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How to Maintain Your SDS Drill Bits

Compared to ordinary drill bits, SDS drill bits undergo rigorous and heavy-duty drilling. With the proper care and maintenance, you can extend their lifespan – reducing the cost of replacements and preventing breakages during a job.

Clean after use – Dust, slurry, and debris should be removed from the flutes after each drilling session. Blocked flutes reduce dust extraction, increase friction, and generate heat that can further accelerate the wear of your bits.

Do not use oil/lubricants on your SDS drill bits. This will reduce the hammering effect of your bits, and make the drilling less efficient. Oil and lubricants will also attract dust when drilling, forming a gritty paste which will also wear down the drill bit.

Correct storage – Store bits in a dry, protective case or rack to prevent rust and corrosion on your drill bits.

Monitor tip condition – Carbide and hardened tips wear gradually under repeated impact and drilling. Worn or rounded tips reduce drilling speed, increase the overall effort to use, and may damage the material. Make sure to replace bits promptly when they become significantly worn.

Avoid overheating – Prolonged continuous drilling without pauses can cause the bit to overheat, softening the tip and weakening the bond between tip and shank. Allow the bit to cool periodically during extended use.

Match bit to substrate – Using the correct tip design (e.g. cross-head for rebar, two-cutter for blockwork) reduces stress on the bit and prolongs their lifespan. Using the wrong type of tip can accelerate wear and increase the risk of tips breaking.

Expected lifespan
Service life depends on substrate hardness, drilling technique, and bit quality. Carbide-tipped SDS bits typically provide the longest durability in reinforced concrete, and are the preferred choice amongst most workers.

Overall value
Although SDS bits represent a higher initial cost than conventional masonry bits, their increased efficiency, reduced slippage, and extended service life result in fewer replacements, faster job completion, and more consistent results in heavy-duty drilling.

SDS drill bits are a fundamental tool in today’s construction and heavy-duty trade work. Their slotted shank design, combined with the hammer action of SDS rotary drills, delivers greater impact energy, drilling speed, and reliability than ordinary drill bits when drilling masonry materials. By selecting the correct bit type and tip design for the material, maintaining safe operating practices, and carrying out proper care and storage, you can achieve consistent results while extending your overall tool lifespan.

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