This specialized tool is designed for creating large-diameter holes, typically in metal. Its distinguishing characteristic is a reduced shank, which allows the tool to be used in drill chucks that would otherwise be too small for the hole size it produces. For instance, one might employ this type of bit to drill a 1-inch diameter hole using a standard drill press with a half-inch chuck capacity.
The principal advantages of employing this tooling lie in its versatility and cost-effectiveness. Instead of requiring specialized drilling machines capable of accepting large-shanked bits, these can be utilized with more common and less expensive equipment. Historically, these tools became prevalent in manufacturing and metalworking where creating sizable apertures was a routine process, offering a practical solution to equipment limitations.