• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
DIY Doctor

Main navigation

      • Project Type A - E
      • All Projects
      • Brick, Block, Masonry and Concrete
      • Damp, Condensation, Rot and Woodworm
      • Doors, Windows and Conservatories
      • Electrical
      • Project Type F - G
      • Fencing, Decking, Paving and Patios
      • Floors, Walls, Ceilings and Lofts
      • Garages, Sheds and Outbuildings
      • Gardening and Landscaping
      • General Building, Self Build and Renovation
      • Project Type G - J
      • General Repairs and Cleaning
      • Green Living and Eco DIY
      • Ground, Foundations and Drainage
      • Heating, Central Heating and Boilers
      • Joinery and Carpentry
      • Project Type M - P
      • Materials, Fixings and Fixing
      • Painting, Decorating and Finishing
      • Planning Regs, Project Management and Safety
      • Plastering, Plasterboard and Rendering
      • Plumbing
      • Project Type R - T
      • Roofing and Gutters
      • Tiling and Tiles
      • Tools, Appliances and Access
      • Useful Tips
      • DIY Tips
      • Find a Tradesman
      • Contract Download
      • Working With Tradesmen - Ultimate Guide
      • Home Improver Protection
      • Price Doctor
      • About DIY Doctor
      • What we do
      • Trade Shows and Exhibitions
      • Master Classes
      • Book Store
      • Contact Us
      • Feedback
      • DIY Competitions

Home > Search for DIY Projects by Trade Type > DIY Guides Covering Hand and Power Tools and Appliances > DIY Guides Covering Cutting and Drilling Metal and Routers

DIY Guides Covering Cutting and Drilling Metal and Routers

This the comprehensive guide to all the different types of drill bits, including how to use them most effectively. We cover wood bits, metal bits, masonry bits, core drills and even router bits. We explain the difference between the different types of bit, when they are used and how to use them best. We also cover the various techniques for cutting and drilling into metal.

  • Using a Core Drill

    Core Drills - how to use - Learn how to use a core drill bit and power drill to drill a large diameter hole through a wall for waste pipes and extractor fans


  • Using a Hole Saw

    Hole saw - how to use - In tis DIY guide you will learn how to use a hole saw to form large holes in timber, metal, masonry and plastic materials


  • Drilling Metal: How to Drill Holes in Different Types of Metal

    Metal - drilling metal - In this DIY guide you will learn all about drilling metal correctly, including what drill bits you should use for different types of metal


  • Cutting Metal

    Metal - how to cut - How to cut different types of metal safely and correctly including sheet metal and metal pipework and what tools to use


  • Router Bits

    Router bit types and cutting shapes - Learn about the most common router bit types and the shapes or profiles that they cut in to timber surfaces when used with a router


  • Drilling into Tiles and Porcelain Tiles with Porsadrill Diamond Tipped Drill Bits

    Tiling - drilling into tiles and porcelain tiles with diamond tipped drill bits - Find out all about drilling porcelain tiles with diamond tipped drill bits to create holes for water pipes and waste pipes


In this section we cover cutting and drilling all types of materials (that you would use in a normal DIY or home improvement project). We explain in detail how you use the different types of drill bit and hole saws.  We even cover a guide about when and how to use router bits.

We have separate section on using Power Tools and also our projects on Hand Tools where you will find specific information about using particular drill types, such as Pillar Drills or our project on Angled Drills, and many more tools.

Let us explain the different types of drill bit and what they are used for here.

The Different Types of Drill Bit and Holesaw Explained

Drill bits and holesaws vary because of the different materials that they are used on in the main, but they do also vary due to the tool that are used to turn them. Here are the most common types of drill bit and hole saw:

Wood (and Plastic) Bits

Brad, Spur or Dowel Point Bits: These have a small sharp point that the tip of the bit which acts as a bradle and centres the bit on the exact spot to be drilled. Behind this are generally two raised spurs at the start of the twists or flutes. These spurs help to keep the bit straight and they start the cut before the centre of the bit cuts which means that the bit does not pull (unlike the auger bit -see below).

They are ideal for both hard and softwood and even some plastics, but nothing else. They will cut a deep straight sided hole very quickly, so are ideal for making holes for dowels, hence the name.

