With all the different tools and tool bits readily available for woodworking, choosing what’s right can be a chore. If you consistently need to drill at deeper depths with minimal effort and get clean, precision holes free of wood shavings, consider getting a set of wood auger drill bits. These will save you time and the elbow grease and get the perfect results each and every time.
Augers have existed in some form or other for centuries. And they’re possibly the oldest drill bit design, featuring a spirally shaped cutting edge to drill to the desired depth and remove excess materials at the same time. They’re also easy to use. The sharp tip ensures that the bit stays put, so you get precise holes exactly where you need them. Besides wood, wider and longer augers are used to drill into soil, ice, concrete, and other materials quickly and efficiently.
Most uses however relate to woodworking, and an auger drill for sale is what most carpenters, woodworkers, and keen DIY-ers will be looking for. Designs, sizes, and materials vary, but the general idea is the same. Bits are designed to be used with power tools, but some can also fit into braces and hand drills.
Uses of Auger Drill Bits
Augers were first conceived to transport larger amounts of water uphill. The invention is attributed to ancient Greek inventor Archimedes. The initial design was in the form of a large screw, with the screw thread collecting small pools of water and moving it upwards as the whole assembly turned. This soon found its way into drilling purposes. As the bit turns and bores into wood (or other materials), excess materials are removed. There’s no need for additional cleaning or sanding and the hole is ready for use.
Augers have a long spiralling blade used to drill holes to depths that aren’t possible with any other drill bit. And they remove wood shavings without the risk of clogging or the hassle of downtime in adjustments and cleaning. They can be used to get clean, wide holes for piping, attachments or fasteners in both hard and softwoods of varying thickness.
Parts of an Auger Drill Bit
Auger drill bits consist of a guide screw (or gimlet point) to centre and guide the bit through the wood. Bits with coarse screw threading are good for quicker results, usually in softwoods, and help prevent clogging. Finer threads are more about precision, and bits with these are suited for boring into hardwoods. From here the auger bit extends into the spurs or nibs that make the initial cut on the perimeter of the hole. Auger bit lips are what cut the material out of the hole. Excess wood is lifted and forced up and out of the hole through the bit ‘flighting’, or the spiral twist. The flighting can be either with a single or double twist. Single twist flighting is quicker at removing wood chips, while double twist bits offer more precise cutting and smoother finishes. Auger bits often terminate in a hex shank to provide good drilling stability and maximum torque.
Auger Bit Materials
Carbon steel is adequate for the lower RPMs at which auger bits perform at their optimum. One step up is HSS, or High-Speed Steel, with improved hardness and better wear and heat resistance. This is what you should look for in any auger drill for sale when you want to bore into hardwood. For drilling into particularly stubborn substrates, go for bits with black oxide coating to further increase durability or titanium carbide auger bits that help prevent friction.
Compared to Other Drill Bits
Auger bits are substantially longer than other bit types (the largest measuring 600mm or more) and thus allow for getting greater depths. The longer the bit the more versatility for a range of jobs, especially in hard-to-reach places. The individual parts like guide screws improve drilling precision, and spurs and flighting produce clean holes, free of wood shavings.
Compared to other common woodworking bits, auger drills need to be operated at slower speeds because of the overall length and design of the cutting edges. When put against spade bits, augers perform much better at excess material removal, get cleaner holes, and need less force. Auger bits also have the depth advantage when compared to hole saws, but fall short on hole widths. In terms of precision, they are similar to brad point bits but can go deeper and wider.
Things to Look for
Lip, spur, and flighting designs are different, and these make for bits that go by separate names. Russel Jennings auger bits are the most common and have flat lips, protruding spurs, and a double twisted flighting resulting in clean holes. Single twist Irwin augers are known to be particularly durable and can have differently shaped and sized guide screws for different types of wood. Augers with a ‘Scotch’ pattern have upward-facing lips which help keep guide screws stable when faced with wood imperfections like knots. Barefoot augers miss out on guide screws but are most suited to drilling into board ends and edges. Other designs are single twist L’Hommedieu augers, Lewis bits with wider flighting, and Cook augers with gouge shape lips good for neat holes and reduced risk of tear out.
Besides different designs, auger bits also differ in overall length and diameter. Diameters determine the width of the hole, and bits can range between 6 to 32mm wide. Lengths have more scope, topping out at 600mm in the largest variants and those used in heavy-duty industrial applications where the deepest holes are needed. Both metrics are usually marked on the shank.
Pricing
Auger drills come in at different prices. Large, specialist bits with titanium carbide tips fetch the highest prices. But for everyday work, affordable packaged deals with bits in assorted diameters and lengths will prove the most versatile.
