THE BEST BITS & AFFORDABLE ABRASIVES ARE AT NAPA
Discover the perfect drill bits and abrasives to tackle any project with ease and precision at NAPA Auto Parts. Whether you're drilling, grinding, cutting or finishing, our extensive selection has everything you need to get the job done right. From versatile drill bits, core drill bits and hole saws to specialty items like pilot pins and guide plates or deburring and reaming bits, we offer automotive tools designed to fit a wide range of applications and materials. Plus, find handy accessories such as drill bit adapters and extensions that add even more flexibility and reach to your toolkit. Shop NAPAonline now to experience the difference top-tier professional tools can make.
For surface preparation and finishing, our collection of abrasives includes high-quality wire brushes, wire wheels and rotary file bits, as well as grinding, cutting and flap discs that deliver smooth, professional results every time. The best tool for weld finishing is the flap disc. These are essentially layered squares of sandpaper bonded onto a plastic or composite disc. This allows them to vary in grit, which gives you the ability to control the finish. This means much less heat is put into the metal, which greatly reduces warpage and discoloring. With flap discs, the final finish needs very little work afterwards. Finishing discs are mostly used with air tools, as they are smaller and usually need more finesse than the broad stroke of a large grinder. Air tools are the most commonly used with cut-off wheels. Because cutting wheels are thin, they break easily, and they catch on edges very easily. But the benefit is that you can work in tight quarters with a small air-powered tool.
Need to maintain the sharpness and precision of your saw blades? Check out our durable saw files and paint nib files that keep your tools in top shape. And for expert soldering work, our soldering flux brushes provide excellent control and performance, helping you achieve clean, reliable joints. NAPA partners with trusted brands like DeWalt, Forney, Milwaukee Tool and more to bring you dependable products that meet the highest standards of quality and durability. Whether you're a seasoned professional or a DIY enthusiast, our drill bits and abrasives offer exceptional value and performance, making your next project easier, faster and more precise.
EVERY LITTLE BIT COUNTS AT NAPA AUTO PARTS
The kind of bit you choose should depend upon the material you're drilling through and the desired size of the hole. Sharp drill bits are safe drill bits. Dull bits cut slowly, require more pressure to cut, and increase heat put into the part. All of these things lead to off-center holes, ruined parts, and broken bits. Sharp drill bits, just like a knife, cut the material quickly and efficiently, so that there is less trauma on the material, and less trauma on your body. What kills the most drill bits is speed. Don't give your drill bits a premature death by spinning them too fast. If you see smoke coming from the part, and you are not using lubricant, the edge on that bit is likely already gone.
The rule of thumb for drilling speed is the harder the material, the slower the speed. You can get away with high speed on a chunk of aluminum. But mild steel and cast iron must be drilled on slow, while stainless must be done very slowly. Hard metals like steel require very hard bits, usually made of cobalt, titanium or carbide. While you can also use these harder bits for softer metals such as aluminum, it isn't necessary, and you'll save money buying standard HSS (high speed steel) bits. HSS bits also work well on wood and fiberglass, and this flexibility can come in handy on projects down the road.
There are numerous shapes and sizes of bits, so pay careful attention to measurements to make sure that you aren't drilling bigger or smaller than you need. The base of a bit that fits into a drill or press is called the shank, and will probably be either round or hexagonal. Round shanks center more reliably in the chuck, but they slip easier too. Know the size shank that your drill chuck will accommodate. If you need a bigger hole drilled, you might need a drill press, because bigger bits require more torque to spin them. Presses provide much more torque than cordless tools, can drill more slowly, and if they get stuck in the process of drilling, the kickback won't break your wrist.
