Here’s the list of products reviewed. More details in the video description. Thank you! Comoware Spade: amzn.to/3pFQZPO DeWalt Spade: amzn.to/3Jzh5fl Diablo Spade: amzn.to/3pHP6SD Irwin SPEEDBOR Spade: amzn.to/32M5xnY Bosch DareDevil Spade: amzn.to/46ukx4T (similar to product in video) Milwaukee Spade: amzn.to/3sNJ4le Bosch Nail Strike: amzn.to/32SR1L1 Hilti: amzn.to/3FIXkzq Irwin Auger: amzn.to/3HrI6ze Bosch Auger: amzn.to/3pENfxY Lenox Self-feed: amzn.to/32CaTlS Bauer: sold at Harbor Freight
The actual fact that you drilled almost 1300 holes just to put out a free to watch video for us to save us money is just a testament to how good of a man you are. Thank you for the continued effort to help people out. It's greatly appreciated.
I've been a carpenter for almost 40 years, now, and I'd just like to thank you for your work. Cutting through the manufacturers' claims, the questionable reviews, and the general BS is a real service to those who rely on their tools to make a living. Big respect to you!
This channel is a fantastic resource. I was a plumber myself and I can say 100% that this would have saved me a lot of money and frustration if this channel had been around when I was working
I cut up a 32 foot fiberglass sailboat with Diablo skill saw and Sawzall blades.they held up better than most I tried. Eventually the carbines would break off, but overall and for the money, very impressive.
From what I keep seeing, Diablo seems to have figured out how to perform really well in most all it's cutting tools without having that extreme price premium. I like Diablo myself, and I'll probably keep buying more Diablo stuff just because of branding, and their performance/price range.
That's what I've found too. For cutting, abrasives, sanding, drilling, etc. Diablo is consistently good without a massive price. Very good price to performance on them.
I used the Diablo bits last week to drill a shelf bracket for a very heavy fireplace mantle. I was shocked at how easily and precisely they did the job. These PF results definitely confirm what I also found last week.
I was an electrician in the commercial and industrial field for 40 years. During that time hacksaw blades and sawzall blades and holesaw‘s, Lennox always performed the best for me. Recently though doing a lot of little projects around the house I’m extremely impressed with everything Diablo.
The first time I tried an Irwin Speedbor, it was like the heavens opened, bright light shone down, angel choirs sang...I was so mesmerized (and relieved after struggling with other bits!) by how fast the Speedbor effortlessly pulled itself into the landscaping tie that I didn't stop the drill fast enough and plunged right through the tie into the gravel an inch below. Thank goodness it didn't phase the bit one bit! Caution: "With great power..."
But the speed bor Supreme are even better! My " Let's get it done" bit once I've trashed other cheaper bits to find if a nail is in my line of drill! Recommend that method for us drill bit enthusiasts.
I worked at Hilti for 7yrs as a machinist.....and I had no idea we made drill bits haha. That being said, I'm a Diablo guy for all my blades and drills. Hands down. Great stuff and not as expensive as other big brands.
Another great test. In 40 yrs of carpentry, I’ve tried several brands of these bits (B & D, Craftsman, Dewalt, Irwin, etc). I currently use a set of Rigid auger style bits, and can attest to their superior durability over paddle style bits. This is particularly true if you hit a nail, as your test revealed. Also, the Rigid has a screw tip, which your test also revealed as an advantage. I could never justify the expense of the Lennox bits, and your test shows why. Bauer is a brand known for excessively inflated claims, even though I like their tools.
Ya those lenox were not impressive at all, especially for the price. You get more bits but the value just doesnt seem worth it. Of course the diablo seems to be very good value and performance as they usually are. Auger bits and spade bits are meant for different uses though. Auger bits you'll get a straight deeper hole tha a spade bit. I wouldnt use a spade bit ina deep whole where accuracy was a concern, auger bit is much better suited for the job.
You continue to astound! All that work and effort, not to mention the parts we don't see (setup, material acquisition, tracking and compiling the charting, etc. - your persistence and sheer dedication to reaching a conclusion could sure teach the major testing labs a few things about how to do it right. Thank you so much for all your effort. Not only do you identify the good, the bad, and the ugly (sorry, Clint) but you make the presentation fun as well. Bravo, sir, bravo!
@@timcollins4011 I might be wrong but I don't think he's ever tested any safety equipment, probably because that's getting deep into liability territory if someone buys something he recommends and it fails. As much as I'd like to think an idiot wouldn't have a case like that, juries regularly prove otherwise.
When using an auger type bit on telephone poles or piles I found it is very important to get one with a single cutting edge. This leaves the widest channel for the cut material to be removed. It only took a few times getting a double edged bit stuck in a pole/pile to figure this out. It is also easy to field sharpen a single edge.
I really like the Irwin speedbore. They seem to work best with an impact driver. Very fast in softwoods. I like Bosch for spade bits, but I also have some cheap ones to sacrifice to dirty screw infested wood. I like how your tests usually match up with my real world experience. Keep up the good work.
Agreed, I even managed to bore half-inch holes 6 inches into the end grain of hardwood sleepers a dozen times and only issue was my wimpy drill. Impact driver sorted out right out, and even the half inch bit can handle a lot of leaning into it without any bending or other nasty side effects.
I am an electrician. I have owned a set of Irwin Augers for years and they are terrific at drilling wood. Especially older wood in houses. They don't do so well with nails but then for that I use the 18 inch Greenlee auger bits. Those work incredible for drill holes in studs in houses.
Ditto. I used the Irwin bits for work on my own house. Even the old pine from 1929 seems much tougher than the wood used for framing now. The best thing about the three flute auger bits is that the holes are cleaner than most other bits, especially in hard boards. The only bad thing was the Irwin was too short to get through a three layer top plate; had to go buy an extra long Bosch auger bit for that.
@@wtmayhew And something he did not point out is that they're self feeding. Once you get them started they pull themselves through wood. You really do not need to push them but rather hold them back. 😆
Even after hitting the nails with the greenlees they are certainly modified. Same for the nail cutter Bosch's. I love the bosch auger bits where the flutes are a less diameter than the business end. There is no drag an it melts through the wood.
I've discovered your channel since a couple months ago, and the amount of work you put in each video and testing each product to the limit is such a demanding and time consuming job, I've literally bought tools/accessories based off on your videos. Great video again as always! I and everyone else watching no doubt appreciates every bit of effort you put into making these videos. I was wondering if there will ever be a hard hat comparison video in the future.
I've had these Diablos for a number of years without doing any research beforehand. I've used them a ton and they're worth every penny, which is surprisingly not a lot of $$!
Irwin Augers have my vote. I bought a set several years ago to use on some age-hardened wood that had stalled out nearly every spade bit I tried, even with a pilot hole. The Irwin augers went right through it with ease. They have held up for many years.
An interesting question comes to mind here concerning the difference between bits from 10 years ago and now. Maybe cost cutting took place in the interim, no guarantee the bits used have the same performance as the same bits manufactured a few years ago. I've read people seek out bits with slightly different packaging that indicates a bit was manufactured in Europe instead of China but had the same product number. I guess I'm trying to say things change and there's going to be variation in quality of the product over time
Real good stuff PF! I have tried many of these as a cabinetmaker over the years and ended up keeping with the DeWalt for the last 5-6 years as they cut cleaner holes. Their rounded corner design surprised me nicely. You have me wanting to try the Bosch Nail Strike for knots as I like knotty wood projects maybe even more than clear wood projects. I stay away from self-feed bits as they tend to tear-out on the exit and they don't work on hardwoods nearly as good as softer wood. Thanks again PF
I really really like the Bosch NailStrikes, but because they have only a 1/4” shank, they’re super easy to bend! Otherwise, it would be the perfect bit for rough drilling!
@@FixthisCD I agree the Irwin Speedbors tend to get bent too often, but they are fast. Have used the Lenox version of the same bits with thicker shank but they are even more expensive.
Nailstrikes have their place but be careful. Did you see what that nail looked like in the video? If you're running anything this side of iron pipe through that hole, good luck with a mangled nail partially embedded in the wall. Maybe try chasing the hole with a holesaw to clean cut the nail before you grab a nailstrike. If you do use a nailstrike, they cut a lot cleaner in an impact.
I’d suggest better aim. 😂. I treat paddle bits as disposable. I have forstner bits for when I know the wood is clean. I got them for $10 at an auction.
Yes the gold warrior twist bits at HF are shit except for wood. I was thinking of trying their cobalt kit that's got over 100 bits in the kit and it's over $100. I have a cornwell cobalt bit set and it's amazing. But worse come to worse I was thinking the index that they come in could still be used🙄.
@@njjeff201 generally true, but would you think a pack of $11 bits would perform 10x better than a pack of $10 bits. That's essentially what happened here. That's why this video is so important. It shows that there are far better tools out there for just a few bucks more.
I waited for ever for wood drilling bits! The sound, the smell, the feel, the dust. My dad is a woodworker, that's why i am so excited! Also, this was an awesome video!
I have been remodeling my old 1880 house for the past 15 years and have been drilling a large amounts of holes for electrical and pex heating tubes. It wasn't too long in the process that I found the Irwin auger bit style and just by experience alone it out has out performed the others I used. Glad to see I made the right choice!
