A spoon bit is a drill bit designed to bore through wood.
Its name reflects its concave shape. Sharp edges along the curved tip of the bit and its sides shave material out of a bore hole, which then falls into the ‘spoon’ part of the tool.
Spoon bits are particularly popular in the chair-making and pipe-making industries, where there is a need to drill partial holes with rounded bottoms.
Spoon bits have been in use for hundreds of years, and have been discovered as part of both Roman and Viking finds.
Their use in modern woodworking is fairly limited, as more recently invented types of drill bit, such as Forstner bits, are often more efficient.
