The author tested eight brands of drill bits for the accuracy of their stated dimensions, the efficiency of their design, and their chip-clearing ability. The 3/8-in. bits were selected for the most rigorous tests, drilling 200 holes in hard maple and 875 in particleboard. The 3/16-in. bits were tested for clogging in pine; the 1/2-in. bits were tested on white oak. He found that the spade-shaped bits performed the worst, the W-shaped bits produced mixed results, and the spur-shaped bits were best overall.

The Harbor Freight spade-shaped bit clogged to the point that it stopped cutting, and the center point on the 3/8-in. bit was so far off center that the test board shook violently when the bit engaged the wood. It scored a good in entry-hole rating but poor in through-hole rating and chip clearing.

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