SDS drill bits explained

The type of SDS drill you have will determine which SDS drill bits you purchase, they
are not all compatible as different SDS drills take different size bit shanks. Because they
are designed to hammer and rotate they use different chuck technology to normal drills.

SDS drill bits are inserted by pushing the bit into the chuck, and held in place by grooves
in the bit. No tightening is needed as each bit is designed to fit the chuck exactly. The
open grooves allow a rotation action to be applied, whilst the closed grooves allow the
hammer action by using ball bearings to lock the bit in place. It is impossible for the drill
bit to slip out of place. They are taken out of the drill via a lock release mechanism.

The bit actually hammers back and forth within the chuck. This is why SDS hammer
drills deliver more powerful than regular hammer drills. In regular hammer drills the
whole chuck needs to move, which wastes power and is less efficient.

SDS drills give the maximum drill bit body diameter in the title, such as 1 Inch, or 1 1/8
inch. Bigger drill bit diameters will fit, but will be underpowered. The shank diameter of
SDS drill bits need to be the correct size for that type of SDS drill.

Different types of SDS drill bits

SDS Regular SDS drill bits have 2 grooves where the bit is inserted into the drill chuck.
They have a 10mm shank which is inserted 40mm into the chuck. They are 100%
compatible with SDS plus drills.

SDS plus SDS plus drill bits have 4 grooves (2 open grooves, 2 closed), and can be used
in regular SDS drills or SDS plus drills. The reason that SDS plus drill bits have 4
grooves is to support to extra torque that the SDS plus drill provides. They have a 10mm
shank which is inserted 40mm into the chuck. They can be used in SDS hammer drills up
to around 4kg in weight.

SDS-top A 14mm shank inserted 70mm into chuck. Designed for drills of up to 5kg, very
similar to SDS plus drill bits but less popular. They are only compatible with SDS-top
drills.

SDS max SDS max is a more heavy duty industrial drill than SDS plus, and in general
have SDS drill bits that have larger body diameters. The shank is 18mm, with 3 open
grooves, and is inserted 90mm into the drill chuck. SDS max drill bits are not compatible
with SDS or SDS plus drills, or vice versa. You will need adapters to use SDS or SDS
plus drill bits in an SDS max drill.

Spline Spline drive drills do not use the SDS system, but provide similar performance to
SDS max, although the bits are not compatible. You will need Spline drive drill bits to
use in a Spline drive drill. Adapters are available to use Spline drive bits in an SDS max
drill and vice versa.