Diablo is the ones I went with last year when i picked up a set that was a holiday special that was marked down super low and have been impressed with them. Also Diablo does now make a bit to cut nails and have seen others as well maybe that's a revisit to this on which nail cutting spade bits are the best.
@@piworower Everything, really. Until you get into industrial tooling, Diablo makes the best consumables I've ever used. I would say they are interchangeable with Bosch as well for the most part.
There are so many wood-drilling bits on the market from all sorts of brands, that this topic really deserves a part 2. And then perhaps a part 3 to compete the best performers from parts 1 and 2. And there can be different criteria like speed, cleanest hole, durability against impacting nails, chip ejection for drilling deep holes and not becoming clogged (probably use a bit extender for that). It's a lot of work, but I know many viewers would really appreciate it.
This is one of those "but what are you using it for?" tests. Spade and Auger bits have their place in construction but when making cabinets I'm always grabbing for forstner bits for a clean hole for furniture or without a long center point to still be useful for hinge bores for cabinets. With those bits, it's always "How much tear out do I get in hardwood and ply?" and "How long will they stay sharp?" Be an interesting follow on test to this.
Ive used the exact same 3/4 irwin auger bit to drill sill plate holes through fully saturated dripping wet full ground contact salt treated 2x8s for like over a decade. Ive sharpened it maybe 3 half assed times.
Theres really no comparison between tools used by weekend warriors diy cabinet making and the tasks that can be completed using spade and auger bits on a jobsite.
Forstner bits are specifically for making partial holes in wood where you need a flat bottom on the hole. They can of course drill all the way through as well, but that's not their main purpose. This is also why Forstner's cost a lot more. If you're just going to make through-holes, you don't necessarily need a Forstner.
I've been using irwin speedbore for the last 5 years of being in the cable industry (the 16in version). A must have for drilling a hole through walls, goes straight through a stud if you hit one!
Bought the Irwin last year as I tried to go thru floor joist in old house. For whatever reason the joist were 14” center but 4” rough cut. Used with dewalt 1/4 inch impact and worked incredible ez with almost no pressure need or wrist torque. Cannot even remember how many times my hand got wrapped around a powerful drill when bit got caught. Also bought set of quick change extension that came 3”,6”,and 12”. Some of joist had almost no room and used extensions thru a previous joist to get those.
@@shade38211 your first taste at being a plumber, can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to do that. Even in new houses . Oh the verbal abuse I given to framing !!
This was great! Thanks! I like the Irwin Speedbor Auger bits for the speed, clean entry and exit. The slightly longer time in hardwood isn't an issue for me because of the clean cutting, plus it retained its sharpness and speed after drilling 100 holes and after hitting the nail. I think that's extremely impressive! $27 for all of that ain't bad! The Bosch Nail Cutting Bits have their special application. Trouble is, knowing when they are needed, but the Irwin Speedbor Auger bit tested fared very well. Not that I'd count on that. Probably 20 years ago, I bought a set of 16 Flat Bottom drill bits called Forstner Bits to make areas for tealight candles in glass holders to represent a campfire for a seminar-type learning course at the end. I used landscape timbers with rounded sides, cut them into about a 3 inch height, drilled the hole in the tops and mounted them with long screws in an upward arch of 5-6 tiers with one at the top. Forstner Bits make a flat bottom hole with a small, shallow center point like a V. I've seen other designs since that make a perfectly flat bottom without the V, but I used Forstner Bits. They did the job I needed perfectly for me, so I wonder what a comparison of Flat Bottom drill bit types would reveal. Just a thought. Thank You for everything you do for us. Your time, effort, ingenuity, money spent, dedication and honesty still highly impress me! That's why we come to you, Todd, and why I'm so glad I found you. You have well earned your 2.19M subscribers! That's impressive, too. I wish a Happy and Prosperous New Year to you and yours!
I mean it's pretty easy to tell if you need a nail cutting drill bit or not, you can see nail holes indicating there might be nails in the wood after all.
I use Diablo so I'm glad to see that it was one of the best. I was never under the impression that it could get through nails. I drill holes for plumbing pipe so most of where I drill there are usually no nails anyway. Plus their cheap enough if I need a new one
I use the Irwin speed-bor and I'm happy to see that it did well. But that Bosch nail-strike is impressive as well! (Drilling through studs on existing construction, you are inevitably going to hit nails from time to time.)
@Ross Radford Plus, these new style bits with the "spurs" on the outside edge cannot be resharpened on a bench grinder, something you used to do regularly when remodeling and hitting nails.
Even new construction! Running gas lines, putting 1.25” holes through double, sometimes triple 2x4s there would be the rouge nails. I used the Bosch auger showin in the video as it lasted the longest. Con was it would sometimes get stuck deep and not move fwd or rev. Low speed high torque worked best. When stuck it would torque out of the user nearly hurting the operator.
@@Ja2808R Interesting! I wonder why it sticks sometimes, why it has trouble moving again either way, and why it would torque out and put you in danger. Any thoughts on any of this? I was so impressed by Irwin Speedbor (Auger) in Todd's test that I was going to buy them, but now I have to question that. How did you get it out when it stuck? What do you mean by "torque out of the user"? Torque out of the drill chuck? Please elaborate. Thanks
Thanks for all your great content. I’ve been building a house over the last year and I found your videos extremely helpful in sorting out the myriad of choices I’ve had to make with different tools and products.
Awesome content. I know most people who need these kind of drill bits are focused on speed but personally, I prefer accuracy and clean cuts with no tear out.
Another awesome head 2 head Todd! Suggestion, have you considered using engineered lumber for your tests, so you can eliminate the many variances found in standard wood? Engineered lumber wouldn't add too much to your production costs, but would add another level of accuracy. This would give you accurate cut times, and wear rates.
What kind of engineered wood? Mdf and particle board don't produce the same amount of wear as real lumber. For instance, the Bostch spade bit did well in this test after 100 holes in the particle board, but in my experience the Bostch is almost useless after a 100 holes cutting through studs.
When I was doing handymannish stuff I kept a few Irwin spade bits in my drill bag along with some small diamond files. Like a basic inexpensive chisel set it's important to be able to sharpen things up in the field - I can't imagine that some of those bit designs can really be touched up quickly and easily.
@@eekeetee Check the time stamp; this is the original comment. The comment that you believed to be the original is from a bot account. If you suspect a bot account, report the comment to RUclips as spam.
@@eekeetee No I didn't. There are almost 2,500 comments as I type this and some of us must have the same experiences. EDIT - a scammer stole my comment. AND GOT MORE REPLIES TO BOOT. Look at 'z's profile - that isn't a person or program interested in tools.
@@md_vandenberg Wow - I see it. I've been noticing a lot of replies and comments on RUclips lately that look like they come from spammers or Russian sex bots.
Very interesting thank you. But most of us who bore through finish woods like oak bore 1/2 to 3/4s of them way through or thicker pieces until the center or starter part of the bit just pushes through. Then we reversed the wood and go in the opposite side. This way we don’t have to worry about tear out. But as always outstanding video.
In my opinion it's easier to get accurate results in hardwood if you set the stop on your drill press to allow the center of the bit to barely poke through the bottom, then flip over and center the bit using the small hole.
You can avoid hitting nails most of the time too. The tests weren't supposed to all be examples of best technique. I think showing how bits compare when they do tear out the back under controlled speed and pressure is a useful test. If he was being very precise to avoid damaging the wood, he'd be minimizing the range of outcomes, which makes the comparison less clear. Most people trying to make seriously clean cuts wouldn't touch a single one of the bits used in this video.
Just started watching your videos and I just can’t get enough them. I’m an automation technician and use pretty much all the tools you test and it really helps me and the maintenance department on picking reliable tools. Definitely wanna see you try some Westward tools against others. Keep up the great work!
I feel your pain on those 1200 holes. We tested our holesaw in 4" sch40 sprinklerpipe for 1000 holes before it gave out. We only advertised 400, so it was a success, but man was that a boring day. Great job!
The one thing I've learned from experience is to avoid bits with a self feeding center point if you don't want to go all the way through. They can be a PAIN to get out if you're wanting to just go halfway... I was glad to see the impressions you had on how clean the entrance and exit was for the oak too. That's always something to keep in mind for some projects. As always, great video and I'll keep watching all of your stuff!
My mind literally cannot comprehend how much effort goes into this channel and how CONSISTENT that effort is over a long period of time. This guy is above husband material. Godspeed.
Right on time!! I have a project coming up that will require drilling a bunch of holes through wood! Thank you for sharing this with us! I know exactly what tool I’ll be buying now.
i have a set of the irwin auger bits, and in my experience my drills have always been the limiting factor in how fast they'll cut through a piece of wood, i use mine in an impact driver because ive had them try to rip the drill out of my hands several times
after I smacked myself in the face hard enough to bloody my lip while running an 1 1/2 inch irwin auger in my dewalt cordless hammer drill, I put the auxiliary handle back on and left it there haha.
