Performance Tips

1. We have tested SMART-BIT® under rigorous conditions. Going into ipe deck wood, with only minimal rests between holes, we were able to get 300 to 500 holes per bit. Eventually the edges of any bit will get dull, causing heat to build up faster and finally causing the bit to break. When this happens, simply remove the old bit and replace it with a new one. The most important thing in extending the life of a SMART-BIT® is to drill in a straight and stable fashion. Two-handed operation is highly recommended. In particular, drilling into ipe or similarly dense materials is hard work. Rest as needed and don't sacrifice stability for speed.
2. You will know when the hole is completed when the collar stops spinning.
3. Occasionally when working with some brands of plastic/wood composites, the waste material can gather inside the cavity, requiring cleaning after approximately 10 to 20 holes. To clean, simply hold the free-spinning stop collar in one hand and run the drill away from the work surface. The waste material will simply eject itself. If more cleaning is ever needed, the SMART-BIT® cavity has been conveniently sized to permit using the end of a deck screw to clean it out. This, however, should not happen too often, if at all.