Le guide complet de tous les types de forets : comment choisir le bon foret pour chaque matériau

Choosing the wrong foret wastes time, destroys materials, and burns through bits at alarming speed. This guide covers every major foret type manufactured today — from SDS hammer bits for béton to diamond-tipped bits for porcelaine tile. For each type you will learn what it is, what specs matter, what materials it handles (and what it does not), and the most common mistakes that cause premature failure. Two decision tables at the end let you jump from your material or job scenario straight to the correct bit.

Zhonghuan Tools manufactures SDS-Plus, SDS-Max, hammer burins, and HSS forets helicoïdaux at our factory in Zhejiang, China. Where a topic goes deeper than this overview allows, we link to a dedicated article on our site.

SDS Hammer Forets (SDS-Plus & SDS-Max)

SDS hammer forets are the professional standard for percage béton, béton armé, maçonnerie block, and natural stone. The key feature is the SDS emmanchement — a slotted system that locks into a perforateur and transmits percussive energy directly to the pointe en carbure while allowing the bit to slide axially inside the mandrin.

Two emmanchement families exist:

• SDS-Plus — 10 mm emmanchement with 4 grooves. Fits perforateurs up to roughly 4 kg / 3.5 J. Covers drill diameters from 4 mm to 26 mm. The most common system for construction, electrical, and HVAC trades.
• SDS-Max — 18 mm emmanchement with 5 grooves. Fits heavy-duty perforateurs from 5 kg upward (5-27 J). Covers diameters from 12 mm to 52 mm and beyond. Required for deep anchoring, core percage, and heavy demolition.

Key specs to look for: Carbide grade (YG8C for standard béton, YG11C or cross-tip 4-cutter for béton armé), head geometry (2-cutter for speed, 4-cutter for précision and armature tolerance), goujure design (single-goujure for fast évacuation des copeaux in deep holes, double-goujure standard), and overall length (DIN 8039 standard vs. extra-long DIN 8040).

Works on: Béton, béton armé, maçonnerie block, brick, natural stone, aerated béton.

Does NOT work on: Métal (pointe en carbure is blunt, not a arete de coupe), wood (tears fibres instead of cutting), tile or glass (impact shatters them).

Common mistake: Using pure rotation mode on béton — pointe en carbures dull within seconds without hammering action. Conversely, using hammer mode on tile or glass destroys the workpiece instantly.

Deep Dive: SDS-Plus vs SDS-Max Comparaison Guide →
Deep Dive: Complète Béton Percage Guide →

Round-Emmanchement Maçonnerie Bits

Round-emmanchement (cylindrical emmanchement) maçonnerie bits fit standard 3-jaw keyless mandrins on conventional drills. They have the same brazed pointe en carbure as SDS bits but rely on the drill's internal hammer mechanism for percussion — which delivers far less impact energy than a dedicated perforateur.

Key specs: Emmanchement is smooth round (no SDS grooves), tip is usually a single carbide plate (2-cutter). Lengths follow DIN 8039. Available from 3 mm to 16 mm diameter.

Works on: Brick, aerated block, lightweight béton, mortar joints. Adequate for hanging picture frames, curtain rails, and light anchors in maçonnerie.

Does NOT work on: Dense béton armé (insufficient impact energy), granit or hard natural stone, any material requiring pure rotation.

Common mistake: Attempting to drill hard béton with a round-emmanchement bit in an perceuse a percussion. The bit overheats, the pointe en carbure cracks or detaches, and the hole barely progresses. If you are percage more than a few holes in béton, switch to an SDS-Plus perforateur.

HSS Forets helicoïdaux

Acier rapide (HSS) forets helicoïdaux are the most widely used foret in the world. The helical goujure design evacuates chips while the ground tip shears material with a rotating arete de coupe. HSS bits handle a huge range of materials — from bois tendre and plastic to acier doux and aluminium — making them the default choice for general-purpose percage.

