SUMMARY: I NICE SET OF SHORT AUGER BITS.
BACKGROUND: Most of my auger bits are 12 inches or longer. The chance to evaluate the Spyder Stinger set was a welcome opportunity.
FIT AND FINISH: This is my first look at any tools by Spyder. The bits look nice, with clean machined edges. The blue coating inside the flutes makes them easy to find in the drill drawer.
FEATURES: From the product page, with my comments as appropriate.
• Bores up to 40x faster than conventional woodboring bits, making it ideal for use on both low and high torque cordless drills.
o I don’t know what bits they tested against, but these weren’t even twice as fast as my standard screw-tipped auger bits.
• Featuring Stinger’s patent pending non-clogging, auto feed, tip technology, the power bit won’t wander allowing for no thrust drilling.
o The tip is much smaller than an auger bit and did seem to feed easily.
• Clean and bur-free so excellent for precise applications in hardwood, making through holes in laminated wood materials, and for stud drilling applications where wire will be pulled.
o The 5/8” bit I tested made a much cleaner, tighter hole in an old pressure treated 4x4 than my old, dull 5/8” screw-feed auger (see photos.)
• 25X more holes per charge than conventional spade bits
o This is about as believable as saying it bores 40x faster. I don’t think so.
• Create the fastest and cleanest entry and exit holes
o Comparing this auger to my old auger it was faster with a cleaner entry hole. Was tough to say on the exit holes as they all had some tear out (see photos.)
• 1/4-In impact rated speed hex won't slip in the chuck and is ideal for use in quick change impact drivers.
o The ¼” impact hex head is nice, but I didn’t like using the 5/8” bit in my impact driver. After about an inch of penetration the impact drive kicked it. It worked MUCH better in a standard 20V drill.
• 6-1/2-In overall length.
o Much nicer when drilling holes in 4x4 or thinner materials (see photos.)
• 50% Less drilling torque than other threaded woodboring bits. Drill more holes, save battery power.
o The 5/8” Stinger bit did take less torque than my old auger bit. But to be fair, my old auger bit and drilled a few hundred holes through 4x6 beams and is pretty dull.
• Set includes 1/2, 5/8, 3/4, 1-in Spyder Stinger Power Bits
o For me, this covers the sizes I use most.
OPERATION: The bits chuck into a stander drill easily, with the hex shaft giving a very positive mounting in the chuck. I did one hole in a heavy ¼” impact driver, but it went into impact mode which seemed to be slower than using a standard drill. With my old auger bit the hole was larger than the bit and it would fall through a vertical hole. By comparison, the Stinger bit cut a hole so precisely that the hole would hold the drill bit in.
SUMMARY: A nice set of bits that fills a gap I had in my drill bit collection.
