DeWalt 1/4" x 6" Heavy Duty Spade Bit

I reach for a spade bit when I need fast holes in studs and plates, and this 6-inch DeWalt option has been in my pouch long enough to earn some opinions. In practical terms, it’s an 11/16-inch spade with a 1/4-inch hex quick-change shank, a full-length heat-treated shaft, cutting spurs at the edges, and a scooped “speed” channel down the paddle. It’s a simple recipe with a few smart touches aimed at speed, durability, and convenience.

Build and design

The first thing I noticed is the shaft. It’s a full-length, heat-treated shank rather than just a hardened tip, and that matters when you’re leaning into studs at awkward angles or chewing through knots. Lesser spade bits tend to twist or permanently bend when they bind; this one stayed straight after repeated buried starts and some intentional abuse across a knotty SPF 2x. The 1/4-inch hex shank has a proper ball-groove, so it locks into quick-change chucks and impact drivers securely. I never experienced the micro-slips you get with smooth-round shanks in keyed chucks.

DeWalt’s cutting edges use outer spurs to score the circumference before the flat cutters clear the waste. Those spurs are the difference between ragged, blowout-prone entries and reasonably crisp ones. They’re not magic—this is still a spade bit—but they consistently improved entry-hole quality in plywood and clean pine, especially at higher RPM.

Down the center of the paddle, the “Extreme Speed Channel” removes some material to create a chute. It’s a small geometry change that influences chip flow more than you’d think. Chips clear the hole faster, and the bit doesn’t feel like it’s trying to pump sawdust back up the flutes. That reduction in packing reduces heat and binding.

You’ll also find a hang hole at the end of the paddle. It’s handy for pegboard storage and surprisingly useful on site: I’ve looped a pull string through it and fished thermostat wire through a stud bay without swapping tools.

Speed and chip ejection

Spade bits are about speed, and this one drills quickly. In 2x SPF and kiln-dried studs, I was consistently through in seconds with an 18V impact driver. The speed channel makes a noticeable difference when you’re doing repeated bores; chips spiral out cleanly rather than clogging at mid-depth. In pressure-treated lumber, which is wetter and stringier, I still had decent ejection. I found that a quick peck to break the chips mid-hole kept things moving almost as fast as in dry stock.

In denser material—white oak offcuts and a piece of LVL—the bit slowed, as expected, but the channel still prevented the “stop-and-back-out” routine that plagues flat spades. There’s no self-feed screw on this bit, so you need to keep consistent pressure, but the cutting edges bite predictably without chatter.

Hole quality and accuracy

If you’re used to spade bits leaving torn holes, the spurs here are a welcome upgrade. Entry holes in solid softwood looked clean enough for general carpentry, electrical, and plumbing rough-ins. In plywood, you’ll still want a scrap backer to control breakout on the exit; that’s just the nature of the beast. On exits through studs, I got the typical ragged edges you’d expect from a spade, diminished somewhat by the chip channel’s smoother evacuation.

Minor tip: for critical faces, I like to stop just as the point pokes through, flip the work, and finish from the other side. This bit tracks that technique well because the center point leaves a clear pilot.

Sizing was on spec. The 11/16-inch diameter produced a snug but workable clearance hole for 1/2-inch PEX (OD around 5/8 inch), which is a common rough-in need. If you’re routing larger sheathing or conduit, pick the matching diameter—this bit does its one size very well, but it doesn’t pretend to be universal.

Durability and heat

Heat is a good proxy for edge life with spade bits. After dozens of holes in SPF and a handful in hardwood and PT, the edges stayed sharp enough to keep producing clean entries. I didn’t see any blueing on the shaft, and there’s no mushrooming on the hex flats. The heat-treated, full-length shank appears to actually resist torsional damage; I tried to provoke a bind by starting off-angle into a knot, and while the tool torqued my wrist, the bit stayed straight and true.

Spurs take the brunt of the work with plywood; a few quick strokes with a file brought them back nicely after a day of drilling. These bits are easy to touch up—flat cutting edges and spurs sharpen quickly without complicated profiles. The steel takes an edge without crumbling, which isn’t a given on cheaper spades.

Compatibility and handling

I ran it in a compact drill/driver and a mid-torque impact. The 1/4-inch quick-change shank is the right call for modern jobsite workflows—no chucking, no loosening under load. It seats positively in extensions as well, which helps when you need a bit more reach than the 6-inch length allows.

The bit feels balanced. There’s the usual torque reaction you expect when it catches, but the cut is predictable. The center point is aggressive enough to start accurately without walking, though on slick laminates I still score the surface first or start at a lower speed.

One underrated feature: the hang hole. Beyond storage, it works as a light-duty hook when pulling wire through a single stud bay. I tied off a pull string for a low-voltage run and used the bit as a temporary fish tool. It’s a small convenience, but it saved a trip to the van.

Where it shines

• Rough-in carpentry, electrical, and plumbing where speed matters more than furniture-grade finishes.
• Repetitive boring in studs and plates; the chip channel pays dividends over a long run.
• Working with quick-change systems and impact drivers; the shank design eliminates slippage.
• Drilling sizes like 11/16 inch that can be hard to find in stores yet useful for specific clearance needs (e.g., 1/2-inch PEX).

Limitations to consider

• It’s still a spade bit. Exit tear-out is part of the package; plan on backers or flipping the work for clean exits.
• The 6-inch length handles typical framing but won’t reach through thick assemblies or doubled plates without an extension.
• In very wet lumber, chips can still pack. The channel helps, but peck drilling is smart practice.
• If you need ultra-clean holes for visible joinery, reach for a Forstner or a brad point bit instead.

Practical tips

• Let the spurs score: apply steady pressure at a medium-high speed; forcing it just heats the bit.
• Control exits: stop as soon as the point breaks through, flip, and finish from the back for clean edges.
• Maintain it: a quick touch-up of the spurs and leading edges with a file keeps performance high.
• Use an extension: pair with a quick-change extension for deep or awkward holes; the hex design makes it painless.

The bottom line

As a day-to-day, 6-inch spade bit for wood, this DeWalt model hits the right notes: fast, durable, and compatible with the quick-change setups most of us run. The full-length heat-treated shank resists the kinds of flex and twist that shorten cheaper bits’ lives. The cutting spurs and speed channel don’t turn it into a finish bit, but they noticeably improve entry quality and chip evacuation, which translates into fewer stalls and less heat. The hex shank is reliable in impact drivers, and the hang hole doubles as a genuinely useful site feature.

Recommendation: I recommend this spade bit for anyone doing rough-in and framing work who needs a reliable, quick 11/16-inch hole with minimal fuss. It’s not the right choice for fine woodworking, but for studs, plates, and general construction, it drills fast, stays straight, and holds up after repeated use—all the things I want from a spade bit that’ll live in my everyday kit.