Lip & Spur Wood Drill Bits

Lip and spur wood drill bits, also known as brad point bits, are made specifically for drilling clean, accurate holes in timber. This guide explains how they work and why they beat an ordinary twist drill in wood.

How they work — A sharp centre point locates the bit exactly where you want it and stops it wandering as you start. Two raised spurs on the outside score the wood fibres before the main edge cuts, so the hole has a clean rim with no splintering or breakout. The flutes then clear the waste as you drill.

Why choose them over a twist drill — A standard twist drill is made for metal and tends to skate, wander and tear the grain in wood. A lip and spur bit places the hole precisely and leaves a tidy edge on both faces, which matters for joinery, dowelling, hinges and any visible work where a rough hole would show.

Choosing a size — Match the bit to the hole you need, whether that is clearance for a screw, a dowel diameter or a hinge boss. Order the individual sizes you use most, or a set to cover a range.

For drilling metal see our HSS Drill Bits collection, and for masonry see SDS Drill Bits.

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