All Drill Bits

Archive for the ‘DIY’ Category

Ever started a small repair job or a large home improvement project only to find you have all your drill bits except the size you need?

Fed up with disorganization that comes from broken plastic cases drill bits are sold in? Here’s a great way to make a drill bit case perfect for any size collection, any size bits.

Short Bits
If your drill bits are less than 4 inches tall, or if your collection is large enough to be separated into large & small, pick up a lunch box from a discount or thrift store, or shop around at yard sales for one. You can paint the outside with spray paint if you don’t like the Barbie decals, just make sure the latch still works.

Next, cut a piece of wood so that it will fit along the large side of the box, opposite the hinge and latch side. Glue into place with hot glue or silicon glue.

Using each drill bit, drill a hole into the wood, drilling as far into the wood as you can without going through the box. Remove the drill bit from the wood and drill, then insert the smooth edge into the hole you created.

If you find you use a drill bit often and the hole becomes loose, add a little sticky putty, the kind used for tacking items to the wall, into the hole.

Tall Bits
For drill bit collections that are between four inches and 7 inches tall, you’ll still need a lunch box and piece of wood. This time, though, you’ll cut the wood so that it is a little shorter than the height of the lunch box (from hinge to opening).

Glue the wood in place on the lid, not the inside of the box.

Follow the same drill, remove, insert procedure as described above.

Extra Tall Bits
For bits longer than 7 inches tall, you’ll need a larger box such as a cookie or popcorn tin, paint bucket or ammo box. The process for attaching wood and fitting holes for the bits are the same.

Some simple tips to know for women (and men) that aren’t inclined to do it yourself projects or repairs.

Today’s take-charge, career-oriented woman juggles family and job responsibilities with ease and looks great doing it – but when it comes to simple home repairs or rummaging through the tool chest, she may find herself baffled by the wild assortment of gadgets, whatchamacallits, doodads, and worst of all, cases and cases of drill bits.

Fear not. While the mythical supermom might take the time to research each and every tool to find just the right one, a few facts will take you through most basic repairs.

Nearly everyone knows what a hammer looks like and what it is used for. Ditto for pliers, those handy gripping tools that can be used from construction to crafting. Drills, particularly cordless ones, are amazing time and arm savers, but choosing the right drill bit for the right job can be daunting. Here’s what you need to know about drill bits:

* drill bits come in a variety of sizes, including both metric and imperial measurements, ranging from tiny, nearly invisible bits, to larger ones that will make a very big hole. If you are pre-drilling a hole, it’s best to choose a bit that is slightly smaller than your screw or screw anchor. Not every drill bit has its size engraved on the side, but if you bits came in a case, it’s likely the size will appear near the bit’s slot there. Drill bits also come in different lengths, from standard shorter sizes, to longer bits – up to about 10 centimeters long for household use.

* not all drill bits are created equal; in fact, the drill bit you choose should depend on the material in which you hope to make a hole, whether it is metal, plaster, stone, cement, wood, fiberglass, etc.

The most commonly seen and used household drill bit is called the twist drill bit. Aptly named, it looks like a piece of metal that has been twisted along most of its length, and can be used to drill holes in a variety of materials including wood and plastic.

Other kinds of drill bits for metal include center bits, core bits, and step bits. The more popular wood drill bit collection includes brad point bit (a more specialized version of the twist bit for wood), spade bits for rough boring, Forstner bits for making flat-bottomed holes, and the adjustable wood bit among others. Masonry bits are reinforced with tungsten carbide inserts, and are usually used with a hammer drill (hopefully you’ll never need to use one of these!).