These bits are designed to work in power tools. They can be sharpened but this it is often easier to purchase a new bit. Sizes generally tend to renage between 3-16mm.

Lip and Spur Drill Bit
Lip and Spur Drill Bit

Augur Bits

These are for drilling large and deep holes into all types of wood. Unlike a Lip and Spur Bit (described above) these bits only have one spur which create the straight edge of the hole. The cutting edge of the bit works like a chisel and the cut wood it pushed back into the flutes of the pervious turn. This leaves a deep flat bottomed hole.

These bits are not suitable for power tools on the whole as they pull into the wood making them harder to control particularly at high speeds, and are typically used in a hand or carpenters brace . The can be sharpened relatively easily by using an oilstone of the cutting edge and the spur. Size range from 7-32mm.

Augur bits
Augur bits

Wood spade, Paddle or Flat Bits

These are located on the centre of the hole using the centre spike. The hole is cut by the cutting edge on each side of the paddle. Like the auger bit they create large holes with flat bottoms, in all types of wood. There are expansive bits which are similar but have adjustable paddles to alter the size of the hole being cut.

You cannot use a flat bit to enlarge an existing hole. They are only for use in power tools and the larger the bit the more power that will be required to turn them. Caution needs to be taken when the bit breaks out from the back of some wood, especially when using large bits, as the wood is likely to splinter.

Use a piece of waste wood to drill into and stop this happening. These bits are easy to sharpen using an oil of grindstone. Sizes range from 6-40mm.

Flat bits
Flat drill bits

Counter Sink Bits

These are not for drilling but cutting a space for the screw head so that it will sit flush with the surface of the timber. For a neat job you should countersink and then drill the hole, rather than countersinking last.

Most countersink bits are now used in power tools but many still come with handles for use by hand, which can be quicker and easier that changing bits in you drill. They can be sharpened by a triangular file, although this is rarely required. Sizes range from 10-20mm, typically 90° or sized by screw head size

Countersink bit
Countersink bit

Cutter Countersink Bits

These are a combination of a standard drill bit and a countersink that can be used to drill a hole and countersink it in a single action.

Cutter and Countersink Bit
Cutter and Countersink Bit

Plug Cutter

These are specialist bits that are used to cut a plug of wood that is then used to cover the screw head once fixed. The plug is removed through the side hole. Sizes typically follow screw sizes from 6-10mm

Plug cutter for timber
Plug Cutter

Wood and Manufactured Materials

Hole Saw

These are use for sawing through materials such as plasterboard and wood to make large holes. They have an arbour in the centre to align the centre of the hole but the actual hole is cut using a saw. The arbour can be permanently fix or interchangeable between hole saws of different sizes, which is sometimes called a combination hole saw set.

The typically cut to 18mm depth but this can be more with specialist hole saws. You will need to use a power drill, ideally used at low speed. Sharpen as you would a saw. Sizes run from 14-220mm.

Hole saws
Hole saws

Hinge Boring Bits, Forstner Bits or Hinge Cutters

These bits are used to cut the holes to fit kitchen cabinet hinges. They are generally made with a Tungsten Carbide (TC) cutting edge. Use these bits in MDF or whichever wood material the cabinets are made from.

These bits really need a power drill as there is generally not a central point to align the bit which makes hand cutting very difficult. They can be sharpened with an oilstone. Sizes run from 26mm or 35mm

Hinge Cutter or Hinge boring bit
Hinge Cutter or Hinge boring bit

Core Drill

This is a very tough version of the hole saw which can drill through brick, concrete and even tiles. The best quality version will have a diamond cutting blade and therefore will not be able to be sharpened.

They grind away the material rather than saw or cut as with the hole saw or a normal drill bit. These will need to be used with a power tool and sometimes a specialist drill. They can be considerably more expensive than other bits. Sizes generally run from 28-160mm+.

