What Every Woman Should Know About Drill Bits

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!).


 

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Garage and home construction
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