What Is a Wood Drill?
Wood drills are specialized tools for drilling screw holes, dowel holes, and through holes in wood. They provide a stronger joint compared to nails and are essential for secure wood assembly. Wood drills come in hand-held and stationary types, both of which are electric, with the hand-held type being more suitable for on-site drilling and the stationary type for factory use.
It’s important to select the right drill bit for your wood drill, especially considering the production of wood chips during drilling and the need for efficient chip discharge.
Uses of Wood Drills
Wood drills are commonly used in the construction of wooden buildings, furniture making, and DIY woodworking projects. The stationary type, being high-powered but immobile, is typically used in factories for large-scale processing. On the other hand, the handy type is more adaptable for on-site work and in assembled furniture, running on rechargeable batteries for enhanced efficiency.
Manual hand drills are also available for precision work, suitable for small holes. Hand drills are also used for drilling dowel holes, facilitating the joining of two pieces of wood with dowels.
Principle of Wood Drill
Wood drills operate using electricity or batteries, with a motor that converts rotational force to drill into wood. The speed and torque determine the drill bit’s capacity to make larger and deeper holes. Drill bits come in various sizes and are replaced based on the required hole diameter.
The drill bit shape is key to their function, with a pre-thread tip for accurate drilling. Stability during drilling is crucial, so using a clamp or similar device to secure the wood is recommended.
Types of Wood Drills
1. Stationary Type
Typically used in metalworking, this type can also serve as a wood drill. It allows for precise operation with a manual handle.
2. Handheld Type
For woodworking, rotary drills are ideal. While vibration drills and percussion mode drills exist, a simple rotating drill is sufficient for wood and provides a cleaner finish.
3. Drill Bits
Diverse wood drill bits are available, including cones for thick wood, hole saws for thin wood like plywood, pre-drilled hole bits for easily split wood, and dowel hole drills with depth stoppers. These bits vary in diameter, length, and shank type. Commonly used types are often sold in sets at home centers.