Believe it or not, there is a drill bit made for almost every application. And, using the right one can make almost any project easier. Use this guide to help determine which bit you need.

Drill Bit Materials
The materials from which bits are manufactured play a big role in the life and performance of the bit. Drill bits are available in:

Steel Bits: Inexpensive and work well for boring in softwood. However, steel bits dull quickly in hardwood.
High-Speed Steel Bits (HSS): Harder than steel blades and stay sharper longer.
Titanium Coated Bits: Cost slightly more than HSS bits, but their titanium coating is tougher and stays sharp longer than HSS or steel bits.
Carbide-Tipped Bits: More expensive than other bits, but they stay sharp much longer than steel, high-speed steel or titanium bits.
Cobalt Bits: Extremely hard and dissipate heat quickly, they are most commonly used for boring in stainless steel and other metals.

Drill bits have many different shank sizes and styles. Always choose your bits based on the drill manufacturer's recommendations.

Type	Uses
Twist Bit	General purpose drilling in wood, plastic and light metal
Brad Point Bit	Boring in wood Has high points (brads) for easier positioning and accurate cuts Has extra-wide flutes for chip removal
Spade Bit	Boring large diameter holes in wood Range from 1/4" to 1 1/2" in diameter
Forstner Bit	Boring flat-bottomed holes in wood
Adjustable Wood Bit	Wood boring, adjustable blade allows boring of multi-diameter holes Adjusts from 3/4" to 3" in diameter
Drill Saw Bit	Cutting irregular contours and holes in wood or metal
Counterbore, Pilot & Countersink Bit	Drilling pilot, countersink and counterbore holes in one step Has replaceable and interchangeable pilot bits
Auger Bit	Wood boring Coarse screw end for quick drilling Has large flutes for chip removal
Installer Bit	Installing phone wire, TV cable, computer and security system wire Has a hole in the bit head for pulling wire through hole
Left Hand Bit	Extracting broken, right-hand-threaded studs, screws and bolts
Step Bit	Repetitive drilling in steel, copper, brass, aluminum, plastic and wood Deburring holes
Glass/Tile Bit	Boring in glass or tile
Masonry Bit	Boring in masonry Used in rotary hammers or hammer drills
Hole Saw	Boring large diameter holes in wood and light metal Usually range from 1/2" to 6" in diameter
Scaling Chisel	Chiseling, scaling and chipping masonry Used in rotary hammers or hammer drills