I originally bought these to thread thin steel for a DIY project and they worked great. Since then I've started with a tap, just drill through and even knock on wood with no problem. I would recommend going with a slow speed drill if attempting this on wood as they cut so easily it's easy to get aggressive and burn the threads into the substrate. The shank and threads are just as sharp and clean as the first day I got them and I've used them over a dozen times. Excellent and highly recommended