SDS Plus drill bit is a masonry drill bit. It has a 4 rails shank geometry. Mainly SDS plus drill bit is used for concrete drilling with rotary hammers. SDS drill bits tip is made with tungsten carbide. Hence it can withstand higher compressions and frictions with heating. SDS drill bits have 2 cutters and 4 cutter cutting heads. Among them, 4 cutters cutting head is highly efficient.
SDS Plus bits are high-power hammering drill bits that are used mainly in demolition and drilling tasks. Due to the shank geometry, it can use as a quick change drill bit, as well as a hammering mechanism that will transfer to the SDS drill bit efficiently due to the chank geometry.
SDS Plus bits can drill through the toughest materials, particularly in renovation or demolition, with less risk of bit breaking. SDS Plus drill bits come in a smaller and thinner shape with two open and two closed grooves affixed by locking balls. Mainly, SDS Plus drill bits are best for drilling small-sized holes as they are thinner when compared to SDS Max drill bits.
Where To Use The SDS Plus Drill Bits?
These drill bits are amazingly durable, as the slotted drive system in these drills needs strong drill bits. Consequently, SDS drill bits are used to bore holes in heavy materials such as brick, concrete, steel and stone. They are not an ideal choice for materials such as wood and metal.
For the ones who engage in massive household projects such as removing walls and breaking up driveways which require a lot of power, it is recommended to go for an SDS drill with SDS Plus bits over a regular drill bit.
When working on the toughest masonry projects, if you use SDS Plus drill bits, you can get the work done more efficiently and easier.
What Is The Geometry Of The SDS Plus Drill Bit? (Shank Geometry)
The SDS Plus shank is designed with four rails, and the diameter of an SDS Plus shank is primarily 10 millimeters.
The SDS shank is pushed into the spring-loaded chuck without fastening. The shank is the verge of a drill bit gripped by the drill chuck. The drilling edges of the drill bit contact the workpiece and are attached through the shaft with the shank that fits into the chuck.
The drill bit is not fully held in the chuck, like a piston, it slides back and forth. It does not slip while rotating because of the non-circular shank cross-section, which fits the chuck.
What Is An SDS Plus Adapter?
There can be incidents where you must use an SDS Plus drill bit, but you can not find the SDS-Plus drill machine to use it with. In such times, SDS Plus adapters come in handy as they convert the SDS-Max machine to accept an SDS-Plus drill bit.
Moreover, SDS Plus adapters allow chisels and appliances to be used in SDS-Max machines offering the pliability of user choices. When using SDS Plus adapters, do not overdo it, be cautious of the bit diameter to avoid burnout. You might damage the adapter shaft if you exceed the shaft’s torque capability.
What Are The Manufactured Materials Of SDS Plus Drills?
SDS plus drill bits are made to withstand high friction and pressures while drilling, producing heat and impacting the quality of the bit. Due to this reason, they are made of tungsten carbide.
Tungsten carbide-included SDS drill bits are nearly twice as rigid as steel-made ones and effectively shed heat. The tip material of SDS Plus drills maintains a pointed cutting edge better than steel tools, providing a flawless finish and productive material removal.
Further, some SDS plus drill bits frequently use harder titanium carbide. But they do not shed heat like carbide-enriched drill bits. Their thermal conductivity is much greater than tungsten carbide, reducing their durability.
Can You Use SDS Plus Drill Bits In SDS Max Drills?
Using an SDS Plus adapter, you can use SDS Plus drill bit on SDS Max drill. But it is not recommended by the majority of professionals. The SDS Plus bit needs its own SDS Plus hammer drill, and the same goes for the SDS Max bits. The size of the shank restricts every bit from being compatible with other types of rotary hammer drills.
When inserting both SDS Plus and SDS Max bits into a hammer drill, what the users have to do is just insert it, and it will remain still with its shank design securing the bit from wiggling loose. Rotary hammer drills fitted with an SDS chuck are spring-loaded. It is as simple as inserting and twisting.
SDS Vs SDS Plus Drill Bits – Which Is Better?
SDS drills are the initially invented bit in the SDS drill series. SDS Plus is an improved form of SDS drill bits. Accordingly, SDS plus drill bits are more powerful compared to SDS drill bits.
SDS and SDS Plus drill bit sizes generally vary from 5/32” to 1-1/8”. Both these types are mainly used for drilling harder materials such as stones, concrete and bricks. Yet, SDS Plus drill bits perform better than SDS drill bits.
However, both SDS and SDS plus drill bits can not be used on concrete with inward regard. Therefore users will have to use an equal-sized rebar cutter.
How Deep Can An SDS Plus Drill Bit Drill?
The following table depicts the maximum size of how deeply a few widely used SDS Plus drill bits can drill through.
| SDS Plus Drill Bit | Drilling Depth |
| HILTI 421980 TE-CX X-Geometry SDS Plus Hammer Drill | 5-3/4 inches |
| HILTI 435007 TE-CX X-Geometry SDS Plus Hammer Drill | 9-1/2 inches |
| RUKO SDS-Plus Hole Saw Drill Bit | 2-3/32 inches |
| CDTooling SDS Plus Carbide Tipped Hammer drill Bit (ID 8664) | 6 to 10 inches |
Can SDS Plus Drill Bits Be Used In Regular Drills?
Using SDS bits in regular drills is not a wise thing to do. The chuck of a regular rotary or hammer drill is not compatible with SDS plus bits. This will negatively affect the quality of the work.
However, many tend to clamp SDS Plus bits in regular drill chucks, which has various drawbacks. When tightening the chuck, it will fit the bit unevenly. Users will have to keep tightening the drill chuck from time to time.
Therefore it is always better to purchase an SDS drill for the bit to eliminate the troubles such as switching chucks and dealing with drill adapters.
