Everything You Need to Know About Twist Drill Bits

Posted on by Ruwag UK

Everything You Need to Know About Twist Drill Bits

Twist drill bits are one of the most commonly used bits. These bits are used in a wide range of projects, drilling through many different materials. This makes them a popular choice for general purpose drilling projects. What are twist drill bits and what else should you know about these bits? Let’s take a look.

A Guide to Twist Drill Bits

Here’s what you need to know about twist drill bits. 

What are twist bits?

As their name suggests, these bits have a twisted flute running down their shaft. They also have a cutting tip that allows them to get through metal, plastics and wood. 

They are mainly used for drilling metal. With the exception of multi-material bits, most are not designed for masonry, however. This is because concrete, brick and other types of masonry will wear down the tip very quickly.

Most twist bits are made from HSS (High-Speed Steel), which makes them highly durable and able to drill precise holes into metal easily. 

Types of twist bits

There are a few types of twist drill bits, including multi-purpose bits and specialised bits.

HSS bits

As we mentioned above, HSS bits are the most common type of twist bits. These durable bits can handle the high temperatures produced by the friction of drilling into metal. They range from Standard HSS bits that can be used on plastic, aluminium, copper, brass, bronze, and carbon steel to Turbo and Cobalt HSS bits that can get through extremely hard metals such as cast iron and stainless steel

Long twist bits

These bits are ideal for drilling deep holes that cannot be easily created with a standard bit. If you need to drill down to the bottom of a deeper workpiece, you would need a long twist bit. These bits are always useful to have in your drill bit collection. 

One downside to these bits is that they can wander more the deeper they drill. These bits are also more prone to breakage at lower gauges compared to standard length bits - especially if more force is required to drill through deeper material. 

Reverse twist bits

Reverse twist bits are made to work with your drill when it is set to rotate counter-clockwise. A standard bit would drag its cutting edge backwards around the hole with the drill running backwards. 

Reverse twist bits are designed with their spiralled cutting edge facing in the opposite direction. When the bit is run counter-clockwise, the bit works the way a standard bit works when moving clockwise. These bits are most commonly used to remove screws.

Multi-material bits

Multi-material bits are versatile. They can be used in a wide range of projects, from quick fixes around the home to larger DIY projects. They can be used in wood, plastic, metal and even clay brick. Most have a tungsten carbide tip that allows them to drill into even the toughest material easily without breakage. 

These bits are available individually in various sizes. They are also available in sets, which makes them even more versatile if you do a lot of DIY projects. 

Twist bit sizes

While we’re talking about sizes, how do you know which size is best for your project? This will depend on the type of bit you are using and the material you are drilling. A multi-purpose bit ranges from 5mm x 85mm to 12mm x 150mm. A Standard HSS bit ranges from 2mm x 40mm to 16mm x 142mm. Industrial HSS bits are larger, reaching up to 20mm x 178mm. 

Drill bit sets are the best way to get a range of sizes to suit your needs. Unless you are doing heavy-duty drilling, most sets include a selection of shorter and longer bits that will be perfect for a range of materials and projects. 

Looking for the best range of twist bits? Ruwag has you covered. Shop our range of premium-quality twist drill bits online to find the right bit for your project.