The straight shank is the most usual style on modern drill bits, by number manufactured. The whole of the drill bit, shaft and shank, is usually of the same diameter. It is held usually in a three-jaw drill chuck. Bits of diameter too small to grip firmly can have straight shanks of larger diameter than the drill, which can be held firmly in a standard size
collet or chuck. Large drill bits can have straight shanks narrower than the drill diameter so that they can be fitted in chucks not able to chuck the full diameter. Such a drill bit is called a
reduced-shank or '''blacksmith's drill'''. For example, this allows a bit to be used in a pistol-grip drill's chuck. One particular type of reduced-shank drill bits are
Silver & Deming (
S&D) bits, whose sets run from to drill body diameter with a standard reduced shank for all. This allows drill presses with chucks to run the larger drills. S&D bits are long with a flute length. The name comes from a company in
Salem, Ohio that broke up into other companies circa 1890; bits of this design were popularized by that company. • Easy to
centerless grind or turn on a
lathe • Minimum of turning or grinding needed if the drill bit is made from appropriately sized round
bar stock • Can be held in a standard drill chuck, which must be tightened—only friction prevents slipping • Can also be held in a
collet chuck (which must be tightened), particularly for smaller sizes • Very accurate centering • Torque transmission limited by slipping of cylindrical shank ==Hex shank==