General Description: Countersink drill bits create a tapered surface hole with a smaller center hole that penetrates through the material (some are available without a center drill for countersinking existing holes). The purpose of a countersink is to allow a tapered head fastener to sit flush with the surface of the material. Countersinks on our site are designed for use in wood or plastics and are not intended for counterboring steel.

Shank Styles: Countersinks for use in hand-held drills typically clamp on to a standard twist drill and therefore have a straight shank the same diameter as the center drill (some have 1/4" hex shanks for hand use in a bit holding screwdriver). Countersinks for use in automated machinery have fixed diameter (usually 1/2" or 10mm) shanks, threaded shanks, or specialty shanks designed for certain types of machines.

Size Designations: Common twist drills for use in portable drills, etc. are available in fractional inch, wire sizes, letter sizes, and metric decimal millimeter. Twist drills for use in automated machinery are only available in fractional inch and decimal millimeter. See our Drill Bit Size Chart for the breakdown of fractional, letter, and wire sizes.

*Note that most standard drill bits can be used in automated machinery (with the proper adapter) and most boring machine bits can be used in a portable drill or drill press (assuming the chuck is big enough). We have only organized them in this fashion to make selection easier.

Coatings: General purpose drill bits are available with black oxide, bronze oxide, a combination of black and bronze oxide, and TiN coatings. Twist drills for automated machinery on our site are primarily for use in wood or plastics and are not coated.

Shank Styles: Counterbores for use in hand-held drills typically clamp on to a standard twist drill and therefore have a straight shank the same diameter as the center drill. Counterbores for use in automated machinery have fixed diameter (usually 1/2" or 10mm) shanks, threaded shanks, or specialty shanks designed for certain machines.

General Description: Flat bottom boring bits are similar to counterbores but do not include a center drill. These bits are designed to drill flat bottom blind holes for European style hinges, etc. Flat bottom boring bits are also used for drilling large diameter thru-holes without the plug that is typical when using a hole saw. These thru-hole bits are used for locks, door knobs, wiring holes, etc. Flat bottom boring bits on our site are designed for use in wood or plastics and are not intended for use in steel.

Drill bits are generally classified as Twist Drill, Counterbore, Countersink, Flat Bottom Boring, and Specialty. On our web site we have divided these into two categories:

The steel then travels to the brazing station where the carbide is joined with the steel.  Each piece of carbide must be placed along the form of the bit and then braized with extreme heat.

Whiteside is proud to supply the industry with our superior line of drilling and boring tools. We offer a range of countersinks manufactured with standard carbon steel or superior high speed steel for extended life. Three wing drills and patented carbide-tipped hole saws are among our line. Many of these tools were designed and tested by consulting experts in the marine industry.

Flute Styles: Some counterbores do not have flutes (except for the center drill) and simply shave away the material, others are designed similar to a twist drill with no tip angle and a replaceable center drill.

General Description: Counterbore drill bits create a flat bottom blind hole with a smaller diameter center hole that penetrates through the material. The purpose of a counterbore is usually to conceal the fastener head (by covering the hole) or provide a recess to prevent the fastener from protruding above the surface of the material being drilled. Counterbores on our site are designed for use in wood or plastics and are not intended for counterboring steel.

General Description: Specialty drill bits are any bit that doesn't fall into one of the four categories above. These bits include:

The final step in manufacturing a router bit is to sharpen the carbide.  Each piece of carbide is ground by hand so that the sharpest edge can be formed.  The finished bit is then sent to the shipping department for final assembly and dipped in a protective wax covering.

Flute Styles: Large flat bottom boring bits do not have flutes, they consist of only the cutting surface and the chips remain in the hole until the bit is removed.

Shank Styles: Twist drill bits designed for use in automated machinery have fixed diameter (usually 1/2" or 10mm) shanks, threaded shanks, or specialty shanks designed for certain machines. General purpose twist drills for use in portable drills have shanks the same diameter as the bit size (up to a certain diameter), larger diameter bits incorporate a reduced shank (either 1/4", 3/8" or 1/2") to fit into a standard drill chuck. Some bits have 3 flats on the shank to prevent spinning under high torque loads. Others have 1/4" hex shanks for use in a portable drill with a hex bit holder.