Hey Project Farm, thanks for helping me save money throughout the years. For one of your upcoming videos, can you do a flashlight / headlamp review? The manufacturer's seem to over-embellish their lumen stats :)
I just bought a set of these less than a month ago and I checked to see if there was a Project Farm video on it. There was not, but now there is! I bought a cheap spade set because I only had to widen a hole in soft wood. I was perplexed at the variety of these drill bits, and now I get to see them in action. These videos are the best and I like these measurements done in triplicate.
Good tip. I found the SPEEDBOR to work well for floating shelves. I'll take a look at the Fisch, however, do you know if it would work without a drill press?
Great comparison. I was a little surprised by your results with the self feed bit. I have used a ton of the "Lennox style" self feed bits installing conduit in rough framing. Using a hand held 1/2" drill motor at 400 - 600 rpm, I found they cut through nails pretty well. I suppose I just got used to altering my pressure and grip while drilling. I also often had the bit "stall" due to a clogged worm tip in resinous woods, which I cleared by reversing and racking. Using a Milwaukee Hole Hog, (300 rpm) I could run the 2-1/2" bits pretty well through nails. Of course, the bits needed sharpening after each time they found a nail, and there was a real risk of getting spun off my ladder, or thrashed around in an attic.
Those low speeds are drill press speeds. With a handheld drill, a forstner bit through softwood should be around 1500rpm and an auger should run around 700rpm. With the Speedbor, Irwin themselves specify an rpm range of 1500-2000rpm.
@@DiscoFang agree, but those beefy drill motor don't have the torque for big holes at high speed. Most of what I drilled was old dog fir... not really a "soft" wood, needles notwithstanding.
I love your videos, but I feel this one had a couple things that should be different. First being the speed. Spade bits are being used on drills turning around 2000 rpm instead of 250, and even the auger and Irwin self feed style bits are being run at around 1200-1300 rpm for that size. Second is people aren't putting more than 15-20 pounds of pressure into the wood, and even less with the screw tip bits. I think the results would be different if they're tested in the way they're most likely to be used. I use the Bosch and Diablo spade bits (same thing, different color) and the only pressure they see is the weight of the drill
I would agree, but all bits were subjected to the same conditions, so it was still apples to apples. I don''t think that the point was to test how long it will take YOU to drill through whatever.
I agree with both of you, the usage conditions could have been better; but on the other hand, since they were all subjected to the exact same tests it was still fair.
Presumably he's getting the reported 54 pounds of downward force from the ratio between the bicycle rim diameter and the pitch diameter of the pinion gear that meshes with the rack machined into the quill. Doing the math 54 pounds divided by 7.5 pounds = a ratio of 7.2 to 1. I would guess that he could have put some sort of force gauge under the quill to measure the downward force with the 7.5 pound weight hanging off the rim, but I don't know for certain. Granted, this setup doesn't represent the use of a hand drill. However, he's got to come up with some simple and relatively consistent setup to compare as uniformly as possible. While there certainly are other ways, I think this is probably good enough for what he's trying to achieve.
I’ve been watching you for the last 4 years all the way back since the sea foam videos ( which I loved by the way) and your enthusiasm and thoroughness has not changed since those days and I applaud you I really do
The Irwin and the Diablo brands have proved themselves to be a fantastic value for my home use. (In my area, the Diablo set goes on sale for $11USD every so often). Good to know the DeWalt is also a viable alternative. Cheers, as always, Todd!
Bosch and Diablo are made by the same company on many of their tools, they're never sold at the same stores so they can set different prices depending on volume of sales and to prevent price matching.
I really expected the triblade auger bits to out perform the spade bits by a mile. Just got some Irwin spade bits for Christmas, so looks like I’ll be ok for a while. 😂
When it comes to real world, honest, significantly competent comparisons executed for real people, there is no one on the internet better than Project Farm.
Todd, not sure if you have already tested reciprocating saw blades yet, but that would be interesting to see a comparison between the different brands. I don't know how many steel cutting blades I have gone through. As always, another great vid👍
@REDBIRD95 - He's done at least five reciprocating saw blade test videos so far. The oldest one is going on four years old, and the newest one was made 9 months ago. He has them listed in his video "Playlists" tab titled 'Sawzall blade tests'. Hope one of those videos helps with your next purchase.
I have that DeWalt set, but with 9 drills. Do such damn good work in Oak or any other hard wood. The thicker material make shure that it doesn't twist or make any vibrations.
It would have been interesting to see how they felt to you, if you drilled a hole by hand. I know it is subjective but if you are having a hard time with a drill bit getting stuck, jumping around or busting out the side, the chances are every lay person would have similar issues.
This was very informative! My only wish is that you could have included a few more types of bits. I would have liked to see some cheap Walmart HyperTough spade bits along with the new Diablo Demo-Demon spade bits that incorporate some of the Bosch Nail-strike and Dewalt endurance corner features. I would have also liked to see the various Spyder wood drilling bits included along with the very high-end WoodOwl brand Overdrive bits and the Milwaukee Speed-Feed auger bits. But perhaps that would have been too much work and made the video too long. Hopefully you can cover them in another video. You spent several videos on different types of motor oil, so I don't see why you couldn't have a wood bits video Part 2. I actually think a lot of your videos could use a part 2, especially as new products have come out since you made some of the older videos. I hope to see more "part 2" videos in the future. But I imagine you also have a large number of product types in the que that have never been tested before, so I can be patient.
Another great video. One test I'd love to see would be different brands of sockets - harbor freight/other chinesium brands, midrange stuff like tekton, and finally the "professional" tool truck brands. Throw in a USA vs China craftsman comparison too!
Hey, your video as always deserves for big thumb up! After deeper analysis of the video and test I got some conclusion: 1. Drills without threaded tip have higher drilling time in compare to others. 2. The same drills have better in and out cut edge in compare to others - because of drilling speed. 3. Drilling speed depends on two factors and features: a) flat drills - pressure on lever, b) threaded tip - the thread pitch. 4. Probably, the threaded tip drills would'n need that amout of pressure force after all start tip is hidden in the wood (?). 5. Definately 3-fluted drills have better performance than 2-fluted. Thank you one more time for great video and content. Regards from Poland :)
Very nice, I know from personal use that once you use the self feeding bits you don't go back to the regular ones, some of the regular ones do good but where the self feed really shines is in awkward positions where you can't push on the drill very hard, say in an attic drilling a hole over your head one handed.
They can be too aggressive when you need a clean hole like for a lockset plunger. I've actually split a door with one once, and they're a heavy load on a drill. Use the right bit or blade for the job at hand- there's not one that does all jobs best.
@@jonanderson5137 That's why you only do rough work; you clearly don't understand matching the tool to the job or not abusing fine tools any more than you know which tools to use. I'd like to see you attempt detailed work with your hole-hawg, then you'd see my point. How about I take that $7500 door out of your draw if you ruin it? There's only 23 holes to drill in it and most of them need to be within 1/64 inch. You still up to the job? Yeah, stay on the porch- you ain't ready for this league.
As an electrician I drill hundreds of holes a week and often hit nails, the auger style bits outperform spade bits by a long shot. What your test did not take into account is we often don't get a straight shot at the work and are drilling at odd angles and there are almost always nails. Nails eat spade bits.
I’d be pretty interested in soldering irons and battery spot welders. I know for soldering irons there are butane powered ones, battery, and AC powered ones. Would be pretty interesting to see a comparison on those. Great video as always!!
Great video as always! Very happy to see this channel grow so much in the past few years, 2.2 million subscribers! Well deserved! Excited to see what this year brings for videos!
Thanks for yet another useful review! Hilti just seem overpriced. DeWALT has some really great accessories. Whether it be their Xtreme drill bits, SDS bits, screwdriver bits and more. I believe the SDS bits are made in Germany which was nice to hear.
I've been thinking about getting a borescope. You should do a video on those! There are a bunch of options and the price is anywhere from $15 on amazon to $1500.
Oh man would have been interested to see how the Hercules did vs the Bauer. Would like to have seen the spyder from lowes as well. Maybe a possible round two? Really enjoyed this one
Those Irwin Speedbor are nuts. I've never taken close to 6 seconds to go through a 2x4 in my impact driver, maybe 3 seconds. Obviously drill press is going to be better for consistency testing, but it is awesome by hand. Never tried oak through, I don't come across that.
@@DiscoFang maybe sometimes… but the rotational speed of an impact is inversely proportional to the load it’s experiencing… fast unloaded, slow loaded…
@@19derrick77 Good point. Then it becomes important to note that Irwin specify a speed of 1500-2000 rpm for their Speedbor. In this test he was running it at 250rpm. If the impact driver is turning at that speed when loaded then it’s def not appropriate.
As a woodworker, I am not too concerned about how quickly a Spadebit cuts. What concerns me is how cleanly the bit cuts and without tare out. No Spaidbit cuts cleanly on the exit, This is why a skilled woodworker will stop just short of the exit cut, right at the point where the point of the bit is poking through. Then the cut is completed from the other side. Another fact. When using any Spaid type bit, light pressure is applied at the beginning of the cut. This helps avoid tare out. And by the way. Only an idiot would try to drill through a nail with a spade bit. No disrespect intended. 😁
You're right, nobody would purposely run a spade bit through a nail but strangely enough there are a lot of screws and nails used on construction sites (where these bits used the most) and they are often hidden from view. So knowing which brand is going to hold up best to rough and repeated use is the most important aspect of this video.
