Difference Between Concrete And Masonry Drill Bits

Both masonry drill bits and concrete drill bits are used to drill into various kinds of stones and hard surfaces such as brick, limestones, concrete, etc. That’s why understanding which drill bit is the right one for the job can be a bit confusing. Commonly asked questions include: Are masonry and concrete drill bits the same? Can you interchange masonry and concrete drill bits? These are just a few of the questions we always get asked. So, we have made this article to clear up any confusion while also providing important information that will help you to decide which one is the best choice for you. 

Drill Bit Components

Here is a breakdown of all the components of a drill bit.

• Shank: It is the end that fits into a drill’s chuck. Masonry bits feature smooth shanks that are round or hex-shaped, making them ideal for small, low-impact tasks. Can be used with a normal drill, however, it works best when held in a 3-prong hammer drill chuck to prevent slippage and loosening. When used for projects other than masonry, repeated stop-tighten-and-go adjustments may be required, resulting in increased downtime and lower production. Concrete bits, on the other hand, feature notched shanks that suit rotary hammer drills with spline and slotted design systems. These bits hold themselves in a slotted chuck, preventing slippage or loosening. This might help you boost production, expand the size and scope of concrete projects you can pick from, and increase your revenue.

• Flute and land: The flute is a recessed spiral groove that collects dust and prevents tool jamming during drilling. Variable and double flute designs, for example, are designed for quick debris removal. And the land is the raised spiral edge located along with the flute. When it comes to the flute and land, there are no differences between concrete and masonry drill bits.

• The head: The head holds the tip. The heads of masonry and concrete drill bits are made of tungsten carbide, which is one of the hardest materials available. These tips are strong enough to crush concrete and designed to resist the high power of hammer drills. They can also pierce through light-to-medium steel-reinforced concrete.

• Length and diameter: The length and diameter of the drill bits also play an important role. In order to choose the right bit, you have to determine the width and depth of the hole you want to drill. 

Things To Consider When Drilling Into Hard Surfaces

Now that you have an idea of the basic differences between concrete and masonry drill bits, here are a few things that you should consider:

• Choose the correct drill: You will need a drill machine with either a pulsing or hammering mode if you want to drill through stone and concrete. Rotary hammer drills and impact drills are both equipped with this feature. If you want to properly drill through stone, then you will need to use both of these drills as a hammer drill is required to make a hole in the surface, and an impact driver is needed to drill through. 

• Choose the right connection: SDS connections are preferred over cylindrical connections because the extra notches ensure that it securely fits into the drill. This guarantees that the equipment can handle the high forces generated when drilling in concrete. So, if you buy an SDS-plus or SDS-max hammer drill bit, it will only fit in a hammer drill with an SDS-plus or SDS-max drill chuck.

• Choose an appropriate flute: There are two types of flutes with SDS-plus connection: A-symmetric flutes and straight-H flutes. A-symmetrical flutes are great for drilling into concrete whereas straight-H spiral flutes are perfect for removing grit.

• Choose the right cutting head: You can choose between two types of cutting heads: a 2-cutter and a 4-cutter. As you can probably guess by the name, a 2-cutter has 2 cutting edges and a 4-cutter has 4 cutting edges. If you want our recommendation, then we suggest going for the 4-cutter as they are generally more long-lasting while also being able to drill precise holes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What Is The Best Material For A Drill Bit?

As mentioned in the previous section, the best material for stone-cutting drill bits is tungsten carbide. There are a number of reasons why manufacturers prefer to use tungsten carbide as their preferred material to make drill bits. They are:

• Tungsten carbide is one of the toughest materials in the world.
• It is much harder than steel.
• Carbide bits are made by infusing carbide with hardened steel. 

It is because of tungsten carbide that concrete and masonry drill bits are able to drill holes in hard materials. 

Q: What Is The Main Difference Between Concrete And Masonry Drill Bits?

The main difference between a concrete and masonry drill bit is their drill heads. Generally, the drill head of a concrete drill bit is made from tough Widia plates, whereas the drill head of a masonry drill bit is made from hardened metal.

Q: Are Masonry And Concrete Drill Bits Interchangeable?

You can get away with replacing masonry drill bits with concrete drill bits. But they are not interchangeable with other types of drill bit heads. If you use these drill bits to work on glass, wood, or tiles, then there is a very high chance that you will end up ruining them. 

If you have made it to this part of the article, then you should now have a better idea about the differences between a concrete and masonry drill bit is. Frankly speaking, you don’t really need to bother too much with which one you should get if you are just getting into masonry work. However, if your goal is to become a professional, then you need to have in-depth knowledge about these different types of bits and what they are good for.