The smart bit tool from Starborn Industries can help you bang out counterbored holes in a jiffy. It comes with three 1/8-in.-dia. bits, a stub bit, and the counter-boring tool with hex shank.

The Smart Bit is designed to make screw-and-plug joinery even faster. And it succeeds. The tool cuts an 8.5-mm-dia. (about 5/16-in.) hole, which is perfect for most wood and drywall screws, and it leaves a very clean rim.

Although the Smart Bit is designed to work with the Pro Plug System (a separate kit that includes fasteners and plugs; $41), it’s much cheaper to make your own plugs. Cutting your own plugs also makes it a breeze to get seamless grain matches, if that’s what you’re after.

What I love about this tool is the fact that there’s no stop collar to fuss with to adjust the depth. Instead, it has an integrated stop collar that stops spinning when you’ve reached full depth. The stop collar can’t be adjusted, but it’s just right for 3/4-in. stock, even with shallow dadoes.

The Smart Bit Tool sells for $20 (Amazon.com). For more information about the complete Pro Plug System, visit starbornindustries.com/smart-bit.