Wear and heat resistant, these stay sharp longer than precise-cut bits made of plain steel. The sharp center point keeps the bit from wandering during drilling to cut accurate straight and overlapping holes, even across the grain. Also known as brad-point bits.

The flutes spiral in the opposite direction of other bits and stay sharp longer than high-speed steel. They’re primarily used to remove stripped screws. Choose a bit that’s slightly smaller than the diameter of the screw’s head. Set your power tool to rotate in reverse. Slowly drill in the center of the screw head, maintaining constant pressure. As the bit penetrates, it will catch onto the screw and reverse it out of the hole. If the screw is badly stripped, you might need to punch a starter hole. Also known as reverse-flute bits.

These end mills have an extended neck with a reduced diameter that prevents them from rubbing against your workpiece when deep milling. Also known as runner cutters, they cut channels with precise angles and dimensions, reducing the need for additional finishing. They have a ball end for milling rounded slots, slopes, and contours. All are center cutting, allowing plunge cuts into a surface.

Made of solid carbide, these end mills are harder, stronger, and more wear resistant than high-speed steel and cobalt steel for the longest life and best finish on hard material. Their extreme hardness means they are brittle, so a highly rigid setup, such as a CNC machine, is necessary to prevent the end mill from breaking.

End mills with fewer flutes provide better chip clearance for high-volume, high-speed plunge, slotting, and roughing cuts; end mills with more flutes provide a finer finish and operate with less vibration when run at high speeds.