Spade bits almost always tear out of leave rough edges especially in grainy hardwood like oak......even worse if they have a threaded screw tap point! I only use spades for home repair or non visible surfaces. For clean holes gotta go with high quality forstner bits like the Fisch Wavecutters, but obviously on a whole different price level. If you need hundreds of high quality holes like for a commercial application then maybe Famag Bormax3 with the carbide teeth.....but they are like $80 a bit.
I bought a Ryobi drill bit set 25 years ago, that included 5 different sized spade bits. Earlier this summer, a violent wind storm ripped 3 sections of a fence down, snapping five 4x4 posts. I used the 1" spade, with a 12'' extension, to cut 6'' deep into the posts encased in the concrete footing. Those 5 posts were repaired in mere days. A fresh coat of paint, and the fence looks as good as the day I'd put it up, 29 years ago.
I would love to see if you can find a way to test these bits with an impact, some bits preform better on an impact then a drill and it would a nice indicator of extreme wear over time.
@@dondiego124 An impact drill mounted on a press could be used. Impact drill bits of various shank sizes (my Milwaukee motor has a 7/16 hex quick release chuck) are used in construction.
I typically love your tests, but with this one you can’t test speed when the main reason some of theses bits are supposed to be faster is because the bit gets pulled into the wood, but that can’t happen in a drill press
I know from experience those bosch spade bits when new are about 4 seconds through a 2x4. And with any self feeding bit they are a pig to get restarted if the thread binds up or strips out.
@@TehBIGrat that's why I switched to WoodOwl. They're too fast though do you gotta be careful not to lose control at first. Plus their bits produce beatter-than-Forstner quality holes and hardly ever any tear out. They're expensive bits but for the most common sizes (¼, ⅜, ¾ etc) They're worth their weight in Project Farm videos lol. Try one bit and you'll be all psycho trying to talk people into trying them, like I am. Lol.
@@wojtek-33 to a degree yes, but it's still holding the bit back as well. But a lot of that is also due to speed bit is spinning. I can put a ¾" WoodOwl through a PT 4x4 in under 2 seconds. And then I can test how fast the doctor puts the cast onto my broken wrist. Lol. The buts in the video being the same speed was an issue. Most people using spade bits tend to light it up and bore fast. Where an Auger or Lenox Style (Forstner-esque) requires slower speed. The WoodOwl give too much speed, but can cut smooth like a forstner with hardly ever any Chipotle. It's like a Lazer went through it. I giggled like a( 6'8" 330lb) little girl the first time I used the WoodOwl. It's really ridiculous.
Just wanted to say your videos are so extremely well done, i just had to subscribe and im not even that intersested in tools and such stuff, but i wanted to reward the effort you put into these videos.
I just discovered you a few months back while surfing RUclips. I can't express how much I enjoy your channel & all the testing that you do. The amount detail & effort that you put into it amazes me. You keep me entertained for hours on end. I look forward to a lot more testing... Keep up the good work. Thank you !!
I can say from experience that the Diablo bits are fantastic. I drilled hundreds of holes in a new construction wiring install and the bit held up the entire time, even with hitting some nails. - I bought the Diablo after chewing up multiple irwin paddle bits. - the irwin speed bit is something I used as well and it also held up well however did eventually wear out by hitting too many nails
After years of service I've found I like Diablo best for cutting through wood. Longevity and speed it seems best at. Glad to see it perform similarly here! Great testing and now I know what to look for if Diablo isn't available! Thank you!
Here’s the list of products reviewed. More details in the video description. Thank you!
Comoware Spade: amzn.to/3pFQZPO
DeWalt Spade: amzn.to/3Jzh5fl
Diablo Spade: amzn.to/3pHP6SD
Irwin SPEEDBOR Spade: amzn.to/32M5xnY
Bosch DareDevil Spade: amzn.to/46ukx4T (similar to product in video)
Milwaukee Spade: amzn.to/3sNJ4le
Bosch Nail Strike: amzn.to/32SR1L1
Hilti: amzn.to/3FIXkzq
Irwin Auger: amzn.to/3HrI6ze
Bosch Auger: amzn.to/3pENfxY
Lenox Self-feed: amzn.to/32CaTlS
Bauer: sold at Harbor Freight
The actual fact that you drilled almost 1300 holes just to put out a free to watch video for us to save us money is just a testament to how good of a man you are. Thank you for the continued effort to help people out. It's greatly appreciated.
You are welcome!
I mean he’s getting paid by views and affiliate links so atleast he’s getting paid still
@@Infamousx51 he wouldn’t do it for nothing.. he has to pay for the things he testd
That's a lotta freaking holes!!!!
i bet the wife was sore after all that
I've been a carpenter for almost 40 years, now, and I'd just like to thank you for your work. Cutting through the manufacturers' claims, the questionable reviews, and the general BS is a real service to those who rely on their tools to make a living. Big respect to you!
Thanks and you are welcome!
I wasn't one "bit" surprised that in order to provide reliable wear tests you drilled over 1200 holes...WOW! Great video as always.
Holy mackerel what a punster!
Thank you very much and Happy New Year!
Yeah that’s crazy
Lol - very nice 😄
I see what you did there!
As a new plumber, your videos are a great help when selecting tools. Thanks a ton man
You are welcome!
This channel is a fantastic resource. I was a plumber myself and I can say 100% that this would have saved me a lot of money and frustration if this channel had been around when I was working
I've never been left less than impressed with any Diablo blade or bit. They're a great value for the average user.
Agreed and these tests proof that they are always near the top preformer.
Agreed. Especially their circular saw blades
Agreed, although I have use the Bosch Spade bits before, and they cut through wood like butter. Even their Masonry bits are really good.
I cut up a 32 foot fiberglass sailboat with Diablo skill saw and Sawzall blades.they held up better than most I tried. Eventually the carbines would break off, but overall and for the money, very impressive.
@@DapimpBDSD Bosch owns Freud (which makes Diablo). They are the same design, but use slightly different steels.
The first Project Farm video of 2022! I wonder what torture tests Todd will devise this year😁 Thanks Todd for the vid😊👍
Thank you very much and Happy New Year! I've got a lot of viewer suggested videos on the way!!
Can’t wait Todd! Thanks for all the hard work and dedication put into these videos.
@@ProjectFarm i hope one of those is a show down of Made in USA work boots :)
From what I keep seeing, Diablo seems to have figured out how to perform really well in most all it's cutting tools without having that extreme price premium. I like Diablo myself, and I'll probably keep buying more Diablo stuff just because of branding, and their performance/price range.
That's what I've found too. For cutting, abrasives, sanding, drilling, etc. Diablo is consistently good without a massive price. Very good price to performance on them.
I used the Diablo bits last week to drill a shelf bracket for a very heavy fireplace mantle. I was shocked at how easily and precisely they did the job. These PF results definitely confirm what I also found last week.
Diablo keeps putting most of the other brands to shame and it is extremely impressive
Thanks for the feedback. Happy New Year!
@@ProjectFarm happy new year!🎈
I was an electrician in the commercial and industrial field for 40 years. During that time hacksaw blades and sawzall blades and holesaw‘s, Lennox always performed the best for me. Recently though doing a lot of little projects around the house I’m extremely impressed with everything Diablo.
Thanks for the feedback.
Imagine drilling over 1000 holes for a 15 minute video. Blows my mind
You are very dedicated to the accuracy of your tests, I salute your diligence :)
Thanks! Happy New Year!
Project farm... The most informative entertaining RUclips channel made in the USA.
We're gonna test that
Thank you very much and Happy New Year!
The first time I tried an Irwin Speedbor, it was like the heavens opened, bright light shone down, angel choirs sang...I was so mesmerized (and relieved after struggling with other bits!) by how fast the Speedbor effortlessly pulled itself into the landscaping tie that I didn't stop the drill fast enough and plunged right through the tie into the gravel an inch below. Thank goodness it didn't phase the bit one bit!
Caution: "With great power..."
Same.. I bought a set and could not go back to the spade types
Yep... even my M12 Impact was able to use it. WORTH EVERY DOLLAR.
But the speed bor Supreme are even better! My " Let's get it done" bit once I've trashed other cheaper bits to find if a nail is in my line of drill! Recommend that method for us drill bit enthusiasts.
...comes great responsibility
@@chinesemassproduction 😉
I worked at Hilti for 7yrs as a machinist.....and I had no idea we made drill bits haha.
That being said, I'm a Diablo guy for all my blades and drills. Hands down. Great stuff and not as expensive as other big brands.
Thanks for sharing.
Another great test. In 40 yrs of carpentry, I’ve tried several brands of these bits (B & D, Craftsman, Dewalt, Irwin, etc). I currently use a set of Rigid auger style bits, and can attest to their superior durability over paddle style bits. This is particularly true if you hit a nail, as your test revealed. Also, the Rigid has a screw tip, which your test also revealed as an advantage. I could never justify the expense of the Lennox bits, and your test shows why. Bauer is a brand known for excessively inflated claims, even though I like their tools.
