Hollow-core diamond drill bits are quite handy when making holes in hard surfaces such as porcelain, marble, granite, and glass. Diamond drill bits derive their extra power from the embedded pieces of diamonds.
Users should also know the subtle disparities between diamond drills and hollow-core diamond drill bit types, their uses, and how they affect performances.
In this article, we will discuss some tips regarding selecting hollow core diamond drill bits.
Table of Contents
- 1. Choosing a diamond drill bit that suits your material
- 2. Select a diamond drill bit that can serve you for long
- 3. Purchasing a multifunctional drill bit
- 4. All diamond drills don’t come with similar tips
- 5. The speed factor
- Final thoughts
Figure 1 – Diamond drill bits
How to select your hollow core diamond drills
Purchasing the wrong diamond drill bit can be quite a costly mistake as you’d incur needless expenses. The tips we will be reviewing can also double as a buying guide to help you make the right selection –
1. Choosing a diamond drill bit that suits your material
The material or materials you plan to drill play a significant role in selecting a hollow core diamond drill bit. This sole factor goes a long way in deciding the equipment and accessories you will be able to use.
Drilling ultra-hard materials like alumina, sapphire, metallic materials, hard ceramic materials, or other precious and natural stones will require using a sintered diamond drill bit (metal bonded).
On the other hand, if you intend to drill subtle and less-expensive materials such as soft stones, tile, glass, composites, and the like, then an electroplated diamond drill (nickel bonded) can be quite handy in this regard.
As a good rule of thumb, harder materials require a softer bond, while softer materials do well with harder bonds as they last longer.
It would be best if you also considered the expense of the material in question. If you’re looking to drill an expensive material, your diamond drill bit will play an essential role in your drilling operation.
In this regard, expert masons advise obtaining a thin wall diamond core drill to reduce material loss and deformation.
Figure 2 – A drilling machine drilling a hole
2. Select a diamond drill bit that can serve you for long
The life of your hollow core diamond drill bits depends on a host of factors – lubricant, speed, pressure, and the density of your material.
However, we may not know the material you’re planning to drill, but we know that electroplated diamond drill bits won’t perform well in this regard.
Yes, they may cost less, but they will likely cost you more in the long run, and we will tell you why.
Metal-bonded diamond drills will outlast 15 electroplated diamond drills based on your application and materials. Instead of switching your diamond core drills on and off, metal-bonded drills allow you to save time and money by using a single drill.
Electroplated diamond drills tend to have a single layer of diamond coated on a metal core, allowing the diamond to sit on the surface.
If the diamond-coated partially is worn, the diamond drill starts lagging, drilling to the side and not straight, or would probably stop working.
On the other hand, metal-bonded core diamond drills have pieces of sintered diamonds and multiple layers of diamonds inside the metal matrix.
With this, the metal-bonded core diamond drills wear evenly. It also makes them dependable.
Figure 3 – A cordless screwdriver
3. Purchasing a multifunctional drill bit
Most handypersons or masons with little budget tend to purchase a hollow core diamond drill bit that they can use on various materials.
It is advisable, especially when you aren’t able to purchase different tools, such as diamond drill bits for glass or diamond drill bits for stones.
However, you should understand that if you’re looking for a universal drill, you will incur more expenses in the long run as your drill bit might wear faster due to constant use.
In this regard, we recommend purchasing a universal drill bit from a trusted manufacturer to serve you longer.
4. All diamond drills don’t come with similar tips
You can use diamond drills to drill holes, but these holes tend to differ. Invariably, this indicates that diamond drills come with different tips/bits. We will be looking at the common bits most diamond drills are likely to come with –
Figure 4 – Different drill bits/tips
High-Speed Drill Bits
As the name suggests, this drill bit happens to operate at high speed. However, anyone with a drill bit will undoubtedly have a high-speed drill.
This drill has a twisty piece that takes the shape of corkscrew pasta. You can use high-speed drills for basic drilling applications such as making small holes in walls, wood, plastic, etc.
Brad Point Bits
Brad-point drills have a reputation for being hyper-precise. Also, they allow you to make clean holes as they come with rubber stoppers that ensure that you don’t drill deeper holes than you want to. Due to their high precision factor, masons use them for woodwork.
Masonry Bits
As you might have guessed, masonry bits do well for masonry jobs. They have optimized tips for hard materials like concrete, stone, brick, etc.
Due to their usage, masonry bits don’t last quite long; why? It is because drilling into a hard material like brick or concrete can generate so much heat, which can cause the tips to melt.
The volatile nature of masonry drilling demands that you follow a specific recourse for safety reasons. You should also be wary of your RPM output, and don’t forget to regularly lift the drill from the material to lessen the risk of overheating.
Rivet Bits
You can refer to rivet bits as a hyper-specialized tool accessory. You can use them to drill short rivets in thin sheets of metal. Rivet bits have limited functions. However, you can’t help but get one if you need one.
Spade Bits
Spade bits don’t make the best of holes, but you will find them handy. You can use spade bits to drill rough holes in softwoods, which is almost the only material you can use. The primary function of Spade bits is to facilitate running cables.
5. The speed factor
Speed is one of the crucial factors to consider when selecting or purchasing a hollow core diamond drill. You can determine the speed of a diamond drill by the RPM output; check the product manual for this.
It would be best if you also understood that your working speed depends entirely on the material. Some materials don’t perform well with speed, especially tempered glass and other delicate objects.
In this regard, you should endeavor to set your RPM output according to the hardness of the material you’re drilling.
Where can you get quality tools?
If you’re a handyman or mason looking to improve your work life regarding quality tools and convenience, we recommend you patronize NC Cutting Tools for your quality tools.
NC Cutting Tools manufactures a wide array of diamond-cutting tools you can rely on for your work activities. On the good side, these tools usually stand the test of time as you can use them multi-functionally on various materials.
Frequent Asked Questions
- What are the available hollow core diamond drills?
There are numerous diamond drills available on the market. Each hollow core diamond drill available is specific to a particular material.
We have diamond drill bits for metal, diamond drill bits for stone, diamond drill bits for glass, and the like. If you wish to know more about the available diamond drill bits on the market, kindly visit NC Cutting Tools.
- What materials can you drill with hollow core diamond drills?
Hollow-core diamond drills come in various varieties, which means you can use them on various materials. Regardless of your material, you can easily purchase a hollow core diamond drill for any specific material at NC Cutting Tools.
- Where can I get the best hollow core diamond drills?
You can get the best hollow core diamond drill at NC Cutting Tools. NC Cutting Tools are known for manufacturing the best diamond drill bits and other diamond-cutting tools on the market.
Figure 5 – Drilling a tiled wall
Final thoughts
Endeavor to employ the tips above when purchasing or choosing a hollow core diamond drill bit, as they will keep you from incurring needless expenses.
However, if you wish to be sure you’re on track regarding tool selection, we recommend purchasing your hollow core diamond drill bits from NC Cutting Tools, as you will be in safe and expert hands.
Visit NC Cutting Tools to learn more about quality hollow core diamond tools.
