When I drill countersinks for screws, I have two goals: zero chatter and a clean rim on top. Amana’s new countersink bits (amanatool.com) provide both, but with a twist. Unlike the steel countersinks I’ve owned, which tended to dull quickly, Amana’s countersinks have durable carbide-tipped cutters (the first on the market).

To test their durability and cut quality, I drilled more than 200 countersinks in hard maple, brittle white oak, hardwood veneer plywood, and MDF. Then I used a magnifier to check out the quality of cut. I was impressed. From start to finish, the countersinks were crisp, clean, and chatterfree. The exception was the MDF, which had a bit of fuzz around the rims—easy to clean up, though.

The bits are available for Nos. 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14 wood screws. You also can get countersinks for quick-release hex chucks and versions with tapered drills.

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