Masonry drill bits are designed for drilling into block, brick, quarry tiles, stone or concrete.  The cutting end is usually made from tungsten and is bonded to a steel shaft which is spiral in shape.  Some masonry drills are “durium tipped” which means they are covered with a very durable silicon bronze alloy which us used in place of tungsten in the cutting end.

Masonry drills are mainly used in power drills, however they can also be used in a hand brace although it will require a lot of effort to do this!  It is possible to use  a hammer action power drill with the majority of masonary bits.  However, the action puts a lot of stress on the bit and lesser quality bits tend to break when pounded but generally, masonry bits are usually used with a hammer drill.

The bit is turned in a circular motion whilst hammering into the material.  The hammering action breaks apart the masonary at the tip of the drill bit and the indents in the body of the bit carry the dust away.  With every hammering action, the rotation of the bit enables the cutting edges onto a new area of the hole’s base.  Special shanks are often used with hammer drill bits.
Remember to constantly withdraw the bit to flush out the drilling debris and when drilling harder materials, make sure to always use a slow rotational speed otherwise the tip will overheat.

Masonry drill bits are usually available from 5mm to 40mm.  Core bits are used for larger diameters.  Hand portable power tools are used with drill bits up to 1000mm and they good for installing plumbing and wiring in established buildings.

Drill bits come in a range of shapes and sizes and it’s vital to use the appropriate drill bit for the task in hand.  Not all bits do all jobs.  Drills don’t normally come with bits, so you will need to purchase them separately.

If you are drilling masonry, you will require a masonry drill bit which are specially designed for boring into brittle and hard materials like concrete, stone and brick and are the only bits that a hammering action can be used with as they won’t shatter.  It pulverizes the material being drilled and with a rotary motion, it brushes debris from the hole.  When drilling into tiles however, the hammer action should not be used.  The drill bit can become extremely hot when drilling masonry, so take care to avoid burns.

Take care to remove all the dust from the hole as it can get clogged in the drill bit, choking it which wastes the drill’s power and can lead to the drill bit breaking and getting stuck in the hole.  To avoid this, especially when drilling downward holes, use a pumping action.

When debris from drilling clogs the hole, this can prevent the insertion of a wall plug.  A trick is to use a bendy straw and blow the dust out taking care to close your eyes while blowing.  Ask a helper to vacuum up the dust you blow out as you blow to make cleaning up easier.  Another handy trick to ease cleaning up when drilling inside the home is to stick an envelope below your designated hole area before you drill to catch the dust.

There are several main companies that make and supply drill bits and accessories including Hilti, Irwin and Makita.  Along with masonry drill bits, there are many other types on the market including step drill bits, flexible, tile drill bits, brad point, long and short bits, glass and metal.

Carbide drill bits are the among the hardest and most expensive in the industry.  Carbides and tungsten carbide are a very hard materials with the ability to drill into almost every material but still maintaining an edge longer than other drill bits.  Carbides are usually only found in tipped tools due to their brittleness and cost.  Small pieces are brazed or screwed onto the end of a bit.

Sometimes however, solid carbide drills are available for use in certain industries for example PCB drills (printed circuit boards) where many holes are needed.  The boards are made of fiberglass which is extremely abrasive and would ruin most other bits, so solid carbide tungsten twist bits are used, providing a longer life.

Drill bits undergo high stress and the constant rotation creates friction and therefore heat.  This makes the bit a little duller after every use and the continual cycle of heating and cooling eventually compromises the internal structure of the bit.

Regular non-carbide bits wear out and break very quickly.  Coated bits such as titanium carbide or titanium nitride coatings raise the lifespan of a bit.  They will stay sharper and last longer and are the strongest bits available for domestic use.  When drilling very hard and dense materials such as stainless steel, carbide bits are able to take the strain where most other bits would break.  A carbide bit will last up to 24 times longer than a regular drill bit meaning they are an economical option for carpentry and furniture building where hard materials are used.

To lengthen the life span of the bit, using a lubricant can help when drilling dense material.  It cools the drill bit as it drills and avoids excessive heat which can reduce the lifespan of the drill bit.  Also do not press too hard when drilling as this will dull the bit.  It can seem like this is helping, but it is important to allow the drill bit to do the work.

When drilling at high speeds, carbide and also ceramic tools are needed.  While they may not be as tough at high speed as other materials, they have greater heat and wear resistance.  Choosing the right coolant is paramount as different materials being drilled have different properties.  With some the cooling effect is critical and with others, lubricity is needed.

Solid tungsten carbide, high-temperature grade is the most common material used for high speed drills.  Chatter can sometimes be a problem but there are different grades of carbide and using a finer grade at high speed is key, such as a grain size of 0.5 microns compared to the more standard 2.5 microns.  Finer grain carbide tools keep their toughness while resisting wear and tear at the same time.

Some solid carbide bits have a tough core made from two grades of  cemented carbide sintered together.  The core is also high strength grade and used for low speed center performance.  For high speeds, wear resistant, low grade is used.

Companies that supply drill bits and accessories include Makita, Hilti and Irwin. Along with carbide drill bits, there are many other types and styles catering for different jobs on the market including long and short bits, glass and metal, ceramic, flexible, step drill bits, tile drill bits and brad point bits.
Carbide drill bits provide industries with a versatile material used for low and high speeds, industrially as well as in the home.