7 Types of Holemaking Tools (and Their Applications)     - DXP Enterprises (2024)

Posted by DXP Marketing - filed under Blog, Product Expertise.

Holemaking tools range from broaches and countersinks to reamers and drilling tools. Let’s cover seven of the most common types of holemaking tools and how they typically fulfill holemaking applications.

Seven Ways to Cut a Hole

When planning a holemaking operation, certain factors should be considered to determine the best tool choice. For example, take into account the type of material you are working with, as well as the hole diameter and depth. Also, think about the tool itself. Is it user-friendly? Adjustable? How much skill does it require? Let’s explore seven great metal working tools for hole cutting applications.

1. Drilling & Drill Bits

Drilling and drill bits are most commonly associated with hole making tools. They provide a quick, easy, and economical way to produce machined holes. Drill bits work by entering the workpiece axially and then cutting a through-hole or blind hole with a diameter equal to the tool’s. With a wide variety of shapes and materials on the market, you’re sure to find the perfect industrial drill bit for any application. Common types of drill bits include:

  • Twist drill bit
  • Center drill bit
  • Spot drill bit
  • Tap drill bit
  • Auger drill bit
  • Step drill bit
  • Masonry drill bit
7 Types of Holemaking Tools (and Their Applications) - DXP Enterprises (2)

2. Broaches

A broach part is a long, multi-toothed hole making tool equipped with progressively deeper cuts. The broaching process is valuable because it produces parts with incredible accuracy and surface finish. Broach tools are used in various industries for all types of applications. Here are the most common types of broaches:

  • Push and pull broaches
  • Keyway broaches
  • Shell broaches
  • Internal broaches
  • External/surface broaches

3. Reamers

Reamers can come in several configurations, including machine, left-hand spiral, right-hand spiral, and straight flute. These metal working tools have an incredibly high degree of accuracy, making them perfect for slightly enlarging existing holes. They work by removing a very minimal amount of material from the workpiece. This technique is typically performed after drilling in order to obtain the smoothest internal finish and most accurate hole diameter. The most widely used type of reamer is the chuck reamer. Other kinds include morse taper reamers, automotive reamers, welding equipment reamers, taper pin reamers, and die maker reamers.

4. Center Drills

Center drills are comprised of a countersink and pilot drill. They are generally used to produce a center hole on a workpiece for smooth turning between centers and support for the load while it turns. These hole making tools are favorable because they are very stiff and less likely to wander. In addition, central drill bit hole angles are typically 60°.

5. Hole Cutters

Also called hole saws, hole cutters are used to cut perfectly round holes in metal, wood, and other materials. These metal working tools can cut far larger diameters than your standard drill bit. Plus, they only need to cut the hole perimeter, making them a very efficient alternative to other tools. Similar to circular saw blades, hole cutters have individual carbide-tipped cutting teeth.

6. Counterbores

Counterboring is ideal for jobs that require a fastener to sit flush with a workpiece surface, and it is usually performed after drilling. These hole making tools typically come in two different cutting diameters—a smaller diameter for the hole and a wider diameter for the recessed head cavity.

In addition, there are several specialty counterbores available on the market, including:

  • aircraft counterbores
  • back counterbores
  • blade counterbores
  • cap screw counterbores
  • fillister head screw counterbores
7 Types of Holemaking Tools (and Their Applications) - DXP Enterprises (3)

When deciding on which style of counterbore you need, consider the following specifications:

  • number of cutting edges
  • diameter of the counterbore
  • diameter of the integral pilot
  • diameter of mounting arbor or shank

7. Countersinks & Chamfering

Countersinks and chamfers are the perfect drill bit for creating a conical hole in an object. A countersink bit works by entering a workpiece axially, where it then enlarges an existing hole to have a cone-shaped opening at the top portion. These industrial hole-making tools are effective because they allow screws and bolts to sit flush with a workpiece.

Countersink and chamfering tool bits come in various shapes and sizes depending on your project and preferences. Common countersink angles include 60°, 82°, 90°, 100°, 118°, and 120°.

