A traditional shell-type drill bit designed for use in a hand brace. It features a semi-cylindrical shaft similar to a gouge bit, but the bottom cutting edge is bent inward to form a small lip or 'nose'. This lip cuts and lifts the wood fibers at the bottom of the hole, pulling the bit forward and clearing shavings more effectively than a plain gouge bit. It is especially useful for boring end-grain or roughing out deep mortises.
Heard on the job
Grab a half-inch nose bit for the brace so we can hog out the waste in these mortises.
Insider tip
Because it lacks a lead screw, you need to start a nose bit with a gouge cut or a deep awl mark to keep it from wandering across the wood surface.