American Farriers Journal
American Farriers Journal is the “hands-on” magazine for professional farriers, equine veterinarians and horse care product and service buyers.
Advertise Follow Us
How to Select the Best Drill Bits and Taps
Don’t compromise quality, durability and efficiency with the wrong bits and taps
Pictured Above: Drill bits bought at commercial home improvement stores are not made to withstand the rigors of drilling and tapping horseshoes. They are typically made to be versatile for those who work with wood and plastics. As a result, their longevity and performance are compromised. Photos: Ryen Carlson
When drilling and tapping horseshoes, there are a huge variety of uses for drill bits and they come in a mind-boggling assortment of styles and sizes.
Most farriers buy their drill bits off the shelf at popular home improvement stores. These generic bits compromise their longevity and performance in metals to also be more versatile in woods and plastics. Drill bits are available in a variety of materials, lengths, configurations, diameters, helix angles and tip designs. (For more, please see “Stud Holes: Tips, Tricks, Misconceptions and Mistakes)
Materials
Most people are familiar with “high-speed steel” (HSS) drill bits and “cobalt” (HSS-Co) drill bits. They are commonly available and perform reasonably well in a variety of conditions without being too expensive.
Farrier Takeaways
- Carbide drill bits last longer than high-speed steel (HSS) and cobalt drill bits but are more expensive.
- You should always use the shortest bit necessary to accomplish the job. Usually, this means using screw machine length bits when drilling shoes.
- Chamfering or countersinking your holes is critical. This is best achieved with a step bit, but you can use a second chamfer bit or collar, as well.
- The standard drill size for a 3/8-16 is 5/16 inches, but O…
Premium content is for our Digital-only and Premium subscribers. A Print-only subscription doesn't qualify. Please purchase/upgrade a subscription with the Digital product to get access to all American Farriers Journal content and archives online.
Top Articles
Current Issue
Plenty of Hoof-Care Growth in 50 Years
Celebrating 2 Decades of Extraordinary Hoof-Care Learning
Butler’s Insights Hold Strong
Current Issue
Special Report For Equine Veterinarians
American Farriers Journal is the “hands-on” magazine for professional farriers, equine veterinarians and horse care product and service buyers.
Must Read Free Eguides
Download these helpful knowledge building tools
- Caring for Your Horse During a Pandemic
- CBD Products Have Promise for Farriers, but Buyer Beware
- Sharpening Knives with a Buffer
- Winter Hoof Care
Videos
Remembering Red Renchin with Mark Ellis: Part 3
In this episode, Mark Ellis, a Wisconsin farrier who learned the ropes with Renchin, recalls Red’s relationships with area veterinarians, his legacy and the second career as American Farriers Journal’s technical editor.
Events
Michigan Horseshoers Association 55th Annual Clinic
Date: 01/02/25
Location: Lansing, MI
View Event
Top Directory Listings
Life Data Labs Inc
Life Data Labs Inc. is a dedicated product manufacturer committed to producing premium quality animal nutrition and health products through continuous product improvement and new product development. First-class ingredients, fresh products, consistent high quality and scientifically proven effectiveness are the principal features of Life Data Labs animal health products. And that's why they've produced the #1 recommended hoof supplement by farriers for 12 consecutive years.
Kawell USA
Kawell develops and produces copper alloy horseshoes and inserts, giving horses the care that they need to fight issues associated with white line disease, seedy toe and thrush.
SmartPak
From the feed room to the tack room, SmartPak offers innovative solutions to help riders take great care of their horses. SmartPak was founded in 1999 with the introduction of the patented SmartPak™ supplement feeding system. The revolutionary, daily dose SmartPaks are custom-made for your horse, individually labeled and sealed for freshness.