Collection: Nail Drill Bits

How the bit numbers work

Every bit on this page carries a number from #01 to #89, and the number never changes between orders. That is the point of it. When a tech runs out of the bit used for cuticle prep, there is no need to describe the shape or guess the grit; order the number printed on the listing and the same bit comes back. We keep the number at the front of every product name so the page reads like the bit chart on a station wall.

The numbers run in families. Within a family the shape stays the same and the grit climbs from fine to coarse, so neighboring numbers are close relatives:

• #01 to #10: carbide smooth top safety bits, small barrel (#01 to #05) and large barrel (#06 to #10).
• #11 to #20: carbide flat top barrels, small (#11 to #15) and large (#16 to #20).
• #21 to #28: carbide tapered barrels, small (#21 to #23) and large (#24 to #28).
• #29 to #37: carbide 5-in-1 bits in silver, purple and multicolor, each in fine, medium and coarse.
• #38 to #45: carbide tornado and volcano cuts for fast removal.
• #46 to #51: cuticle and under-nail detail bits: cones, diamond balls and under nail cleaners.
• #52 to #63: ceramic bits: 5-in-1, smooth top safety, flat top barrel and flame.
• #65 to #70: sanding band mandrels, diamond barrels and a natural nail buffer.
• #71 to #84: dust-proof bits, super long 5-in-1 bits and the 4X coarse carbide blue band.
• #87 to #89: diamond spiral, small cylinder and nib detail bits.

A few numbers in the range (#64, #85 and #86) are not stocked at the moment, so they do not appear here. Every bit listed uses the standard 3/32 inch shank found on salon e-files.

Which bit shape does which job?

Shape decides where a bit can go on the nail; grit decides how much it takes off. Pick the shape first.

• Smooth top safety barrels (#01 to #10, #55 to #57). The top end is smooth and does not cut, so the barrel can run along the cuticle line and sidewalls with less risk of nicking the skin. Most techs keep one of these in the handpiece for the whole service.
• Flat top barrels (#11 to #20, #58 to #60). A straight cylinder with a cutting top. Good for shortening, surface work and taking product down evenly across the nail.
• Tapered barrels (#21 to #28). The narrow end reaches into the cuticle area and sidewalls, while the body handles the surface. A practical middle ground between a barrel and a cone.
• 5-in-1 bits (#29 to #37, #52 to #54, #77 to #83). One tapered body built to cover surface work, shortening, sidewalls, the cuticle area and under the free edge, so the bit stays in the handpiece longer. The super long versions (#77 to #83) give a longer cutting body.
• Tornado and volcano cuts (#38 to #45). Aggressive cuts for bulk removal of acrylic and hard gel on fills and soak-off prep.
• Cones, flames, balls and under nail cleaners (#46 to #51, #61 to #63). Small pointed heads for cuticle prep, lifting around the cuticle and cleaning under the free edge.
• Detail bits (#87 to #89). A diamond spiral, a small cylinder and a nib for precise work in tight areas.

Carbide, ceramic or diamond?

The material changes how the bit feels in use.

• Carbide bits cut with sharp flutes. They remove acrylic and hard gel quickly and are the workhorse for fills and removal.
• Ceramic bits (#52 to #63) run cooler than metal, so there is less heat on the nail during longer passes. Many techs keep a ceramic barrel for clients who feel heat easily.
• Diamond bits (#48, #49, #68, #69, #87) are coated with diamond grit rather than cut with flutes. They file in a controlled way and suit cuticle and detail work more than bulk removal.

There is no single right answer. A common station has a carbide barrel for removal, a ceramic or carbide safety bit for the surface and one diamond or cone bit for the cuticle.

What do the grit letters mean?

Most bits come in a run of grits, shown as a letter after the shape:

• F (Fine): finishing, smoothing and light gel removal.
• M (Medium): shaping and everyday gel and acrylic removal. The grit most techs reach for first.
• C (Coarse): faster removal of acrylic and hard gel.
• XC, 2XC, 3XC, 4XC: extra coarse up to four times coarse, for heavy bulk removal. #84, the carbide blue band, is the 4X coarse in the range.

The Pro super long bits (#82 and #83) combine a coarse body with an extra fine section, written as XC + 3XF and 2XC + 3XF, so one bit can remove product and refine the surface.

A simple rule: the coarser the grit, the lighter the pressure and the lower the speed you need. Start one grit finer than you think you need and move up only if the bit is too slow.

A starter set for a new station

We get asked often which bits to buy first. For a salon setting up a new e-file station, five or six bits cover most services:

1. A medium smooth top safety barrel such as #02 or #07 for everyday surface work near the cuticle.
2. A medium or coarse flat top barrel from #12, #13, #17 or #18 for shortening and taking product down.
3. A 5-in-1 bit in medium, for example #30, #33 or #36, as the all-round bit.
4. A cone or under nail cleaner (#46, #47, #50 or #51) for cuticle prep and under the free edge.
5. A diamond cuticle ball, #48 or #49, for lifting and cleaning around the cuticle.
6. A sanding band mandrel (#65, #66 or the LAVIS 3 mm #67) with a box of sanding bands for surface prep and pedicures.

Add a tornado or volcano cut once acrylic fills are a regular service, and a ceramic barrel if clients mention heat.

Sanding bands and mandrels

Sanding bands are single-use sleeves that slide onto a mandrel bit. This page carries the LAVIS Pink Sanding Bands in three grits, each sold by the box: coarse #80 for fast removal and pedicure work, medium #150 for shaping and gel removal, and fine #240 for smoothing and light surface prep. The bands use a durable cotton fabric backing.

Fit them on mandrel #65 or the larger #66, or on the LAVIS 3 mm small mandrel (#67) when you need a slimmer band for tight areas around the cuticle and sidewalls. Change the band between clients; keep the mandrel and clean it like any other bit.

Care, cleaning and when to replace

• Clean after every client. Brush out dust and product from the flutes, then clean and disinfect following your state board rules.
• Check the shank. A bent shank makes the bit wobble and chatter. Replace it rather than straightening it.
• Watch for drag and heat. When a bit starts to drag, needs more pressure or warms the nail faster than before, the cut is worn and it is time for a new one. Ordering by number makes the swap simple.
• Use the dust-proof bits on busy stations. #71 to #76 have a sealed shank design that keeps filing dust out of the handpiece.
• Store bits upright in a holder so the cutting heads do not knock against each other.

Product photos show each bit as supplied; finish and color on screen may differ slightly from the bit in hand.

Related collections

• Nail Drills E-file machines that take these 3/32 inch bits.
• Nail Tools & Accessories, All Brands Every tool on the site on one page.
• Builder Gel, All Brands The hard gels most of these bits shape and remove.
• Soft Gel Tips, All Brands Tips to shorten and blend with a barrel bit.
• LAVIS Nails, All Products The LAVIS line, including the sanding bands on this page.

Related reads

• The 10-step nail prep checklist
• Nail prep for builder gel
• How to remove dip powder safely