Thanks! Thanks for sharing.
@@MidwestFarmToys they’re American made. The company is headquartered in Ohio.
Ya those lenox were not impressive at all, especially for the price. You get more bits but the value just doesnt seem worth it. Of course the diablo seems to be very good value and performance as they usually are. Auger bits and spade bits are meant for different uses though. Auger bits you'll get a straight deeper hole tha a spade bit. I wouldnt use a spade bit ina deep whole where accuracy was a concern, auger bit is much better suited for the job.
You continue to astound! All that work and effort, not to mention the parts we don't see (setup, material acquisition, tracking and compiling the charting, etc. - your persistence and sheer dedication to reaching a conclusion could sure teach the major testing labs a few things about how to do it right.
Thank you so much for all your effort. Not only do you identify the good, the bad, and the ugly (sorry, Clint) but you make the presentation fun as well. Bravo, sir, bravo!
Thanks so much! Happy New Year!
@@ProjectFarm can you test different types of hearing protection?
@@timcollins4011 You would do best to ask a question in your own comment, rather than in a reply to one. Just sayin'.
@@timcollins4011 I might be wrong but I don't think he's ever tested any safety equipment, probably because that's getting deep into liability territory if someone buys something he recommends and it fails. As much as I'd like to think an idiot wouldn't have a case like that, juries regularly prove otherwise.
When using an auger type bit on telephone poles or piles I found it is very important to get one with a single cutting edge. This leaves the widest channel for the cut material to be removed. It only took a few times getting a double edged bit stuck in a pole/pile to figure this out. It is also easy to field sharpen a single edge.
Thanks for the feedback.
I really like the Irwin speedbore. They seem to work best with an impact driver. Very fast in softwoods.
I like Bosch for spade bits, but I also have some cheap ones to sacrifice to dirty screw infested wood.
I like how your tests usually match up with my real world experience. Keep up the good work.
Thanks, will do! Thanks for sharing.
Agreed, I even managed to bore half-inch holes 6 inches into the end grain of hardwood sleepers a dozen times and only issue was my wimpy drill.
Impact driver sorted out right out, and even the half inch bit can handle a lot of leaning into it without any bending or other nasty side effects.
I am an electrician. I have owned a set of Irwin Augers for years and they are terrific at drilling wood. Especially older wood in houses. They don't do so well with nails but then for that I use the 18 inch Greenlee auger bits. Those work incredible for drill holes in studs in houses.
Nails can get fucked
Ditto. I used the Irwin bits for work on my own house. Even the old pine from 1929 seems much tougher than the wood used for framing now. The best thing about the three flute auger bits is that the holes are cleaner than most other bits, especially in hard boards. The only bad thing was the Irwin was too short to get through a three layer top plate; had to go buy an extra long Bosch auger bit for that.
@@wtmayhew And something he did not point out is that they're self feeding. Once you get them started they pull themselves through wood. You really do not need to push them but rather hold them back. 😆
Even after hitting the nails with the greenlees they are certainly modified. Same for the nail cutter Bosch's. I love the bosch auger bits where the flutes are a less diameter than the business end. There is no drag an it melts through the wood.
Thanks for the feedback.
I've discovered your channel since a couple months ago, and the amount of work you put in each video and testing each product to the limit is such a demanding and time consuming job, I've literally bought tools/accessories based off on your videos.
Great video again as always! I and everyone else watching no doubt appreciates every bit of effort you put into making these videos.
I was wondering if there will ever be a hard hat comparison video in the future.
Thanks so much! Thanks for the video idea.
The Diablo bits were super impressive, especially at the price. And I dont think I've ever seen your super high end option fail in testing so bad.
Diablo was my go to as an Electrician. Their wood augers and hole saws are pretty cheap, but do a great job.
I've had these Diablos for a number of years without doing any research beforehand. I've used them a ton and they're worth every penny, which is surprisingly not a lot of $$!
Irwin Augers have my vote. I bought a set several years ago to use on some age-hardened wood that had stalled out nearly every spade bit I tried, even with a pilot hole. The Irwin augers went right through it with ease. They have held up for many years.
An interesting question comes to mind here concerning the difference between bits from 10 years ago and now. Maybe cost cutting took place in the interim, no guarantee the bits used have the same performance as the same bits manufactured a few years ago. I've read people seek out bits with slightly different packaging that indicates a bit was manufactured in Europe instead of China but had the same product number.
I guess I'm trying to say things change and there's going to be variation in quality of the product over time
Thanks for the feedback. Happy New Year!
Real good stuff PF! I have tried many of these as a cabinetmaker over the years and ended up keeping with the DeWalt for the last 5-6 years as they cut cleaner holes. Their rounded corner design surprised me nicely.
You have me wanting to try the Bosch Nail Strike for knots as I like knotty wood projects maybe even more than clear wood projects.
I stay away from self-feed bits as they tend to tear-out on the exit and they don't work on hardwoods nearly as good as softer wood.
Thanks again PF
Thanks! Thanks for sharing.
I really really like the Bosch NailStrikes, but because they have only a 1/4” shank, they’re super easy to bend! Otherwise, it would be the perfect bit for rough drilling!
That was my experience as well. I don't think I ever got more than a few minutes worth of drilling out of one of them. Ridiculous.
Thanks for the feedback. Happy New Year!
I had the same experience w/ irwin speedbor, nice cutter but shaft is weakened
@@FixthisCD I agree the Irwin Speedbors tend to get bent too often, but they are fast. Have used the Lenox version of the same bits with thicker shank but they are even more expensive.
Nailstrikes have their place but be careful. Did you see what that nail looked like in the video? If you're running anything this side of iron pipe through that hole, good luck with a mangled nail partially embedded in the wall. Maybe try chasing the hole with a holesaw to clean cut the nail before you grab a nailstrike. If you do use a nailstrike, they cut a lot cleaner in an impact.
This channel is the gold standard in testing advertised claims.
Thanks!
I had no idea "nail strike" paddle bits existed, sounds like my replacement bits will be those. I hit nails all the time drilling lol
They have nail eaters too
I’d suggest better aim. 😂. I treat paddle bits as disposable. I have forstner bits for when I know the wood is clean. I got them for $10 at an auction.
Thanks for the feedback. Happy New Year!
@@rydplrs71 better aim isn't a thing for some jobs.
@@jonanderson5137 better aim makes me laugh!! You can’t “aim” pipe pitch or where you can drill sometimes.
Lol - was just wishing you had one of these yesterday. My Harbor Freight bits are garbage. Thank you!!
Sorry I'm late!
Yes the gold warrior twist bits at HF are shit except for wood. I was thinking of trying their cobalt kit that's got over 100 bits in the kit and it's over $100. I have a cornwell cobalt bit set and it's amazing. But worse come to worse I was thinking the index that they come in could still be used🙄.
Guess it’s true what they say, “You get what you pay for, usually.”
@@njjeff201 generally true, but would you think a pack of $11 bits would perform 10x better than a pack of $10 bits. That's essentially what happened here. That's why this video is so important. It shows that there are far better tools out there for just a few bucks more.
I waited for ever for wood drilling bits! The sound, the smell, the feel, the dust. My dad is a woodworker, that's why i am so excited! Also, this was an awesome video!
Thanks!
I have been remodeling my old 1880 house for the past 15 years and have been drilling a large amounts of holes for electrical and pex heating tubes. It wasn't too long in the process that I found the Irwin auger bit style and just by experience alone it out has out performed the others I used. Glad to see I made the right choice!
Thanks for sharing.
Perfect timing, was honestly just looking at different brands. Need something reliable when drilling holes for electrical rough ins
Awesome! Thank you!
Diablo is the ones I went with last year when i picked up a set that was a holiday special that was marked down super low and have been impressed with them. Also Diablo does now make a bit to cut nails and have seen others as well maybe that's a revisit to this on which nail cutting spade bits are the best.
Thanks for the suggestion. Happy New Year!
they also make great circular saw blade.
@@piworower Everything, really. Until you get into industrial tooling, Diablo makes the best consumables I've ever used. I would say they are interchangeable with Bosch as well for the most part.
There are so many wood-drilling bits on the market from all sorts of brands, that this topic really deserves a part 2. And then perhaps a part 3 to compete the best performers from parts 1 and 2.
And there can be different criteria like speed, cleanest hole, durability against impacting nails, chip ejection for drilling deep holes and not becoming clogged (probably use a bit extender for that).
It's a lot of work, but I know many viewers would really appreciate it.
This is one of those "but what are you using it for?" tests. Spade and Auger bits have their place in construction but when making cabinets I'm always grabbing for forstner bits for a clean hole for furniture or without a long center point to still be useful for hinge bores for cabinets. With those bits, it's always "How much tear out do I get in hardwood and ply?" and "How long will they stay sharp?" Be an interesting follow on test to this.
Ive used the exact same 3/4 irwin auger bit to drill sill plate holes through fully saturated dripping wet full ground contact salt treated 2x8s for like over a decade. Ive sharpened it maybe 3 half assed times.
Theres really no comparison between tools used by weekend warriors diy cabinet making and the tasks that can be completed using spade and auger bits on a jobsite.
place a sticker over the area to be drilled, or a thin piece of sacrificial wood to minimize tear out.
