What is the standard angle for a drill?

Author: Mr. Sherwood Baumbach  |  Last update: Friday, August 22, 2025

The two most common drill bit point angles are 118 degrees and 135 degrees. The difference between the two is the shape; a 118-degree bit is steeper, more pointed and has a smaller chisel. The 118-degree bit cuts more aggressively and is generally used for drilling into soft material like wood.

Is a 118 or 135 drill angle better?

A 118-degree drill bit is best for softer materials like wood and plastics, offering more control and precision. For harder materials such as metal, a 135-degree bit is better because it reduces walking on the surface and requires less pushing force.

What is the proper drill bit angle?

118 degrees makes a great hole and is considered by many to be a universal standard drill bit angle for the mass majority of your drilling needs. Only when drilling with a 118 degree bit in hard metal is a pilot hole recommended.

What is the best degree for a drill bit?

The best angle to make a hole using a power drill depends on the material being drilled. For general purposes, a 118-degree or 135-degree angle is often recommended.

What is the standard center drill angle?

The 60-degree point angle is the most common and is used for general-purpose centre drilling, providing a sharp and accurate centre hole. The 90-degree point angle is used for larger centre holes or applications where a wider angle is needed for better alignment and stability.

Darex V-390: About Drill Point Angles and Lip Relief Angles

What is the standard drill angle?

The two most common drill bit point angles are 118 degrees and 135 degrees. The difference between the two is the shape; a 118-degree bit is steeper, more pointed and has a smaller chisel.

What is the lip clearance angle of a drill?

If the clearance angle is too much, the cutting edges will be weak, and if is too small, the drill will not cut. So, the optimum value of the lip clearance angle of twist drill for general purpose should be 8 to 12°.

What is the best angle to sharpen drill bits?

For a DIY enthusiast, it is not so critical if the point angle is 118 or 120 degrees. In my experience, a somewhat sharp drill bit is always better than a blunt one. The chisel edge must be at an angle of 55 degrees to the main cutting edge.

What is the best angle for a spot drill?

Ideally, the center of a carbide drill should always be the first point to contact your part. Therefore, a spotting drill should have a slightly larger point angle than that of your drill. Common drill point angles range from 118° to 140° and larger.

What is the rule for drill bit?

A common rule of thumb is to use a drill bit that matches the diameter of the screw's shank for pilot holes. For wood, a bit that is slightly smaller than the screw's outer diameter is recommended, while for metal, a bit equal to the screw size is preferred.

What is the drilling angle?

The two most commonly used tip angles in HSS drills are 118° and 135°, each of which is suitable for specific materials and conditions: 118°: This angle is the standard for general-purpose drill bits.

What is the best drill brand?

Which is the best cordless drill? At a glance:
  • Best overall – Makita DK 18015 X1 two-piece kit.
  • Best value cordless drill – Black + Decker Cordless combi hammer drill kit.
  • Best combi drill – Bosch Universal Impact.
  • Best SDS drill – DeWalt DCH 172.
  • Best professional drill – Festool TPC 18/4.

How do you drill a perfect angle?

Instructions
  1. Choose the Proper Drill Bits. Choose a bit with a diameter that matches the final hole size you plan to drill, then choose a starter bit with a diameter about half that size. ...
  2. Drill a Shallow Pilot Hole at 90 Degrees. ...
  3. Shift the Pilot Hole to the Desired Angle. ...
  4. Switch to a Larger Bit. ...
  5. Drill the Final Hole.

What number should I set my drill to?

Check the speed settings on the drill -- the big switch on the top. Setting 1 is low speed and high torque, which is ideal for uses such as driving screws into the material. Setting 2 is high speed and low torque, which is good for drilling holes.

Is 135 degrees a right angle?

b) 90 degrees is called a right angle. c) 135 degrees is greater than 90 degrees and an angle that is greater than the right angle (90 degrees) and less than 180 degrees is an obtuse angle.

What is the most common drill bit angle?

The most common included angles for drills are 118° and 135°. These angles are an artifact from the time when drilling was largely a manual process, and the drill bits were conventional conical shapes.

What is the best cutting angle for drill bits?

118-degree angle: This is the most common angle for general purpose drilling in materials such as wood, plastic, and soft metals. 135-degree angle: This angle is used for harder materials such as stainless steel, cast iron, and other metals.

What is the correct sharpening angle?

Most blades manufactured in North America are approximately 20 degrees, providing a good balance between durability and sharpness. This range contains the best angle for knife sharpening when you're looking for a general-use blade.

What does a right angle drill look like?

A right angle drill is basically an electric drill with a head set at a 90-degree angle to the grip. The head on a right angle drill is typically much shorter than what you'd see in a traditional model, too, and the grip is usually designed to be comfortable when operated with one hand.

What does too much clearance on the back of the cutting lips of a drill cause?

Too much lip clearance (over 15°) will cause cutting lips to break down - re-point/sharpen or replace the drill. Lip Clearance Not enough clearance (under 9°) requires added feed pressure which can cause the drill to split up the web - re-point, or replace the drill.

What is the primary relief angle of a drill?

The primary relief angle generally ranges from 6°-15°.

What is the G code for drilling?

The CNC code G81 is used with center drills and drilling operations. These would be different tools in the CNC machine, so two sections of the program would use G81. One section for the center drill. Another section for the drill tool.

What is the drill code blue?

Cardiac or respiratory arrest drills, signified as code blue, are performed on mannequins to ensure proper readiness in the event of real-world, medical emergencies.

What are the 3 settings on a drill?

Setting 1 is low speed/high torque and is best for driving screws. Setting 2 is a medium speed/torque and can be used for drilling or driving. Setting 3 is the highest speed and is meant for drilling or driving fasteners.

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