Fast Drilling and Long-Lasting Bits
Irwin’s upgraded auger and self-feed bits last longer, can be resharpened, and make easy work of drilling large holes in wood.
Aside from the new black oxide protective finish and the name of the line of drill bits printed on the shafts, Irwin’s upgraded Speedbor Supreme auger and self-feed bits look pretty similar to the old bits they replaced. But Irwin claims the new bits will last three times longer than previous models, even while blasting through nail-ridden framing lumber. Apparently the key to the bits’ increased toughness is their bimetallic cutting surfaces, similar to that found on the teeth of popular metal-cutting bits and blades.
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All of the Speedbor Supreme bits have a 7/16-in. hex shaft, which will fit into either a 1/2-in. standard drill chuck or the larger quick-release hex chucks found on some heavy-duty right-angle drills. I decided to try out a couple of the new bits on a remodeling project where I needed to bore holes in some framing to run new wires and conduit. Both the 7/8-in. auger bit and the 2-9/16-in. self-feed bit cut through multiple studs and wall plates with ease, but I would definitely recommend only using them with a true right-angle drill—or at least a drill with a sturdy side handle—as the aggressive pitch of these bits creates too much torque to safely use in a standard hand-held drill without risk of injury.
I’ve only used the bits for one project so far, so I can’t speak to their longevity, though they definitely cut faster than any bits I’ve ever used before. And with their beefy threaded tips, each bit stayed straight on its mark without the wandering that you might expect from a spade bit or Forstner bit. In fact, when I drilled down through a floor plate with my auger bit, it made a perfect half-circle groove along the entire side of a piece of 2×10 blocking below the floor without deflecting at all. As a testament to how long Irwin expects these resharpenable bits to last, they even include a spare replaceable center point with each self-feed bit.
The Speedbor Supreme self-feed bits come in five common sizes from 1-1/2-in. to 2-9/16-in., each with a 6-in. shaft, which is is long enough to easily drill through doubled up studs or joists. The auger bits are available in 1/8-in. increments from 1/2-in. to 1-in. diameter for the 7-1/2-in.-long versions and 3/8-in. to 1-in. for the 18-in.-long bits. Prices for individual bits run from $20 to $60.
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Main photo courtesy of the manufacturer. All other photos by Rob Wotzak.
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