Step drill bits will usually have their diameters etched into them for easy reference when looking through your collection. Their straight flute will help prevent thin, flexible materials from being twisted out of shape as the drill passes through them. Very small holes are okay with twist drill bits, but once the hole size needed is much larger than the material being drilled, a step drill bit is a much better choice. When clean holes are needed, this is a bad result. A traditional twist drill bit, like those standard drill bits that come with a power drill, will often catch a burr and be pulled right through. If you have ever tried to drill through a thin piece of sheet metal with a traditional fluted drill bit, you’ve likely encountered problems. Since many of us woodworkers are also home DIYers, it’s handy to have step drill bits for our power drills when we need larger holes and not just holes in sheet metal. You will often see an electrician use a step drill bit to drill holes in plastic switch and outlet boxes when roughing a new construction for wires to fit through or in studs as a new house is being rough-wired before sheetrock or drywall is hung. Their use, though, is not limited to sheet metal step drill bits are also used for drilling holes in plywood, drywall, laminate, plexiglass, and particle board. These specialty drill bits are capable of drilling into metal, for instance, up to ¼ “ thick, and are common on construction sites. It also makes it easier to drill larger holes a little bit (no pun intended) at a time as you push the drill bit further into the materials. This obviates the need to change drill bits while drilling holes, for instance. The deeper you drill into the material you’re working with, the larger the hole will become. Step drill bits, also referred to as unibits, are a conical-shaped drill bit that, by virtue of their shape, allows you to drill holes of varying sizes.
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