How does a wood bit differ from a metal bit?

Wood bits have a brad point and spurs: the point bites without skating and the spurs sever the fibres, so the edge comes out clean. A metal bit will drill timber but leaves a ragged edge.

When do I need a Forstner bit?

When the recess must be wide, clean and flat-bottomed: hinge cups, furniture assembly and dowelled joints. Run it slow with steady pressure.

Why does the timber break out on the far side?

Because nothing supports the fibres as the bit exits. A sacrificial board underneath, or turning the piece over once the point shows, solves it.

Why does an auger bit pull itself in?

The threaded lead screw at its tip winds into the timber and feeds the bit. That is why augers belong in high-torque, low-speed machines — and never on hammer mode.

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Wood Drill Bits

Wood bits cut the fibres with a brad point and spurs to leave a clean-edged hole — the thing a metal bit cannot do in timber. The catalogue holds over 340 sizes.

1–24 of 348 · page 1 / 15

Bit types

In timber the bit type decides how clean and how deep the hole will be.

Type	What it does	Typical job
Brad point	Clean-edged straight hole	General woodwork, dowels
Forstner / hinge	Wide flat-bottomed recess	Hinge cups, furniture
Auger	Deep holes, self-feeding	Heavy timber, joists
Step drill	Several diameters in one bit	Sheet and thin timber
Long wood bit	Through holes wall to timber	Services, electrical

Getting a clean hole

The practical way to stop breakout on the exit side is a sacrificial board underneath. The other is to stop as soon as the point shows through, turn the piece over and finish from the other side.

Speed follows material and diameter: high for small bits, low for wide ones like Forstners. Augers work at low speed and high torque.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does a wood bit differ from a metal bit?
Wood bits have a brad point and spurs: the point bites without skating and the spurs sever the fibres, so the edge comes out clean. A metal bit will drill timber but leaves a ragged edge.
When do I need a Forstner bit?
When the recess must be wide, clean and flat-bottomed: hinge cups, furniture assembly and dowelled joints. Run it slow with steady pressure.
Why does the timber break out on the far side?
Because nothing supports the fibres as the bit exits. A sacrificial board underneath, or turning the piece over once the point shows, solves it.
Why does an auger bit pull itself in?
The threaded lead screw at its tip winds into the timber and feeds the bit. That is why augers belong in high-torque, low-speed machines — and never on hammer mode.