Woodworking can be a fun hobby or a lucrative business, but either way, having the right tools for the job can make all the difference to the quality of the end result.

If you’re an amateur woodworker, one of the first tools you’ll need to get to grips with is a drill, and it’s important that you select the right drill bits for the job, so that you can work faster and create cuts that are cleaner, with a higher level of finish.

To help you, here is a short breakdown of the best drill bits for amateur woodworkers:

Twist bits

Commonly found in wood shops, these versatile drill bits have a tip that’s pointed, and can be used for drilling into materials like plastic, wood and metal, leaving virtually no tear-out. That said, if the pilot hole isn’t good enough, they can wobble or wander, hence they’re recommended for expanding existing holes.

Brad point bits

Ranging in diameter from 1/8 of an inch to 1 inch, brad point bits have a pointed spur on their tip designed to help you center it before you start drilling. Best for making holes that are perpendicular, you’ll also notice that there are sharp spurs on the flute tips of these drill bits to stop the wood from tearing as it enters. Using this bit for making an existing hole bigger, isn’t recommended.

Forstner bits

If you need to create holes with a large diameter and that are clean and flat, work on cabinet hardware, or address overlapping mortises, the Forstner bit is ideal.For drilling deep holes, you may need to keep a vacuum cleaner handy to stop the wood shavings from clogging up the hole.

Combination countersink bits

If you need to make starter holes for screws, this drill bit is the tool of choice, and will help you fulfil the task quickly and with ease. Creating space for the screw shank, it can also counter-bore if required, while keeping flush to the surface of the wood. Able to handle a variety of sizes that match up with screws of various diameters, this bit with its easily adjusted collar, is a good bit to have in your workshop.

Self-centering bits

Simplistic to use, self-centering bits can help quickly make a pilot hole when installing hardware, and with many sizes to choose from, finding the right one for your needs is a cinch. With housing that’s spring-loaded, and sized to fit a hinge leaf’s screw hole, but which retracts upon drilling, you get a perfectly centered pilot hole every time.

Spade bits

For holes drilled into wood that hasn’t been finished, a spade bit is just right for the job. As with other drill bits, there is a central point to help guide the bit as you drill, external spurs to limit any tear-out surrounding the hole, and they areavailable in widths of a ¼ inch up to 1 and ½ inches.

Drill gauge

Able to accurately measure a drill bits size, a drill gauge is a handy piece of kit to have in your woodworking shop, and can also help to identify any wear and tear to the cutting edges. With the use of a drill gauge, you can easily check to see if the pattern you’ve drilled matches the plan, avoiding wastage of work and keeping your project looking as you intend it to.