What Is a Masonary Drill Bit?

Bit Composition

• Because of the density of the materials they are used for, the cutting edges on the tips of masonry bits have tungsten carbide that is bonded to the bit's spiraling steel shaft. You can spot this sharp tip if you visually inspect the bit. The bits with these tips are called carbide-tipped bits. Other masonry drill bits replace the tungsten with a durable silicon bronze alloy, and are referred to as durium-tipped bits.

Use in Hammer Drills

• A hammer drill assists the work of the masonry bit by spinning the bit, much like a regular power drill, while it also rapidly pounds the bit into the surface that is being drilled. The pounding, or hammering, of the bit breaks up the surface of the material, allowing the simultaneous spinning to bore deeper. To avoid overheating and damaging the bit while using it in a hammer drill for harder materials, use the drill on a slower rotational speed, and check the tip temperature.

Masonry Bit Maintenance

• Due to the hard nature of materials such as concrete and stone, the tungsten tips of masonry drill bits should be kept sharpened. This not only helps them last longer, it helps them perform better and more accurately. Use a bench grinder to restore masonry bits that have grown dull from usage. As its name implies, a bench grinder normally sits on top of a bench. It uses two abrasive wheels, one on each end, to sharpen tools or smooth and shape parts.

Drilling Tips

• After marking the specific spot you wish to drill with a pencil, hold the drill so that the tip of the masonry bit is lightly pressed directly against the mark. Drill forward while applying a small amount of pressure to the drill, and allow its hammering and rotating action to do more of the work than your arms. Regularly withdraw the bit from the hole as you drill, and remove the dust that tends to fill the hole.