Three main manufacturing grades:

• HSS lamine (Rolled) — The bit is formed by rolling, then heat-treated. Adequate for bois tendres, plastics, and acier doux. Lower cost, shorter service life, wider tolerances. Common in consumer-grade sets.
• HSS-G (Ground) — After hardening, goujures and point are précision-ground on a CNC grinder. This produces sharper arete de coupes, tighter diameter tolerances (h8), and significantly longer duree de vie de l'outil. HSS-G is the professional standard and is specified in DIN 338 (jobber length) and DIN 340 (long séries).
• HSS-E (Cobalt-alloyed) — Contains 5-8% cobalt added to the steel matrix. Covered in the next section.

Key specs to look for: Point angle (118 degrees standard for general use, 135 degrees pointe cruciforme for harder metals and self-centering), material grade (HSS d entree de gamme budget, HSS d entree de gamme/M2 professional, M35/M42 cobalt), revêtement (black oxide, TiN, TiAlN), and DIN standard (DIN 338 jobber, DIN 340 long, DIN 1869 extra-long parabolic goujure).

Works on: Mild steel, aluminium, copper, brass, fonte, bois tendre, bois dur, plastic, fibreglass, contreplaque.

Does NOT work on: Béton or maçonnerie (dulls instantly — no pointe en carbure), acier inoxydable (use cobalt instead), acier trempé above 40 HRC (use cobalt M42), carreau céramique or glass (shatters them).

Common mistake: Running too-high tr/min on steel. HSS overheats above approximately 600 degrees Celsius, losing its hardness permanently. Use the correct tr/min chart and apply cutting fluid on ferrous metals.

Deep Dive: HSS Material Grades Guide (HSS lamine vs HSS-G vs Cobalt) →
Deep Dive: Fully Ground vs Rolled Forets →
Deep Dive: Foret Revêtements Explained →

Forets cobalt (M35 / M42)

Cobalt forets are HSS bits with 5-8 percent cobalt alloyed into the steel itself (not a revêtement). The cobalt raises the red-hardness température, allowing the bit to maintain a sharp arete de coupe at températures where standard HSS would soften and fail. This makes cobalt bits essential for acier inoxydable, titanium, Inconel, and other heat-résistant alloys.

Two common grades:

• M35 (5% cobalt) — Handles most austenitic acier inoxydables (304, 316), medium-acier au carbone, and heat-treated alloys up to roughly 35 HRC. The workhorse grade for professional métal fabrication.
• M42 (8% cobalt) — For the toughest jobs: Inconel, Hastelloy, acier trempé up to 45 HRC, and heavily work-hardened stainless. Higher cost but dramatically longer life in extrême conditions.

Key specs: Always look for a 135-degree pointe cruciforme — it self-centers without a avant-trou and reduces the axial thrust that causes work-hardening. Parabolic goujures (DIN 1869) improve évacuation des copeaux in deep holes. Avoid cobalt bits with 118-degree conventional points on stainless — they walk and work-harden the surface.

Works on: Stainless steel (all grades), acier trempé (up to 45 HRC with M42), titanium, Inconel, Hastelloy, cast stainless, and tool steel.

Does NOT work on: Béton or maçonnerie (wrong mechanism), wood (overkill and expensive), tile or glass.

Common mistake: Using too-high tr/min. Cobalt bits need slow speed and steady feed pressure. Dwelling (spinning without advancing) on acier inoxydable work-hardens the surface, making the next pass even harder. Apply cutting oil generously.

Deep Dive: Cobalt M35 vs M42 — Which Grade for Which Alloy? →
Deep Dive: 135° Pointe cruciforme vs 118° Conventional — When It Matters →

Forets bois (choix par type de trou)

Les forets bois se choisissent selon le fil du bois, l’évacuation des copeaux et la qualité de sortie. Zhonghuan ne présente plus les anciennes sous-familles bois comme pages produit autonomes; les demandes bois doivent être confirmées par spécification de projet.

Logique de sélection : définir le diamètre, la profondeur, la forme du fond, la tolérance d’arrachement, la queue, le guidage et la machine.

Spécifications clés : pointe de centrage, goujure, type de queue, nuance d’acier, vitesse admissible et usage perceuse portative ou perceuse à colonne.