Finding the Right Holemaking Tool Manufacturer

From drill bits to countersinks, DXP has the holemaking tools for any application. We also offer a variety of metal working tools such as power tools, clamping components, abrasives, milling tools, and more! No doubt you’ll find exactly what you need right here at DXP.

Contact us online today or call 1-800-830-DXPE to learn more about our outstanding products

and services.

7 Types of Holemaking Tools (and Their Applications)     - DXP Enterprises (2024)

FAQs

7 Types of Holemaking Tools (and Their Applications)     - DXP Enterprises? ›

A hole may be drilled or bored; awls, gimlets, and augers also produce holes. An awl is the simplest hole maker, for, like a needle, it simply pushes material to one side without removing it. Drills, gimlets, and augers, however, have cutting edges that detach material to leave a hole.

What is the tool for making holes? ›

A hole may be drilled or bored; awls, gimlets, and augers also produce holes. An awl is the simplest hole maker, for, like a needle, it simply pushes material to one side without removing it. Drills, gimlets, and augers, however, have cutting edges that detach material to leave a hole.

What electric hand tool is used for making holes in wood? ›

Drills powered by electricity (or more rarely, compressed air) are the most common tools in woodworking and machining shops.

Which tool is used to make small and large holes? ›

Drilling is an operation to produce a cylindrical hole in a workpiece. The tool used in called “drill bit”.

What tool is used to make pilot holes? ›

A counterbore bit allows you to drill the pilot hole for the screw and then a larger flat-bottomed hole above it, which hides the head of the screw, and can take a simple wooden plug which actually buries the screw. You can even make your own plugs with a plug cutter bit out of the same wood.

What tool is best for drilling holes? ›

If you're looking for a nice, clean hole presentable for finished work, you'll probably want to use a Forstner bit. On the occasion that you need to drill a hole for larger pipes or ductwork, you'll need to use a hole saw, because wood-boring bits like the ones I tested max out at around 1-1⁄4 in. to 1-1⁄2 in.

Which of the following tools are used for producing holes? ›

The desired feature is produced by inserting the cutting tool into the workpiece and removing material from tiny pieces. Tools used to create holes include broaches, countersinks, reamers, and drilling equipment.

What tool is used to make a hole bigger? ›

Enlarging holes or aligning mismatched holes in metal is the job of a tool known as a reamer. The process by which this is done is called Reaming and differs from traditional drilling as it requires an existing hole, or holes, as a starting point.

What is a machine tool that creates holes in surfaces? ›

A drilling machine works by rapidly rotating a tool bit and lowering it into the desired area at a predefined tool speed and feed rate to create cylindrical holes in a workpiece. The workpiece must be securely held in place on the drill table during drilling operations using vises and clamps.

What is the best tool to make a hole in wood? ›

Hole saws are a reliable option to cut larger holes in all types of wood including hardwoods, plywood, laminate, non-ferrous metals, plastic, and tiles.

What machine drills holes? ›

The drill press is used primarily for drilling holes, but when used with the proper tooling, it can be used for a number of machining operations. The most common machining operations performed on a drill press are drilling, reaming, tapping, counterboring, countersinking, and spotfacing.

What is the drill called that makes holes? ›

A drill bit is a rotary cutting tool that makes holes. The point of the bit contacts the material you're drilling into, while the shank — the back end — is clamped in place by the jaws of a drill chuck. There are many types and styles of drill bits, enough to fill an entire aisle in a hardware store.

What is a paper hole tool called? ›

A hole punch, also known as hole puncher, or paper puncher, is an office tool that is used to create holes in sheets of paper, often for the purpose of collecting the sheets in a binder or folder (such collected sheets are called loose leaves).

What is the small hand tool for making holes? ›

Dibbers are a small-handled tool with a fine, tapering point. Also known as dibblers or dibbles, their sharpened head is used to make a neat hole in the soil ready for planting smaller items, such as seeds, small bulbs and seedlings. For larger holes pick up a bulb planter.

What tool is commonly used to dig a hole? ›

A spade's job is to dig holes and cut into compacted soil or roots. It usually has a flat, pointed blade and a shallow bowl that turns upward. Shovels are designed with long handles that angle forward for better leverage. Spades have a shorter, straighter handle for work in smaller areas.

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