Forstner bits are specifically for making partial holes in wood where you need a flat bottom on the hole. They can of course drill all the way through as well, but that's not their main purpose. This is also why Forstner's cost a lot more. If you're just going to make through-holes, you don't necessarily need a Forstner.
@@somejoe7777 yea like totally irrelevant regarding this video aside from being a type of bit i guess.
I've been using irwin speedbore for the last 5 years of being in the cable industry (the 16in version). A must have for drilling a hole through walls, goes straight through a stud if you hit one!
Thanks for the feedback.
A little romex will slow you down.
Bought the Irwin last year as I tried to go thru floor joist in old house. For whatever reason the joist were 14” center but 4” rough cut. Used with dewalt 1/4 inch impact and worked incredible ez with almost no pressure need or wrist torque. Cannot even remember how many times my hand got wrapped around a powerful drill when bit got caught. Also bought set of quick change extension that came 3”,6”,and 12”. Some of joist had almost no room and used extensions thru a previous joist to get those.
@@jeffclark6202 A 220ac will ruin your day !
@@shade38211 your first taste at being a plumber, can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to do that. Even in new houses . Oh the verbal abuse I given to framing !!
Project Farm reading packaging: “We’re gonna test that.”
Manufacturers: *GULP* 😰
😂
Especially when they cost 200+$ and came near last.
Thanks for watching! Happy New Year!
This was great! Thanks! I like the Irwin Speedbor Auger bits for the speed, clean entry and exit. The slightly longer time in hardwood isn't an issue for me because of the clean cutting, plus it retained its sharpness and speed after drilling 100 holes and after hitting the nail. I think that's extremely impressive! $27 for all of that ain't bad! The Bosch Nail Cutting Bits have their special application. Trouble is, knowing when they are needed, but the Irwin Speedbor Auger bit tested fared very well. Not that I'd count on that.
Probably 20 years ago, I bought a set of 16 Flat Bottom drill bits called Forstner Bits to make areas for tealight candles in glass holders to represent a campfire for a seminar-type learning course at the end. I used landscape timbers with rounded sides, cut them into about a 3 inch height, drilled the hole in the tops and mounted them with long screws in an upward arch of 5-6 tiers with one at the top. Forstner Bits make a flat bottom hole with a small, shallow center point like a V. I've seen other designs since that make a perfectly flat bottom without the V, but I used Forstner Bits. They did the job I needed perfectly for me, so I wonder what a comparison of Flat Bottom drill bit types would reveal. Just a thought.
Thank You for everything you do for us. Your time, effort, ingenuity, money spent, dedication and honesty still highly impress me! That's why we come to you, Todd, and why I'm so glad I found you. You have well earned your 2.19M subscribers! That's impressive, too. I wish a Happy and Prosperous New Year to you and yours!
I mean it's pretty easy to tell if you need a nail cutting drill bit or not, you can see nail holes indicating there might be nails in the wood after all.
What a great show. Absolutely brilliant. So many test you have done
You can't find any better check on a wooden bits than that
Thank you so much !!!!!
Thanks and you are welcome!
I use Diablo so I'm glad to see that it was one of the best. I was never under the impression that it could get through nails. I drill holes for plumbing pipe so most of where I drill there are usually no nails anyway. Plus their cheap enough if I need a new one
Thanks for sharing.
I use the Irwin speed-bor and I'm happy to see that it did well. But that Bosch nail-strike is impressive as well! (Drilling through studs on existing construction, you are inevitably going to hit nails from time to time.)
@Ross Radford Plus, these new style bits with the "spurs" on the outside edge cannot be resharpened on a bench grinder, something you used to do regularly when remodeling and hitting nails.
Used to exclusively use the speed bore bits until I discovered the spider bore bits. They're even better than the speed boards. Very impressed!
Thanks for the feedback. Happy New Year!
Even new construction!
Running gas lines, putting 1.25” holes through double, sometimes triple 2x4s there would be the rouge nails. I used the Bosch auger showin in the video as it lasted the longest.
Con was it would sometimes get stuck deep and not move fwd or rev. Low speed high torque worked best. When stuck it would torque out of the user nearly hurting the operator.
@@Ja2808R Interesting! I wonder why it sticks sometimes, why it has trouble moving again either way, and why it would torque out and put you in danger. Any thoughts on any of this? I was so impressed by Irwin Speedbor (Auger) in Todd's test that I was going to buy them, but now I have to question that. How did you get it out when it stuck? What do you mean by "torque out of the user"? Torque out of the drill chuck? Please elaborate. Thanks
Thanks for all your great content. I’ve been building a house over the last year and I found your videos extremely helpful in sorting out the myriad of choices I’ve had to make with different tools and products.
You are welcome! Glad to hear!
Can you imagine the tools in this guys shed? It's got to be like Home Depot in there. PROJECT FARM IS THE BEST!
lot of them are destroyed during torture test tho
Actually I donate a lot in my community. Happy New Year!
@@ProjectFarm I figured you did you guys are good people there! Thank you for what you do PROJECT FARM!
Awesome content. I know most people who need these kind of drill bits are focused on speed but personally, I prefer accuracy and clean cuts with no tear out.
Thanks! Thanks for the feedback.
@@ProjectFarm but don’t miss that your content was spot on for the audience.
Another awesome head 2 head Todd! Suggestion, have you considered using engineered lumber for your tests, so you can eliminate the many variances found in standard wood? Engineered lumber wouldn't add too much to your production costs, but would add another level of accuracy. This would give you accurate cut times, and wear rates.
Thanks! Thanks for the suggestion.
Exactly what I was thinking. He'd have to drill a hundred holes minimum to get a decent sampling.
What kind of engineered wood? Mdf and particle board don't produce the same amount of wear as real lumber. For instance, the Bostch spade bit did well in this test after 100 holes in the particle board, but in my experience the Bostch is almost useless after a 100 holes cutting through studs.
Why not just use aluminum.
When I was doing handymannish stuff I kept a few Irwin spade bits in my drill bag along with some small diamond files. Like a basic inexpensive chisel set it's important to be able to sharpen things up in the field - I can't imagine that some of those bit designs can really be touched up quickly and easily.
Thanks for the feedback.
@@eekeetee Check the time stamp; this is the original comment. The comment that you believed to be the original is from a bot account. If you suspect a bot account, report the comment to RUclips as spam.
@@eekeetee No I didn't. There are almost 2,500 comments as I type this and some of us must have the same experiences. EDIT - a scammer stole my comment. AND GOT MORE REPLIES TO BOOT. Look at 'z's profile - that isn't a person or program interested in tools.
@@md_vandenberg Wow - I see it. I've been noticing a lot of replies and comments on RUclips lately that look like they come from spammers or Russian sex bots.
@@dalesworld1308 Dark, Light and Z are all common comment stealing bots I've seen around. Not sure how they are verified.
Very interesting thank you. But most of us who bore through finish woods like oak bore 1/2 to 3/4s of them way through or thicker pieces until the center or starter part of the bit just pushes through. Then we reversed the wood and go in the opposite side. This way we don’t have to worry about tear out. But as always outstanding video.
Thanks! Thanks for the feedback.
In my opinion it's easier to get accurate results in hardwood if you set the stop on your drill press to allow the center of the bit to barely poke through the bottom, then flip over and center the bit using the small hole.
You can avoid hitting nails most of the time too. The tests weren't supposed to all be examples of best technique. I think showing how bits compare when they do tear out the back under controlled speed and pressure is a useful test. If he was being very precise to avoid damaging the wood, he'd be minimizing the range of outcomes, which makes the comparison less clear. Most people trying to make seriously clean cuts wouldn't touch a single one of the bits used in this video.
Just started watching your videos and I just can’t get enough them. I’m an automation technician and use pretty much all the tools you test and it really helps me and the maintenance department on picking reliable tools. Definitely wanna see you try some Westward tools against others. Keep up the great work!
Thanks, will do! Thanks for the video idea.
I feel your pain on those 1200 holes. We tested our holesaw in 4" sch40 sprinklerpipe for 1000 holes before it gave out. We only advertised 400, so it was a success, but man was that a boring day. Great job!
Thanks and Happy New Year!
Ha, "boring"
The one thing I've learned from experience is to avoid bits with a self feeding center point if you don't want to go all the way through. They can be a PAIN to get out if you're wanting to just go halfway...
I was glad to see the impressions you had on how clean the entrance and exit was for the oak too. That's always something to keep in mind for some projects. As always, great video and I'll keep watching all of your stuff!
Thanks! Thanks for the feedback.
Agreed! I have one set of self-feeding and one set that are just pointed. They both get used a lot- just depends on the task at hand
I never knew there were so many different kinds of hole cutting bits. Interesting and informative comparison. 👍👍
Thanks for the feedback. Happy New Year!
My mind literally cannot comprehend how much effort goes into this channel and how CONSISTENT that effort is over a long period of time. This guy is above husband material. Godspeed.
Thanks!
Right on time!! I have a project coming up that will require drilling a bunch of holes through wood! Thank you for sharing this with us! I know exactly what tool I’ll be buying now.