Large core drill
Core Drill

Metal and Multi Purpose Bits

Twist, Jobber or Multi-purpose Bits

These are the all-rounder of the bit world being designed primarily for use on metal, but they will work very effectively on wood, plastic and other materials. This is the essential bit for any DIY-er or handyman. There are two cutting edges on the points and the drilled material is taken away in the flutes. They do clog up easily especially if the wood is green, so will need to be removed to clear the debris away periodically. There are 3 main types:

  • Carbon Steel – These should not be used on metal as they are brittle and inflexible. They are ideal for wood and plastic
  • HSS – High Speed Steel; these are designed for metal but are perfect for wood and other materials too. The steel is tempered so that it can withstand high temperatures and is general a black colour
  • TiN – Titanium Nitride; This is a gold-ish coloured coating that makes the bit harder and therefore better are cutting through metal. It also provides some self-lubrication when drilling in metal (only)

They are for use with power drills and can be sharpened with an oilstone if necessary. Sizes runfrom 1-15mm.

Twist Multi-purpose drill bit
Twist Multi-purpose drill bit

Glass and Tile Bits

Glass and Tile Bits

These use a tungsten carbide tip to drill through the glass or ceramic tile. The will probably need some form of lubrication to keep the tip cool.

They can be used in a hand drill, but really you will find it much easier to use a variable speed power drill. Start at a slow speed and build up. Sizes go from 3-10mm.

Glass or Tile drill bit
Glass or Tile Bit

Masonry Bits

Masonry Bits

These are designed for putting holes into brick, stone, block work and concrete. They will have a hard tip typically made of tungsten carbide and there will be a fluted body where the cut debris will be taken away.

Masonry bits should be used in power drills, particularly as they are designed to work with the hammer drill setting, where the tip is turned and hammered back and forth into the hole at very high speed. Sizes go from 4-25mm.

Masonry drill bits
Masonry Bits

Screw Driver Bits

Screw Driver Bits

These don’t cut or make holes but they are bits that attached to a drill in order to make driving in screws easier and quicker. The will generally have a hexagonal shank so the chuck of the drill can hold them securely. The head will come in a huge range of types, designs and sizes to fit the wide range of screw heads available.

Screwdriver Bits come is huge varieties
Screwdriver Bits come is huge varieties

Note: when discussing size we are talking bit diameter unless otherwise stated. Most bits come in different lengths, both of the shank and body.

The Parts of a Drill Bit

It is helpful to know the parts of the bits that we have been describing. Here is a helpful diagram which shows the various parts of a typical drill bit:

Parts of a twist drill
The parts of a Drill Bit – Image courtesy of Mechanical Engineering Blogger

As you can see there are lots of different types of drill bit that you can use for whatever project you have to do. Getting the right bit and using it correctly is half the battle – this is what this section is all about!

Give us Some Feedback!
Was this page useful:
We read and respond to all feedback by email. To allow us to do so you will be added to our email list, however you can unsubscribe at any time using the links at the bottom of any of our emails. Find out more in our privacy policy. Any DIY questions should be posted to our Forum
Sign me up to the DIY Doctor Newsletter:

Primary Sidebar

Master Basic DIY - By DIY Doctor

Our Book - Master Basic DIY

Grab your copy now for all the DIY help you need right at your finger tips!

Buy it Here!

Signup for our Newsletter

Keep up to date with our DIY projects, tips and latest deals

Sign Me Up!

Our Sponsors

Find out about advertising on DIY Doctor

Advertisments

Footer

DIY Doctor company logo

Here at DIY Doctor, we offer completely free DIY and construction help and advice to any and all, from professional tradesmen, exactly as they would do it.

We have hundreds of DIY project tutorials covering all aspects of building and DIY that provide step by step instructions on how to complete your given task.

If you need a little help then we also have an active question and answer forum and a find a trademan service and much more.

Site Menu

  • DIY Doctor Ltd,
    The Workshop,
    Newbury Works, Somerset,
    BA3 5RX

  • 0845 6342 179

  • Contact Us

  • Company Number: 05863375
  • VAT Number: 811134774

Other Stuff

  • About DIY Doctor
  • Contact DIY Doctor
  • Media and Press
  • DIY Projects
  • UK DIY Forum
  • DIY Doctor Suppliers
  • DIY Webinars

DIY Doctor Social Channels

  • Advertise
  • Competitions
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Information
  • NHIC
  • Sitemap

DIY Doctor are members of:

© DIY Doctor Ltd 2025 All Rights Reserved