Klein Tools Ship Auger Bit

Five diameters: 11/16, 3/4, 13/16, 7/8 and 15/16 inch. The part numbers run in order, 53401 for 11/16, 53402 for 3/4, 53403 for 13/16, 53404 for 7/8 and 53405 for 15/16. Electricians typically pick the diameter off the cable bundle or conduit they need to pass through the timber.

Yes. These Klein bits are made to bore through nails as well as wood, vinyl, plastics and heavy timber, so hitting embedded fasteners in reclaimed or remodel framing won't stop the cut. The full length is heat-treated and tempered, which is what lets the flute survive that kind of contact.

It's a feed-screw (screw point) auger. The pilot screw threads into the wood and pulls the bit forward, so you're guiding it rather than leaning on it, which matters when you're boring overhead through joists or drilling a long run of holes. Head and twist are ground to clearance so the bit backs out of the hole without binding.

Ship augers are the choice when the material is thick or dirty. Klein builds these for heavy construction and repair in mines, on docks and bridges, and for electrical work, and the ground flutes with polished edges keep the bore smooth and wobble-free over a deep cut. A general-purpose wood auger is fine in clean lumber; use the ship auger where you expect nails, timber, vinyl or plastics in the path.

No. Klein states plainly that these auger bits must never be used on or near live electrical circuits, so de-energize and verify before boring. Approved eye protection is required for you and anyone nearby, which is worth noting on multi-trade sites where others are working in the same space.

The 3/4-inch ship auger bit with screw point is Klein Tools 53402. If you're standardizing a crew's bit kit, the neighboring sizes are 53401 (11/16), 53403 (13/16), 53404 (7/8) and 53405 (15/16).