Thanks for sharing! Happy New Year!
@@ProjectFarm happy new year to you as well!
i have a set of the irwin auger bits, and in my experience my drills have always been the limiting factor in how fast they'll cut through a piece of wood, i use mine in an impact driver because ive had them try to rip the drill out of my hands several times
Thank you!
after I smacked myself in the face hard enough to bloody my lip while running an 1 1/2 inch irwin auger in my dewalt cordless hammer drill, I put the auxiliary handle back on and left it there haha.
Hey Project Farm, thanks for helping me save money throughout the years. For one of your upcoming videos, can you do a flashlight / headlamp review? The manufacturer's seem to over-embellish their lumen stats :)
You are welcome! Thanks for the video idea.
I just bought a set of these less than a month ago and I checked to see if there was a Project Farm video on it. There was not, but now there is! I bought a cheap spade set because I only had to widen a hole in soft wood. I was perplexed at the variety of these drill bits, and now I get to see them in action. These videos are the best and I like these measurements done in triplicate.
Thanks!
These are great for construction, but none leave a good clean edge for woodworking. For that Fisch dual spur brad point drills can't be beat.
Thanks for the feedback. Happy New Year!
Good tip. I found the SPEEDBOR to work well for floating shelves. I'll take a look at the Fisch, however, do you know if it would work without a drill press?
Great comparison.
I was a little surprised by your results with the self feed bit. I have used a ton of the "Lennox style" self feed bits installing conduit in rough framing. Using a hand held 1/2" drill motor at 400 - 600 rpm, I found they cut through nails pretty well. I suppose I just got used to altering my pressure and grip while drilling. I also often had the bit "stall" due to a clogged worm tip in resinous woods, which I cleared by reversing and racking.
Using a Milwaukee Hole Hog, (300 rpm) I could run the 2-1/2" bits pretty well through nails. Of course, the bits needed sharpening after each time they found a nail, and there was a real risk of getting spun off my ladder, or thrashed around in an attic.
Thank you!
Those low speeds are drill press speeds. With a handheld drill, a forstner bit through softwood should be around 1500rpm and an auger should run around 700rpm. With the Speedbor, Irwin themselves specify an rpm range of 1500-2000rpm.
@@DiscoFang agree, but those beefy drill motor don't have the torque for big holes at high speed. Most of what I drilled was old dog fir... not really a "soft" wood, needles notwithstanding.
I love your videos, but I feel this one had a couple things that should be different. First being the speed. Spade bits are being used on drills turning around 2000 rpm instead of 250, and even the auger and Irwin self feed style bits are being run at around 1200-1300 rpm for that size. Second is people aren't putting more than 15-20 pounds of pressure into the wood, and even less with the screw tip bits. I think the results would be different if they're tested in the way they're most likely to be used. I use the Bosch and Diablo spade bits (same thing, different color) and the only pressure they see is the weight of the drill
Excellent points
Good Feedback
I would agree, but all bits were subjected to the same conditions, so it was still apples to apples. I don''t think that the point was to test how long it will take YOU to drill through whatever.
I agree with both of you, the usage conditions could have been better; but on the other hand, since they were all subjected to the exact same tests it was still fair.
Presumably he's getting the reported 54 pounds of downward force from the ratio between the bicycle rim diameter and the pitch diameter of the pinion gear that meshes with the rack machined into the quill. Doing the math 54 pounds divided by 7.5 pounds = a ratio of 7.2 to 1. I would guess that he could have put some sort of force gauge under the quill to measure the downward force with the 7.5 pound weight hanging off the rim, but I don't know for certain. Granted, this setup doesn't represent the use of a hand drill. However, he's got to come up with some simple and relatively consistent setup to compare as uniformly as possible. While there certainly are other ways, I think this is probably good enough for what he's trying to achieve.
I’ve been watching you for the last 4 years all the way back since the sea foam videos ( which I loved by the way) and your enthusiasm and thoroughness has not changed since those days and I applaud you I really do
Thanks!
The Irwin and the Diablo brands have proved themselves to be a fantastic value for my home use.
(In my area, the Diablo set goes on sale for $11USD every so often).
Good to know the DeWalt is also a viable alternative.
Cheers, as always, Todd!
Thanks for sharing.
DeWalt makes good metal drilling bits as well.
Menards (if you have them) as Irwin auger sets on sale for $11 right now!!!!!
Bosch and Diablo are made by the same company on many of their tools, they're never sold at the same stores so they can set different prices depending on volume of sales and to prevent price matching.
Uhhh...
They're both sold at Home Depot and both go on sale for less then $10CAD very regularly for 9 piece sets
Thanks for the feedback. Happy New Year!
@LabRat Knatz lmao. Are you new? Diablo has been at home depot for a decade.
@LabRat Knatz Im pretty sure HF doesn't sell Diablo
wtf are you talking about, Myke?
I really expected the triblade auger bits to out perform the spade bits by a mile. Just got some Irwin spade bits for Christmas, so looks like I’ll be ok for a while. 😂
I guess since the pressure is divided onto more surface area, the triblade had a bit of a disadvantage here
Thanks for sharing! Happy New Year!
When it comes to real world, honest, significantly competent comparisons executed for real people, there is no one on the internet better than Project Farm.
Thanks!
Todd, not sure if you have already tested reciprocating saw blades yet, but that would be interesting to see a comparison between the different brands. I don't know how many steel cutting blades I have gone through. As always, another great vid👍
Thank you. I tested them a while back but it's probably time to test them again
@REDBIRD95 - He's done at least five reciprocating saw blade test videos so far. The oldest one is going on four years old, and the newest one was made 9 months ago. He has them listed in his video "Playlists" tab titled 'Sawzall blade tests'.
Hope one of those videos helps with your next purchase.
I have that DeWalt set, but with 9 drills. Do such damn good work in Oak or any other hard wood. The thicker material make shure that it doesn't twist or make any vibrations.
Thanks for the feedback. Happy New Year!
It would have been interesting to see how they felt to you, if you drilled a hole by hand. I know it is subjective but if you are having a hard time with a drill bit getting stuck, jumping around or busting out the side, the chances are every lay person would have similar issues.
I also wonder if rpm of the drill slowed down with the drill bits that required more torque to drill.
I hope you are paid well. Thank you for EVERY one of these videos!! Way better than Consumer Reports!
You are welcome!
Great work as always.. 🙏
Thanks! Happy New Year!
This was very informative! My only wish is that you could have included a few more types of bits. I would have liked to see some cheap Walmart HyperTough spade bits along with the new Diablo Demo-Demon spade bits that incorporate some of the Bosch Nail-strike and Dewalt endurance corner features.
I would have also liked to see the various Spyder wood drilling bits included along with the very high-end WoodOwl brand Overdrive bits and the Milwaukee Speed-Feed auger bits.
But perhaps that would have been too much work and made the video too long. Hopefully you can cover them in another video. You spent several videos on different types of motor oil, so I don't see why you couldn't have a wood bits video Part 2.
I actually think a lot of your videos could use a part 2, especially as new products have come out since you made some of the older videos. I hope to see more "part 2" videos in the future.
But I imagine you also have a large number of product types in the que that have never been tested before, so I can be patient.
Another great video. One test I'd love to see would be different brands of sockets - harbor freight/other chinesium brands, midrange stuff like tekton, and finally the "professional" tool truck brands. Throw in a USA vs China craftsman comparison too!
Thanks for the suggestion.
Hey, your video as always deserves for big thumb up!
After deeper analysis of the video and test I got some conclusion:
1. Drills without threaded tip have higher drilling time in compare to others.
2. The same drills have better in and out cut edge in compare to others - because of drilling speed.
3. Drilling speed depends on two factors and features:
a) flat drills - pressure on lever,
b) threaded tip - the thread pitch.
4. Probably, the threaded tip drills would'n need that amout of pressure force after all start tip is hidden in the wood (?).
5. Definately 3-fluted drills have better performance than 2-fluted.
Thank you one more time for great video and content.
Regards from Poland :)
Thanks and you are welcome!
I used a friend's Wood Owl Auger set and they were amazing, especially at half the cost of those Lennox....seem to made by Star M in Japan
Thank you for the feedback!
I'm a little skeptical of the tear-out comparisons, especially on the oak. Looks like the board was moving around a lot.
Thanks for the feedback. Happy New Year!
Very nice, I know from personal use that once you use the self feeding bits you don't go back to the regular ones, some of the regular ones do good but where the self feed really shines is in awkward positions where you can't push on the drill very hard, say in an attic drilling a hole over your head one handed.
Thanks! Thanks for sharing. Happy New Year!
Or in a crawl space where you're pinched between old foundation and new joists.
They can be too aggressive when you need a clean hole like for a lockset plunger. I've actually split a door with one once, and they're a heavy load on a drill. Use the right bit or blade for the job at hand- there's not one that does all jobs best.
@@P_RO_ heavy load? Not for any drill worth being on the jobsite. Different strokes for different trades.
@@jonanderson5137 That's why you only do rough work; you clearly don't understand matching the tool to the job or not abusing fine tools any more than you know which tools to use. I'd like to see you attempt detailed work with your hole-hawg, then you'd see my point. How about I take that $7500 door out of your draw if you ruin it? There's only 23 holes to drill in it and most of them need to be within 1/64 inch. You still up to the job? Yeah, stay on the porch- you ain't ready for this league.