Convient à : bois tendre, bois dur, contreplaqué, MDF, aggloméré et bois lamellé lorsque la géométrie correspond au trou.

Ne convient pas à : métal, béton, carrelage ou verre.

Erreur fréquente : utiliser un grand outil bois trop vite sans serrer la pièce. Fixer la pièce et réduire la vitesse quand le diamètre augmente.

Tile & Glass Bits

Ceramic, porcelaine, and glass are extremely hard but brittle. They demand bits with no percussive action, very low tr/min, and specialised tip geometry that scores rather than impacts.

Three main types:

• Spear-Point Carbide Bits — A carbure de tungstene arrowhead tip designed for ceramic wall tile. The spear geometry concentrates pressure on a tiny contact point, scoring through the glaze before enlarging the hole. Use at 400-600 tr/min with light pressure. Suitable for standard carreau céramique up to about 8 mm thick.
• Trépans diamant — Hollow cylinders with diamond grit bonded to the arete de coupe. Required for porcelaine tile (which is much harder than ceramic), natural stone (marbre, granit), and thick vitrified tile. Water cooling is essential to prevent overheating and extend diamond life. tr/min 300-600 depending on diameter.
• Glass Forets — Spear-point carbure de tungstene tip specifically ground for the extrême brittleness of glass. Use with cutting fluid (water or light oil) and very light pressure. Start at an angle to create a nick, then straighten up.

Works on: Ceramic wall tile, porcelaine floor tile, mosaic tile, glass pane, mirror, marbre, granit (diamond only).

Does NOT work on: Métal (wrong tip geometry), wood (unnecessary), béton (no impact mechanism).

Common mistake: Using hammer/impact mode — this shatters tile and glass instantly. Always set the drill to rotation-only mode. Another frequent error is pressing too hard on porcelaine, which cracks the tile from the back.

Deep Dive: Glass & Tile Foret Guide →

Step Forets

Step forets (also called stepped cone bits or Unibit-style bits) are conical HSS tools with multiple stepped diameters ground into a single body. One step bit can replace an entire set of twist bits for sheet-métal work, making them extremely popular in electrical, HVAC, and automotive trades.

Key specs: Material (HSS M2 standard, M35 cobalt for stainless sheet), revêtement (TiN gold is most common for reduced friction), step count, step size increments (1 mm or 2 mm), and maximum diameter. Straight-goujure designs are standard; spiral-goujure designs cut more aggressively and handle thicker stock.

Works on: Sheet métal (acier doux, aluminium, copper) up to 3 mm thick, electrical knockout boxes, plastic panels, fibreglass, thin acier inoxydable (with cobalt variant).

Does NOT work on: Thick plate (anything above about 4 mm), béton, wood (leaves rough holes), tile or glass.

Common mistake: Trying to step-drill thick steel plate. Step bits are designed for sheet métal — once the material thickness exceeds the step height, the bit cannot transition to the next diameter cleanly and the edge chips.

Deep Dive: How to Choose the Best Step Foret →

Outils de perçage grand diamètre (TCT mural & fraises annulaires)

Les grands diamètres se choisissent selon le matériau dans les gammes actuelles Zhonghuan : outils TCT muraux pour brique, bloc, AAC et maçonnerie légère ; trépans diamant pour béton dense ou carrelage ; fraises annulaires pour perceuses magnétiques dans l'acier ; forets étagés HSS pour trous propres dans la tôle.

Logique de sélection actuelle :

• Outils TCT muraux — dents carbure brasées sur corps acier pour traversées de murs en brique, bloc, AAC et maçonnerie légère.
• Fraises annulaires — arêtes HSS, cobalt ou TCT sur queue Weldon pour acier et inox avec perceuse magnétique.
• Forets étagés HSS — outils coniques à étages pour tôle fine, boîtes électriques, panneaux et petits trous de presse-étoupe.

Spécifications clés : diamètre, profondeur de coupe, matériau des dents ou arêtes, compatibilité queue/arbre, guidage, support et machine recommandée.

