Countersink Bit Doesn’t Leave a Mark

Drill bits with built-in countersinks tend to leave a slightly ragged holeand clog easily. Also, even though they often come with a depth-stop collar,I never use it for fear the stop will score the surface of my work. I’ve resigned myself to the limitations of these bits because they do their job quickly.

 

However, a new countersink from Lee Valley has changed my thinking. It combines a high-speed-steel drill bit with a carbide countersink and free-spinning low-friction depth stop. The countersink leaves a clean hole, and the adjustable depth stop doesn’t mar the surface. The large openings around the collar allow the chips to clear effectively and eliminate clogging. The drill bit smoked a bit in hard maple, but otherwise performed well. Included is a double-ended Allen wrench for bit length and collar adjustments, a nice touch.