Why would you choose a spoon bit over other drill bits?

9th March 2020

	Why would you choose a spoon bit over other drill bits?
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			Spoon bits can be seen as specialised tools, although they are versatile enough that they can be used in a range of woodworking projects. What are their strengths and weaknesses when it comes to wood boring?

			Advantages
			Proficiency for drilling partial holes Boring part way through a piece of timber is the main strength of a spoon bit. They leave round-bottomed holes, which are sturdier than square-bottomed holes, as the base is better supported by the amount of material that is left intact.

			As the deepest area in a round-bottomed bore hole is the centre, spoon bits can drill almost all of the way through a piece of timber, leaving only one point where the remaining layer of wood is thin. The advantage of this is that the bottom of the hole is much stronger than if it were flat, and the curved sides help to reinforce the hole.

			Examples include making holes for circular mortises.

			While some types of wood bit use sharp spurs that are threaded (guide screws) or unthreaded (gimlet points) to centre themselves, spoon bits do not, meaning there is no risk that either one will break out of the surface of the wood ahead of the main body of the bit.

			Round-bottomed holes are also ideal if the inside of the bore hole will be visible once your woodworking project is finished, such as in the case of wooden egg cups, small bowls or smoking pipes.

			Angled holes Once a spoon bit has a niche, or “dish”, to grip onto, it is capable of drilling a hole at any angle.

			Drilling at an angle will work even if it is very shallow to the surface of the wood. The bit will bore into end grain or across the grain equally well.

			Symmetrical bit As spoon bits are symmetrical after production, they can be used equally well whether you turn them clockwise or anti-clockwise.

			Disadvantages
			Hand powered It is generally not recommended to use spoon bits with hand-held drill drivers, as they can be unstable. Using a lathe or drill press, or using a hand brace (which has a turning speed that is dramatically reduced) are the safest options.

			Boring a hole by hand with a spoon bit is a much more time consuming process than being able to use a powered hand-held driver with another bit, such as an auger bit or Forstner bit.

			Hand made As spoon bits tend to be forged by hand, they can be significantly more expensive than other drill bits.