McFeely's Brad Point Drill Bits

Why Use Brad Point Drills?

A Brad Point Drill should provide the cleanest, straightest, and most accurately sized hole in the wood of any reasonably priced tool today. The brad in the center of the point allows accurate positioning when starting a hole, even if the hole is not 90 degrees from the surface. The outlining spurs sheer the wood grain and leave a clean edge around the hole's opening, eliminating the need for sanding. The spurs continue to sheer the wood while drilling and producing an accurately sized hole. In most woods, the spurs also help to produce a cleaner edge when drilling through the backside of the wood.

There are two types of Brad point designs. One is best in hardwoods, and the other is just for softwoods. The Brad Point bits, designed for softwood, produce too much heat and are hard to push in hardwoods. The Brad Point bits designed to cut hardwoods will cut softwood. The aggressive cutting edges can lift the weak grains of the softwood, resulting in a ragged edge around the hole's opening. McFeely's Brad Point Bits are for hardwood and work fine for most applications. Larger diameter bits require a slower speed, as do hardwoods. For the cleanest hole, use a back plate.

The difference between the two types of points is in the design of the outlining spurs. The Brad Point Drills that work best in softwood have rounded spurs, which help to hold the wood grains down while sheering them off. A certain amount of rubbing occurs between the outlining spur and the wood before cutting it. The outlining spurs on Brad Points for hardwood come to a sharp point and cut the stronger grains off clean. No rubbing occurs, and therefore, no unnecessary heat is produced by the cutting action.

A longer brad can be used when a hole needs to be drilled on an angle instead of straight into the wood. Drilling as much as 45 degrees or even 60 degrees from vertical is possible by extending the length of the brad. A shorter than normal brad may be required in the case of a hole that needs to be drilled close to but not through the back of the material.

Brad Point Drills also work well in most plastics, nylon, fiber, fiberglass, and many other artificial materials.

WARNING: Cutting tools may shatter when broken. Wearing eye protection is strongly advised in the vicinity of their use.

WARNING: Drilling, sawing, sanding, or machining wood products can expose you to wood dust, a substance known to the State of California to cause cancer. Avoid inhaling wood dust or use a dust mask or other safeguards for personal protection. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov/wood.