My old boss told me to always use a 3/8 inch spade bit for door contacts, and I argued for years.

Tried a 5/16 bit on a job in Tempe last month and the fit is so much cleaner, no more wood filler needed. Anyone have a go-to bit size they swear by for different trim types?

3 comments

3 Comments

emmas1923d ago

Hold up, you're going to regret that 5/16 bit the first time you get a slightly chunky contact or a door that swells with humidity. That 3/8 gives you the wiggle room you actually need in the real world. A super tight fit looks good for about five minutes until it starts binding or you chip the trim trying to force it in. My old boss was right, the extra space is a feature, not a bug.

adams.blair23d ago

Didn't your old boss save you from a ton of headaches?

the_wren19d ago

A super tight fit is the whole point. You want the contact to grip the wood, not rattle around. A 5/16 bit for a 5/16 contact is just right.