Tip Styles: The cutting tip of a counterbore drill consists of one or more flat blades extending from the center drill to the outer edge. Counterbores are available with or without spurs (teeth) at the outer diameter of the bit. Counterbores with spurs on the outer edge prevent chipping and splintering on wood or laminated surfaces.

Tip Styles: The cutting tip of a countersink drill consists of two or more flat blades extending from the center drill to the outer edge. Countersinks are made with angles from 60 to 120 degrees but those on our site are typically 82 or 90 degrees. For wood use many times the manufacturer does not specify the angle.

Flute Styles: Most twist drills have flutes to evacuate the chips at an unspecified angle, and are suitable for the majority of applications. Some specialty twist drills may be designated as "High Helix", "Fast Spiral" or "Low Helix", "Slow Spiral" for specific applications requiring higher or lower spindle speeds or feed rates.

With dozens of drill bit types and thousands of sizes to choose from we'll explain the differences and help you choose the right drill bit for your application.

Mills are used to cut the flutes into the blank.  A router bit will commonly have one to four flutes, all of them cut at this stage in the process.

Tip Styles: The cutting tip of a flat bottom boring drill consists of one or more flat blades extending from the center to the outer edge. Flat bottom boring bits are available with or without spurs (teeth) at the outer diameter of the bit. Bits with spurs on the outer edge prevent chipping and splintering on wood or laminated surfaces. Some flat bottom boring bits also include a center spur to keep the bit from walking during the initial cut - Spade bits are a good example.

General Description: Twist drill bits are the most common type of drill bit and are used for everyday drilling in all types of material. They are also the most confusing due to the sheer number of size, tip, and material specifications.

Flute Styles: Some countersinks do not have flutes (except for the center drill) and simply shave away the material, others are designed similar to a twist drill with a replaceable center drill.

Materials: General purpose twist drills for use in portable drills are available in different grades of high speed steel as well as cobalt steel and solid carbide. Twist drill bits for automated machinery are available in carbon steel, high speed steel, carbide tipped, and solid carbide.

Spiral router bits were originally designed for the CNC industry as a tool for long-life under intense working conditions. As spirals became popular with the everyday woodworker and craftsman, an increase in demand was seen throughout the industry. Whiteside offers a variety of spirals in up-cut, down-cut, and compression flute configurations. We recommend up-cut spirals for best control of your router and ejecting chips up and out of your dado cuts. Down-cuts provide superb control of fraying on the surface nearest the router while preventing the tendency to lift small workpieces. Compression spirals have up and down flutes to maintain the cleanest cut on both the top and bottom of the workpiece. Whiteside increases the life and value of your spiral selection by offering these bits in a solid carbide form.

Length Designations: The length of a twist drill has much to do with its rigidity - a shorter bit will be stronger and less likely to wander or break but may not have the reach needed for all jobs. Twist drill bits for use in automated machinery have an actual length specification (e.g. 4-1/2") while most (not all) twist drills for use in portable drills are graduated length and use a name to specify the length range:

The lathes run each piece of steel with precision accuracy to shape the general form of the bit and create the shank.  Every size and type of router bit has a program to provide the specifications of the tool being manufactured.  The shaped piece of steel - or a blank - is then sent to the mills.

A standard router bit begins as no more than a piece of steel.  Steel is purchased in 12-foot long bars and self-fed into a machine that cuts them to the appropriate length.  As the cylinder-shaped pieces are cut, they are gathered and sent to the lathes.

Shank Styles: Most large flat bottom boring bits have a fixed size hexagonal shank. The hex shank prevents the bit from spinning in the chuck under excessive loads.

Whiteside Machine Company began manufacturing router bits for the thriving furniture industry that existed in Hickory, NC. Through word of mouth, hard work and a focus on quality, our product line evolved and expanded to supply businesses and hobbyists throughout the United States. Made from high quality steel and tipped with micro-grain carbide, our years of experience provides you a full line of router bits your workshop will cherish.