pipemakersforum.com

Spade Bit:
Pros:
Cheap $2.00 to $10.00
Easy to shape and sharpen (5 to 10 minutes on belt & grinder for shaping)
Very Clean Cut and no need for a pilot hole

Cons:
If not balanced well, it will chatter a little while drilling.
Must be sharpened often

S&D Bit:
Pros:
Moderately inexpensive $28.00 to $55
Very Clean Cut and no need for a pilot hole
Very Very fast cutting
Very long lasting between sharpening

Cons:
Difficult to shape the bit and sharpen
Price for shaped one is high ($85+)

Spoon Bit:
Pros
Very clean cut
Easy to sharpen

Cons
Very costly $75.00+
Pilot hole must be drilled first
Very slow drilling
Must be sharpened often

There are some out there that have been touting that spoon bits are better for drill first than spade bits. Take a look at the pros and cons and decide for yourself.

On the spade bit, 2 things, cut the some of the shaft off, you don't need a 6" shaft, also if you drill a pilot home first the chatter is minimal. I first drill with a jobber bit the depth I want, then use that hole as a pilot/guide for my modified spade bit. With the short shaft and the pilot hole the chatter was cut to almost nothing.

dogcatcher wrote:On the spade bit, 2 things, cut the some of the shaft off, you don't need a 6" shaft, also if you drill a pilot home first the chatter is minimal. I first drill with a jobber bit the depth I want, then use that hole as a pilot/guide for my modified spade bit. With the short shaft and the pilot hole the chatter was cut to almost nothing.

I have never had chatter without drilling a pilot hole. What speed are you drilling at? I am at 1000 rpm. I also cut the shaft off a bit.

My favorite bits to drill with are my S&D bits. They cut the fastest and cleanest. I tend to drill most frequently with spoon bits though.

I'm with Wayne: I love my S&D bits also. The really are difficult to grind yourself, though.
And they leave the chamber walls nice and smooth.

wdteipen wrote:My favorite bits to drill with are my S&D bits. They cut the fastest and cleanest. I tend to drill most frequently with spoon bits though.

Why drill with the spoon bits more frequently if the S&D bits are your favorite?

PremalChheda wrote:

wdteipen wrote:My favorite bits to drill with are my S&D bits. They cut the fastest and cleanest. I tend to drill most frequently with spoon bits though.

Why drill with the spoon bits more frequently if the S&D bits are your favorite?

Freehand versus two-jaw chuck? That's my assumption, cause Wayne is talented.

Yeah, I've not been doing much drilling first.