A great blog by one of my online mentors, Elia Bizzarri (ENJOY!)

 

The following are my thoughts on drill bits for Windsor chairmaking. Bear in mind that I have used some of these bits (augers, bradpoints, etc.) daily for 15 years and other bits I have used infrequently.  In these reviews, I am comparing well tuned examples of each bit. Poorly tuned bits will make an awful mess regardless of type.

 

Spoon bits: The traditional bit of the Windsor chairmaker. Advantages – cuts clean holes even at extreme angles, thickness of shaving changes relative to hardness of wood being cut, is fun to use, operator can easily change angles at anytime. Disadvantages: Hard to sharpen. The diameter of the bit changes with many sharpenings. The shortness of the bit makes it harder to sight accurately (this can be overcome with an extension). It requires skill to start the hole in the right place or a gouge to hollow a spot for starting the bit. New bits either don’t work or require considerable tune up.  Old bits can be hard to find. Read More...

 

Thanks, John. Nobody ever really talks about the advantages or disadvantages of drill bit types. Interesting quick overview.

I thought it was interesting, mainly for hand drilling, but nevertheless there are some great tips and pointers in that review.