Tool · Bits and fit
Nail drill bit type finder
Pick a nail drill bit type to see its material, head shape, shank size, grits or cuts, cutting direction and fit catches, from maker documentation.
Short answer
Choose a bit type in the finder on this page to see its material, head shape, shank size, grits or cuts, cutting direction and fit catches, then follow the link to its full page. Whatever the type, buy it in the shank size your handpiece maker states, which for most pro e-files is 3/32 inch.[1][2]
Find a bit type by job
| You want to | Bit types to look at |
|---|---|
| Remove gel or acrylic product | Carbide, 3-in-1 carbide, 5-in-1 carbide |
| Refine and smooth the surface | Diamond, ceramic |
| Use disposable abrasives | Mandrel and sanding bands |
| Work the surface with a flat side | Barrel |
| Work near the cuticle and sidewalls | Cone, flame, ball |
| Work near the skin with a rounded, smooth top | Safety-top |
| File left-handed, or in both directions | Left-hand, two-way |
Shape and material combine: a barrel can be carbide or diamond, and a safety bit is defined by its smooth, rounded top rather than its material. KUPA's bit kit, for example, includes diamond and carbide bits, a carbide safety bit and a mandrel with sanding bands, all with 3/32-inch shanks.[3]
Catches the finder flags
- Metric labels. 3/32 inch is exactly 2.38125 mm,[4] so a bit sold as 2.35 mm is described as a different size. We found no maker statement that the two are interchangeable.
- Machine exceptions. Medicool says its bits fit all Medicool drills and most professional drills, but its 5-in-1 carbide bits do not work with its File Stream, Vac File or Pro Vac File Classic vacuum machines.[2][5]
- Direction. Medicool designs its 5-in-1 bit to cut in both directions, and Erica's ATA sells many, not all, of its bits in left- and right-hand versions.[5][6]
- Grit names. Each maker names its own grades. KUPA's 3-in-1 carbide comes in five cuts from fine to 2X-coarse, and its diamond small barrel in fine, medium and coarse.[7][8]
What each bit type page shows
- Material and head shape, and what the maker says it is for.
- Shank, grits or cuts and direction, where a maker states them.
- Lifespan: Medicool's estimate for the material, where it gives one.[2]
- Maker examples and fit caveats, such as machines a bit does not fit.
- Evidence gaps: what no source we read confirms, such as a comparative heat measurement for ceramic bits.
Where the data comes from
Bit pages draw on maker documentation from KUPA, Medicool, MelodySusie and Erica's ATA, and on NIST for the inch-to-millimeter conversion. When no source we checked confirms a value, the field says "Not confirmed". Shapes that no maker fact covers yet, such as the cone, flame and ball, keep a page so this finder can link them, but say plainly what is unconfirmed. Lifespans and grit names are the makers' own, not standards.
The bits and fit overview explains how to choose, the 3/32-inch bit shortlist names bits with the shank size stated, and the bit shapes and grits guide walks through each shape. For the e-file itself, use the equipment type finder.
Choose your bit type to see the key facts. Each one links to its source on the full page.
Questions
Which bit type should I start with?
Start from the job, not the shape. Carbide bits with flutes cut product such as gel, diamond bits grind with a grit, and a mandrel takes disposable sanding bands. Whatever you choose, buy it in the shank size your handpiece maker states.
What does a 5-in-1 carbide bit do?
It is a multi-purpose carbide bit. Medicool designs its 5-in-1 (CC22) to cut both clockwise and counter-clockwise for right- and left-handed techs, but says it does not work with three of its own vacuum machines.[5]
Why do some bit type fields say 'Not confirmed'?
We show a value only when a maker page or a named source states it. Shapes such as the cone, flame and ball bit are common, but we found no maker fact specific to them yet, so their pages define the shape and mark the rest as not confirmed.