The chisel edge effect on conventional drills gives rise to high thrust forces, manufacturers are therefore continually seeking ways to eliminate or reduce this effect. A particular configuration proposed by a drill manufacturer to eliminate the chisel edge is investigated and evaluated. Further modifications on the manufacturer's configuration are put forward with the aim of eliminating the drawback of out-of-balance forces caused by the new configuration. Results are presented of experimental tests to investigate the effect of such modifications, and compare them with those obtained using a conventional drill.