Convient à : brique, bloc, AAC, béton et carrelage avec trépan diamant, tôle avec foret étagé et plaque d'acier avec fraise annulaire.

Ne convient pas à : acier trempé sans grade annulaire adapté, verre sans outil diamant ou béton structurel avec un outil mural TCT.

Erreur fréquente : traiter tous les grands trous ronds comme une seule famille d'outils. Choisir d'abord selon le support, puis confirmer diamètre, machine, refroidissement et pression d'avance.

Hammer Burins (SDS-Plus & SDS-Max)

Hammer burins are not forets — they are impact tools that fit SDS perforateurs set to burin-only mode (no rotation). They are used for demolition, chasing, scaling, and breaking rather than percage holes.

Common burin types:

• Flat Burin (Cold Burin) — Wide flat blade for breaking béton, removing tile, and light demolition. Available in SDS-Plus (20-40 mm wide) and SDS-Max (25-80 mm wide).
• Pointed Burin — Moil point for breaking up béton slabs, rock, and hard aggregate. Concentrates impact energy on a small point.
• Channel / Groove Burin — U-shaped profile for chasing cable channels and conduit runs in béton and maçonnerie walls. Produces a clean, consistent groove width.
• Scaling Burin (Cranked) — Bent blade for scraping old tile adhesive, render, and revêtements from floors and walls. The offset angle keeps your hand away from the work surface.
• Spade Burin — Wide blade (50-115 mm) for fast material removal in demolition and clay digging. SDS-Max only.

Key specs: Emmanchement type (SDS-Plus or SDS-Max), blade width, overall length, steel grade (chrome-vanadium or chrome-molybdenum for toughness), and hardness (HRC 48-55 typical — too hard and it chips, too soft and it mushrooms).

Works on: Béton, maçonnerie, tile adhesive, render, morite, rock, clay, asphalt.

Does NOT work on: Métal cutting (use an meuleuse d'angle), wood, glass.

Common mistake: Using burins at too steep an angle. This causes the burin to dig in and jam. Hold the hammer at a shallow angle (15-30 degrees) and let the impact energy do the work.

Deep Dive: Burin Types for Perceuse a percussions — Complète Guide →

Material → Foret Decision Table

Use this table to jump from your target material to the correct bit type, tip spécification, and our detailed guide.

Job Scenario → Foret Decision Table

Not sure what you are percage into? Start from your task and find the recommended bit.

Interactive Tools & Calculators

Put this knowledge into practice with our free online tools:

• tr/min & Feed Speed Calculator — Enter your bit diameter and material to get the recommended tr/min, vitesse d'avance, and expected drill time.
• Sélecteur de foret SDS — Indiquez condition, emmanchement SDS, diamètre et profondeur pour comparer les architectures SDS actuelles.
• Unit Converter & Référence Tables — Convert between mm/inch, look up DIN standard dimensions, and find hardness conversion tables (HRC/HB/HV).
• tr/min Speed Chart (Référence Article) — Printable tr/min chart for every bit type and material combination.
• DIN Standards Quick Référence — Decode DIN 338, 340, 345, 1869, 8039, and 8040 at a glance.

Need bulk pricing or OEM customization? Zhonghuan Tools supplies SDS-Plus, SDS-Max, hammer burins, and HSS twist bits to distributors and OEM buyers in 60+ countries. Contact our sales team → for factory-direct quotes, custom packaging, and private-label options.

Programmes d'achat apparentes

Si vous sourcez cette ligne pour un distributeur, un importateur ou un canal marque distributeur, ces programmes OEM et grossistes couvrent les questions suivantes.

• Programme distributeur outils de percage métal et béton — Programme OEM pour distributeurs: SDS, HSS, M35 cobalt, forets étagés, scies cloches, burins, sets, emballage et plan RFQ.
• Matrice de sets de percage marque privée pour distributeurs — Matrice de sets pour distributeurs: sets SDS, HSS, cobalt, forets étagés, scies cloches, kits installateur, emballage et RFQ.