When drilling smaller objects, it’s important to clamp them down properly, because often the drill bit will try to “grab” the material, making it difficult to hold onto. However, if you have Brad point bits, the amount of grabbing should be greatly reduced. Clamp the plastic tightly to a stable surface and use a spare piece of plywood underneath to support the portion of the plastic you are drilling. More gentle bits designed for use with wood will perform a little better, but may not have the right style of tip to make a clean entry into the plastic you’re drilling. Is it worth buying a drill bit set? We wouldn’t recommend drill bits you’ve bought for plastic be used on wood or masonry, or vice versa.

Once you know what drill bit you should use for your project, it’s not difficult to work with plastic. You may notice the difference between a cheap and expensive drill bit, but the most important thing is to use the right drill for the job. In this guide, we take a look at the best drill bits for plastic and share some tips on how to get the cleanest, smoothest holes when drilling this material. Which Drill Bits to Use on Plastic When drilling plastic, it is critical to use a slower drill speed. This will keep the high speeds from causing tremendous friction, and therefore melting through the plastic. A slower pace will also enable the chips to exit the hole immediately—the greater the size of the hole, the slower the speed of the drill. If you are using a twist drill bit, I suggest starting with a smaller size, and then slowly working up to a drill bit the size of your final desired hole.

The best drill bits you can buy in 2023

The other nice thing about sets is they often come with a nice holding case. This means you’ll always have easy access to your drill bits without having to rummage around for them, which is nice. How to drill into plastic

While drilling, apply a lubricant to remove unwanted debris and reduce heat, especially when drilling deeper holes. Lubricants such as WD40, canola oil, or even vegetable oil.

Quick Comparison Table

As for the actual drilling technique, you want to apply a consistent but firm amount of pressure to the drill, to prevent the bit moving as you drill. Most plastic drill bit sets come with around 5-10 different bits. This means you get different sizes to match the different-diameter holes you want to make, as well as spares in case you suddenly find that one of your tips has gone blunt. For a start, drill bits are made from a number of different materials. And then the shape of the cutting face can be radically different depending on the material it’s designed to drill through. When you factor in price, the range of sizes available within a set, and the brand, the choice can be bewildering. When you think of a drill bit, most likely, a standard twist bit will spring to mind. These are suited to drilling metal or plastic. They have a sharp tip and the twisted grooves along the length to allow material to be drawn out of the hole to help keep the bit straight. What does a wood drill bit look like?