How to choose a carbide bit
Carbide bits are the cutting end of an e-file, and two details decide whether the one you order works at your station: the shank that fits your handpiece, and the cut on the head.
Shank size first
Two shank sizes show up in the product names on this page. The STARTOOL Carbide STF 1/8 (Small Head) is a 1/8, while the iNS Carbide 5in1 Purple (Cross Cut) and the STARTOOL Cone 3/32 Under Nail Cleaner are 3/32. Check the collet on your nail drill before ordering, because a bit with the wrong shank will not seat.
Cut pattern and head shape
The cut is stated in the product name, so you know before you order what you are getting — the iNS 5in1 Purple is a cross cut. Head shape decides where the bit can reach: a cone such as the Under Nail Cleaner is shaped for the free edge, and a small head works in tighter areas near the sidewalls. Keeping a couple of different heads at the station means you are not hunting for a swap mid-service, and hand finishing follows with a file from files and buffers, where our nail file grit guide covers which grit picks up after which bit.
Brands, storage, and upkeep
Carbide on this page comes from Startool, A.C.T., Today’s Products, and iNAIL SUPPLY’s own iNS line, so you can compare options across brands. Bit containers such as the Plastic Carbide Bit Container, plus the bit cleaners in this collection, give used bits a defined place at the station; follow your state board’s rules on cleaning and disinfecting implements. Restocking more than carbide? The wider drill bits page and tools and accessories cover the rest of the station, and there is free shipping on orders over $150 within the 48 contiguous states.
