Bosch 1x EXPERT Self Cut Speed Spade Drill Bit (for Softwood, Particleboard, Ø 22.00 mm, Professional Accessory Rotary Drill/Drivers)

I replaced an ancient hole cutter of a similar design, also for 22mm holes, with this one. I was intending to cut holes in the side of a door to take a mortice lock. Using the old hole cutter, it just spun around and didn't take very much off at all. This Bosch hole cutter is exactly the opposite. It drags itself in thanks to the spiral tip, and chews through the wood at an almost alarming rate. I was using a hand brace and all my force was going into turning it as it pulled itself into the wood, taking a fairly hefty cut for each rotation. I didn't need to push on the brace at all (absolutely no push force required at all to get it to cut). It made a neat and tidy series of connected holes. The holes were overlapping to create the mortice lock cavity, and having measured when I was going to start each hole, the drill never veered off even though there was about 7mm of overlap between the holes. The wood didn't split, even though I was into the door by about 80mm, and drilling by hand. Because of how effective this drill bit is at getting through wood with a 22mm diameter, it has to be 5 stars. I'm just wondering what would happen if I put this into a power drill where the slowest speed was still say 1000rpm. I think it would just fly through the wood in milliseconds and perhaps not be very controllable. I'd say that if you're planning to use this with a power drill, make sure it has a slow start / infinitely variable speed control and take it very slowly. It'll need to have quite a lot of torque to turn this due to the depth of cut. Provided you can provide enough strength in your arm to stop the drill wrenching out of your hand, hole cutting this way will be fast, almost effortless, very effective, and neat.

Great for drilling joists

So easy to use. Super sharp and goes through wood brilliantly, pretty good on UPVC too.

Managed about 5-6 holes and that was that, wouldn’t cut butter. Waste of money.

Seems like a sturdy bit, however it chipped the wood and splintered everything. Tried on different soft and hard woods, had the same effect. The cheap bit I got from the corner shop for £1 worked far better.