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Does your drill bit get stuck in the middle of the pole when trying to install a new frame? Does it seem like it takes forever to get your hole drilled? Or do you need to push on your drill with crazy amounts of pressure to get your bit through the pole? These are all common situations that arise when lineman aren’t using a good quality auger drill bit. Below are 4 of the best lineman auger drill bits available on the market today, many recommended by other lineman in the trade.
Best Overall: Wood Owl Tri-Cut 13/16 Ultra Smooth Auger Bit
This is my personal favorite on the list. This bit just eats right through the pole and leaves a nice smooth hole with zero wood chips to deal with. It has a unique tri-cut design with a raised edge that helps it cut without resistance.
This Wood Owl bit is made of carbon steel, measures 18 inches long, and weighs about 13 ounces.
If you want a bit that you know is going to last, make your work day the most efficient and least tiresome, this is the bit for you. I seriously can’t believe how good this bit performs day in, day out, all day long.
Best Budget: Irwin WeldTec Auger Drill Bit 3/4
This Irwin bit is what I used when I first got into the industry. It does it’s job and is a little lighter on the wallet, but it does have a couple downfalls in comparison to the Wood Owl and Black Widow bits-durability and ease of use.
In this line of work on average I will drill about 15 holes a day, a few days a week. At that rate this bit will last less than 6 months before it starts struggling on new poles or some of those hard green poles. But honestly, if you work in the back easement on old poles that don’t put up much of a fight, this bit will perform just fine.
In comparison to other’s on this list it’s a good backup bit if something happens, but I would just spend the extra bucks and get one of the better options on this list.
Best Runner-Up: Black Widow Wood Pole Bit
One of the most highly mentioned and recommended auger bits that lineman talk about is this Black Widow. Ya it’s got a cool name, but it’s reputation for quality is what keeps this bit near the top of the list.
The Black Widow has a ton to like about it such as:
- heat treated
- great cutting spur
- great flute design
- self feeding drilling
The manufacture says it will perform against the toughest poles with ease AND cut your time in half. And the way fellow lineman swear by it, I believe it. When I asked lineman what auger bit was their favorite, the responses were overwhelimingly Black Widow!
That being said, I haven’t tried it so I couldn’t give it the top spot…plus I love the Wood Owl!
Honorable Mention: Milwaukee Shockwave Lineman’s Impact Auger Bit
The Milwaukee Shockwave auger bit is a solid choice and pairs quite nicely with a Milwaukee impact drill 😉 It was designed for lineman and wooden utility poles in mind so can rest assured knowing it’s going to get the job done on most poles.
The Shockwave is equipped with a single spur, made of steel, has a wide flute for design for wood chip removal, and a 7/16 hex shank that fits most quick connect impact drills. One of the best things about this bit is the fact that it is so convenient. If something happens you can just run to the nearest home depot and pick a new one up, super convenient.
However, I know it doesn’t perform as well as the Wood Owl, costs more than the Wood Owl, and doesn’t have near the amount of raving fans as the Black Widow. For those reasons I have to put the Milwaukee Shockwave auger bit below the Wood Owl and Black Widow. Much like the Irwin, it’s a solid backup.
Final Words
A great drill bit will take less pressure off of your drill, extending the drill life. Another good bit of information is to make sure you don’t use batteries that don’t have much power left. You’ll be amazed how much of a difference a full battery will make on your ability to drill through a pole.
All of these lineman auger bits are better than many of the options on the market today. I’ve tried other bits that were trash and couldn’t even make it a day before they would fail and not be able to bore a hole. Some of those of often the ones you find from the big box stores. A couple of bits to stay away from include Diablo and Spyder. I’ve seen these first hand not be able to get through a day’s work.
Once you get your new auger bit pair it with our post on the 5 Best Impact Drills For Fiber Optic Lineman.