Feedback About wiseGEEK Login
Category: 
How Do I Choose the Best Drill Bit for Brick?
Article Details
  • Written By: Lori Kilchermann
  • Edited By: Lauren Fritsky
  • Copyright Protected:
    2003-2012
    Conjecture Corporation
Free Widgets for your Site/Blog
The letter "J" does not appear in the periodic table.  more...

May 26 ,  1938 :  The House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) began its first session.  more...

To aid in your search for the best drill bit for brick, you must consider which type of drill motor you will be using and how many holes you will be drilling. Typically, you will have three major choices when picking a drill bit for brick: carbide or tungsten tipped, diamond tipped and plain carbon steel. The diamond-tipped bit is top of the line for most drilling needs, however, the added cost may not warrant purchasing the bit if it will be used infrequently. If you plan to drill several holes, you may wish to consider the tungsten- or carbide-tipped drill bit for brick.

For the most basic of drilling needs, a plain steel masonry drill bit will suffice if used in a plain drill motor. This type of drill bit for brick will occasionally become damaged very quickly when used in a hammer drill. Unlike a regular drill motor, a hammer drill not only spins the drill bit around, it pounds it into the brick or concrete, effectively chipping the stone away as the bit digs into the materials. This has the tendency to flatten the tip of the plain steel masonry bit and adds heat, which is the enemy of all drill bits.

The tungsten-tipped drill bit for brick is a very durable drill bit capable of surviving in a regular or hammer-type drill motor. You may wish to purchase more than one of these bits, however, if you have several holes to drill. You can improve the durability of this type of drill bit for brick by changing the bit after each hole. This allows the drill bit to cool and retains the strength of the tungsten or carbide coating on the drill bit. If you are searching for the best drill bit for long use, the best hole finish and the fastest drilling capability, a diamond-tipped drill bit for brick is typically your best choice.

The diamond-tipped drill bit for brick will not only drill several holes without becoming dull, it will also leave the cleanest and roundest hole when finished. Other drill bits have the tendency to elongate the hole as it becomes deeper. You will also commonly experience less cracking of the brick and masonry with the diamond-tipped drill bit for brick. You should, however, be aware that some of the inexpensive diamond-tipped drill bits will not survive long in a hammer drill. This is one area where it is true that typically you get what you pay for.

Related Videos

Discuss this Article

Post your comments

Post Anonymously

please enter the following code:

Login

username
password
forgot password?
or connect with facebook

Register

username
password
confirm
email