Best Drill Bit for Electrical Wiring

Lakee911

Lakee911

I&C Engineer (mostly WWTP)
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What's the best type of drill bit for drilling through 2x material to pull electrical wire? Forstener? Spade? Auger? Twist? I've got lots of holes to drill and I'm tired of fooling with the spade bits which on a right angle drill always seem to bind. :(


Thanks,
Jason
 
None of the above...I can't remember the name, but try one with the screw point lead-in. Sort of like a twist drill with a wood screw on the front, it also has some of the features of a Forstner bit. It is designed to cut fast and is self-feeding because of the screw. Interesting to see what others have to say...
 
Just about every sparky i know, uses auger bits - I'm pretty sure that's what you're describing, Jadnashua?
 

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Yep, that's it. Just don't hit a nail or screw with one. WHen they're sharp, they slice through really fast. Hit a nail, and it doesn't work well trying to tear the fibers at all.
 
Some brands of self-feeding augers sold by electrical supply houses have nail-cutting capability. I'm not an electrician, but I've done a lot of rework. When you're drilling through a plate you can't always tell whether there is a nail in the way.

Rick
 
They're also called ship-auger bits.

And you can get some that will go through nails with no problems.
 
That's what I use too. Mine are getting old. Anyone know of a place to get them sharpened?

Thanks

Tom
 
Bob NH said:
I use a Dremel tool with a small round-tip conical stone to sharpen mine.
Click to expand...

Bob,

For better or worse, I'm a generation X. I generally avoid sharpening things and rely on tools or professionals to do the sharpening. I'll have to find someone locally to sharpen them. I figured you'd need a special machine to sharpen those.

I have two cases full of those things some that are pretty long. They are extremely useful.

Thanks for the tip.

Tom
 
I have about 20 of those in assorted sizes and lengths. I sharpen all of them myself. They come out as good as new. You just have to know how to sharpen them.
I use a 4" angle grinder with a metal cutting wheel. NEVER sharpen the top. Always the cutting edge down into the throat.
 
I picked up a set of Irwin Speedbor Max bits at BigBlueBox Store last summer to do a project. They are great! Three cutting edges, short enough so even w/o right angle drill I could go streight through joist on 16" center using battery power dirll.
3041004_lg.jpg


Check this link for Irwin Information
 
statjunk said:
That's what I use too. Mine are getting old. Anyone know of a place to get them sharpened?

Thanks

Tom
Click to expand...

Ask at a woodworking store.. they know people who sharpen saw blades, they can usually do these too.
 
It would be a rare 3/8" drill that was rated to cut a 1-1/4" hole. Those bits are aggressive and will require a lot of power.
 
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