and then you can drive your screw home without worrying about it.
Self centering drill bits
Perfect for hinge installs
Countersink bits are essential for woodworking. There are tons of different reasons why you want the head of that screw below the surface. There are a couple of different styles. I’ve got an Irwin set that are designed for drilling out for the screwhead in an existing hole. They will work on metal as well. I’ve also got a Wood Owl set of bits that have the regular bit for drilling the pilot hole, as well as an added bit further up the shaft which will cut a beveled edge for the screw head to sit in.
Use this style of countersink bits when you don’t need a pilot hole or there’s already a pilot hole.
Common countersink drill bits with a bit that drills a pilot hole.
There’s another style of bit that has a stop on it to prevent you from plunging too far. Some models of this style will mar the wood, so you have to be careful about the ones you buy. I would steer clear of the very cheap ones. Spend a little money and protect your project.
Countersink bits with a depth stop to ensure you get exact countersunk holes every time.
When you pre-drill and countersink screws the wood doesn’t split and it looks more professional.
BONUS – Hole Saw Bits
Milwaukee Hole Saw Kit (Amazon) - https://amzn.to/3nYmXIx
Hole saw kits are something else I think every woodworker should have. You don’t need them a lot, but sometimes you need those big holes drilled. Specifically, when I was making my cornhole boards, I needed that big 6” hole. Over time, I’ve also noticed that here or there I needed to drill a hole that was bigger than my forstner bits, so I picked up a Milwaukee hole saw kit. These aren’t specifically needed by woodworkers, but they are extremely handy to have when you do need them.
Milwaukee makes one of the best hole saw kits you can buy, in my opinion.
Hole saws are perfect for cutting larger holes in wood.
AVOID – Spade Bits – One popular bit that I think most woodworkers should avoid are spade bits. Spade bits are specifically made for the construction industry. They’re used for drilling holes through studs for running piping, wires, things like that. These bits drill a pretty nasty, messy hole, but they’re meant for speed to auger out that material quickly. There are uses for them here and there in the woodshop, but for fine woodworking or for projects where you want that hole to be nice and clean you should use the forstner bit and not a spade bit.
Spade bits are great for drilling holes through studs and the rough carpentry. But they are not great for most fine woodworking tasks.
To see all of these drill bits in action, you can watch the full video here - https://youtu.be/ebPu6SPVFUE
Related Articles
5 Tools You’ve Never Seen Before