Your testing methods are fair as can get, then and your idea to perform the testing are remarkable.
Thanks for all your hard work.
Thanks and you are welcome!
Your shop vac videos have been amazing! It would be interesting to see hand vacuums done such as ryobi and rigid! Mainly for car detailing!
Thank you for the video idea!
As an electrician I drill hundreds of holes a week and often hit nails, the auger style bits outperform spade bits by a long shot. What your test did not take into account is we often don't get a straight shot at the work and are drilling at odd angles and there are almost always nails. Nails eat spade bits.
Thanks for the constructive feedback.
i’ve been using the diablo augers, formerly bosch. they last a long time and sharpen really easy
Spade bits will grenade hand drill gears with their rough exit. I wouldn't use anything but an auger bit; save the spade bits for the drill press.
@@Ch4grin My drill just snaps off the shafts. I don't use them for anything anymore.
I’d be pretty interested in soldering irons and battery spot welders. I know for soldering irons there are butane powered ones, battery, and AC powered ones. Would be pretty interesting to see a comparison on those.
Great video as always!!
Thanks! Thanks for the suggestion.
Great video as always! Very happy to see this channel grow so much in the past few years, 2.2 million subscribers! Well deserved! Excited to see what this year brings for videos!
Thank you very much!
The Bosch nail strike looked like it had a lot of wobble. I would expect a bit better performance from that brand.
Thanks for the feedback. Happy New Year!
That could have been from the torque gage he had on during test.
Thanks for yet another useful review! Hilti just seem overpriced. DeWALT has some really great accessories. Whether it be their Xtreme drill bits, SDS bits, screwdriver bits and more. I believe the SDS bits are made in Germany which was nice to hear.
You are welcome! Thanks for the feedback.
every set of spade bits i've bought has disappointed so i'm looking forward to seeing good stuff happening here
Get a forstner bit you'll love it.
Hope this one helps!
@@ProjectFarm it has, thank you todd
I am with others 1200+ holes wow that is dedication to your viewers. Thank you Sir
You are welcome!
I've been thinking about getting a borescope. You should do a video on those! There are a bunch of options and the price is anywhere from $15 on amazon to $1500.
I bought the Klein usb borescope from Home Depot. Does a great job for 50 dollars.
Thanks for the suggestion. Happy New Year!
Oh man would have been interested to see how the Hercules did vs the Bauer. Would like to have seen the spyder from lowes as well. Maybe a possible round two? Really enjoyed this one
Would like to see flags over brand names results. Seems like all are made in kung-flu
Thanks for the suggestion for round 2. Happy New Year!
Those Irwin Speedbor are nuts. I've never taken close to 6 seconds to go through a 2x4 in my impact driver, maybe 3 seconds. Obviously drill press is going to be better for consistency testing, but it is awesome by hand. Never tried oak through, I don't come across that.
Thats because he's applying a set amount of pressure. Of course they can drill faster.
Drill presses run far far FAR slower rpm than an impact driver. !
@@DiscoFang maybe sometimes… but the rotational speed of an impact is inversely proportional to the load it’s experiencing… fast unloaded, slow loaded…
why are you using an impact driver to drill?
wrong tool my friend
@@19derrick77 Good point. Then it becomes important to note that Irwin specify a speed of 1500-2000 rpm for their Speedbor. In this test he was running it at 250rpm. If the impact driver is turning at that speed when loaded then it’s def not appropriate.
incredible test detail and effort in this video PF. I notice the macro lens is getting better and closer!
Thanks!
As a woodworker, I am not too concerned about how quickly a Spadebit cuts. What concerns me is how cleanly the bit cuts and without tare out. No Spaidbit cuts cleanly on the exit, This is why a skilled woodworker will stop just short of the exit cut, right at the point where the point of the bit is poking through. Then the cut is completed from the other side. Another fact. When using any Spaid type bit, light pressure is applied at the beginning of the cut. This helps avoid tare out. And by the way. Only an idiot would try to drill through a nail with a spade bit. No disrespect intended. 😁
If you give me a 👍. Let me know if you are an experienced woodworker.
You're right, nobody would purposely run a spade bit through a nail but strangely enough there are a lot of screws and nails used on construction sites (where these bits used the most) and they are often hidden from view. So knowing which brand is going to hold up best to rough and repeated use is the most important aspect of this video.
Spade bits almost always tear out of leave rough edges especially in grainy hardwood like oak......even worse if they have a threaded screw tap point! I only use spades for home repair or non visible surfaces. For clean holes gotta go with high quality forstner bits like the Fisch Wavecutters, but obviously on a whole different price level. If you need hundreds of high quality holes like for a commercial application then maybe Famag Bormax3 with the carbide teeth.....but they are like $80 a bit.
Agreed
Didn't the screw lead on some of these bits negate your "constant down force" rig? Once the thread bites, the weight is redundant really
They still need continued pressure for the screw to bite in softer woods (or not pull out).
I bought a Ryobi drill bit set 25 years ago, that included 5 different sized spade bits. Earlier this summer, a violent wind storm ripped 3 sections of a fence down, snapping five 4x4 posts. I used the 1" spade, with a 12'' extension, to cut 6'' deep into the posts encased in the concrete footing.
Those 5 posts were repaired in mere days. A fresh coat of paint, and the fence looks as good as the day I'd put it up, 29 years ago.
Thanks for sharing.
I would love to see if you can find a way to test these bits with an impact, some bits preform better on an impact then a drill and it would a nice indicator of extreme wear over time.
Yeah I'd like that too, but I think he's going for consistency and unless he has a impact drill press it's not going to happen..
Thanks for the suggestion. Happy New Year!
@@dondiego124
An impact drill mounted on a press could be used. Impact drill bits of various shank sizes (my Milwaukee motor has a 7/16 hex quick release chuck) are used in construction.
I typically love your tests, but with this one you can’t test speed when the main reason some of theses bits are supposed to be faster is because the bit gets pulled into the wood, but that can’t happen in a drill press
Also different types of bits... it didn't make sense; it's like comparing a powerdrill to an impact driver.
I know from experience those bosch spade bits when new are about 4 seconds through a 2x4. And with any self feeding bit they are a pig to get restarted if the thread binds up or strips out.
That is true.
@@TehBIGrat that's why I switched to WoodOwl. They're too fast though do you gotta be careful not to lose control at first. Plus their bits produce beatter-than-Forstner quality holes and hardly ever any tear out.
They're expensive bits but for the most common sizes (¼, ⅜, ¾ etc) They're worth their weight in Project Farm videos lol.
Try one bit and you'll be all psycho trying to talk people into trying them, like I am. Lol.
@@wojtek-33 to a degree yes, but it's still holding the bit back as well. But a lot of that is also due to speed bit is spinning.
I can put a ¾" WoodOwl through a PT 4x4 in under 2 seconds. And then I can test how fast the doctor puts the cast onto my broken wrist. Lol.
The buts in the video being the same speed was an issue. Most people using spade bits tend to light it up and bore fast. Where an Auger or Lenox Style (Forstner-esque) requires slower speed.
The WoodOwl give too much speed, but can cut smooth like a forstner with hardly ever any Chipotle. It's like a Lazer went through it.
I giggled like a( 6'8" 330lb) little girl the first time I used the WoodOwl. It's really ridiculous.
Money must be no object with your tests...not if you can afford 2×4's!
😆😅🤣🤣🤣
Generous Patreon supporters have really opened up the testing possibilities. Some costly videos on the way in 2022
you are so awesome! You do a lot of prep work and the jigs you make are mind blowing! Thanks for your dedication and the knowledge you give us!
Thanks so much!
Just wanted to say your videos are so extremely well done, i just had to subscribe and im not even that intersested in tools and such stuff, but i wanted to reward the effort you put into these videos.
Thanks! Thanks for watching and subscribing!
I just discovered you a few months back while surfing RUclips. I can't express how much I enjoy your channel & all the testing that you do. The amount detail & effort that you put into it amazes me. You keep me entertained for hours on end. I look forward to a lot more testing... Keep up the good work. Thank you !!
Thanks, will do!
All your videos are much appreciated and thank you for going above and beyond in your experiments.
Thanks so much!
Glad to see Hilti being tested, construction company I was with pretty much exclusively used that brand
I can say from experience that the Diablo bits are fantastic. I drilled hundreds of holes in a new construction wiring install and the bit held up the entire time, even with hitting some nails. - I bought the Diablo after chewing up multiple irwin paddle bits. - the irwin speed bit is something I used as well and it also held up well however did eventually wear out by hitting too many nails
Thanks for the feedback.
This is a great video . I used the Diablo for a long time now as an electrician. Thank you !
Thanks and you are welcome! Thanks for sharing.
Incredibly accurate. Thank you so much for all the content!
Thank you!
After years of service I've found I like Diablo best for cutting through wood. Longevity and speed it seems best at. Glad to see it perform similarly here! Great testing and now I know what to look for if Diablo isn't available! Thank you!
Thanks! Thanks for sharing.