Metallics AS114 Wood Bit Ship Auger Dia 1-1/4" 8" Hex Shank (1 pc)

The AS114 ship auger cuts a 1-1/4 inch diameter hole in wood. That is the size electricians typically bore through studs, joists, and plates for running multiple cables or larger conduit sleeves.

It has a hex shank, so it drops straight into a 1/4 inch hex quick-change chuck on an impact driver or drill driver without needing a keyed chuck. That is the usual reason electricians pick a hex shank auger over a round-shank one for overhead boring.

The AS114 is an 8 inch auger overall, so part of that length is taken up by the shank in the chuck. It is sized for boring through standard framing members, a 2x stud or a doubled top plate, in one pass. For deeper runs through built-up beams or stacked plates you want a longer auger or an extension.

A ship auger has a long single-flute spiral that pulls itself into the wood and clears chips back out of the hole, so it stays on line through a 1-1/4 inch bore and does not stall the way a spade bit does in deep or wet lumber. Spade bits are cheaper and fine for shallow, occasional holes. For repetitive stud and joist drilling on a rough-in, the auger is the production tool.

One bit per order. The AS114 ships as a single piece in a pouch, not a multi-size set, so if you need several diameters for a rough-in you order each size separately.

Treat it as a clean-wood bit. Ship augers of this type are ground for timber and framing lumber; hitting a nail or a hidden screw will chip the cutting lip. If you are boring through older framing or remodel work where fasteners are likely, use a nail-eating auger designed for it and keep the AS114 for clean new lumber.