Date: 2010-07-23
Gene Wengert, gwengent@wattnet.net
Q: This is not earth-shaking, but we were wondering if they make left-handed drill bits.
A: Yes, they do make drill bits that have the threads running the "wrong" direction, which makes them left handed. They were used primarily before CNC machines.
One important use is when a screw head is damaged and cannot be removed using the normal tools. By drilling out the screw with a left-handed bit, the rotation will tend to unscrew the normal, right-handed screw. That can be very helpful indeed.
Gene Wengert, "The Wood Doctor," has been training people in efficient use of wood for 35 years. He is extension specialist emeritus at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Updated: Aug 09, 2010
This article appeared in CabinetMaker+FDM, October 2010. ©Copyright 2013, All Rights Reserved.