AB Drills in Diamond Painting: What They Are, Where to Buy & How to Use Them (2026 Guide)

If you’ve finished a diamond painting and thought “something’s missing — where’s the sparkle?” — you might need AB drills. AB (short for Aurora Borealis) drills are the special-effect drills that give finished paintings their shimmer, color-shift, and rainbow finish.

They’re also the most expensive specialty drill type (3-5x the cost of standard drills), the most finicky to work with, and the most misunderstood. This guide covers what AB drills actually are, how to use them, where to buy them, and the most common mistakes that ruin AB-finish projects.

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Quick Summary: What You Need to Know

• What is an AB drill? A standard resin drill with a metallic iridescent coating on top
• How is it made? Same as standard drill, then coated with aluminum and a protective clear coat
• Why use them? Creates color-shifting sparkle effects in your finished painting
• How to use them? Same technique as standard drills, but handle more carefully
• How much do they cost? 3-5x the cost of standard drills
• Common mistake 1: Sealing with harsh acrylics dulls the iridescence
• Common mistake 2: Trying to use them for full coverage (they’re designed for accents)
• Common mistake 3: Mixing with standard drills inconsistently (use 2-3 ABs per 10-20 standard)

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What Does AB Mean?

AB stands for Aurora Borealis, named after the Northern Lights. The AB effect is a metallic iridescent coating applied to the surface of a standard resin drill. When light hits the coating, it diffracts into the rainbow colors that characterize AB drills — shifting from blue to purple to teal to silver depending on the angle and lighting.

The effect is similar to:

• The shimmer of a hummingbird’s feathers
• The rainbow finish of an oil slick on water
• The metallic sheen of a soap bubble

In a diamond painting, AB drills create a subtle sparkle effect throughout the finished work. They’re not meant to cover large areas — they add visual interest as accent pieces, typically 2-3 AB drills per every 10-20 standard drills.

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What Are AB Drills Made Of?

AB drills are standard diamond painting drills with one extra layer:

• Base drill: Standard two-component epoxy resin, same as non-AB drills
• Metallic coating: A thin layer of metallic material (typically aluminum-based) deposited via vacuum sputtering — the same technique used to make shiny candy wrappers and holographic stickers
• Protective clear coat: A transparent layer over the metallic coating to prevent oxidation and wear

The base drill is the same drill you’d get in any kit. The two extra layers are what make AB drills different — and what makes them 3-5x more expensive.

For more on the manufacturing process, see our How Diamond Drills Are Made guide.

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How Do AB Drills Look?

Standard drills appear flat-colored under most lighting. AB drills look slightly metallic, with a soft color shift visible at certain angles. Common AB color shift variations include:

• Blue Aurora: Most common AB. Blue → teal → silver shift
• Crystal Clear AB: No color, just adds shimmer. Often used as a universal accent
• Volcano AB: Orange → red → gold shift (for warm paintings)
• Mint AB: Green → teal → silver shift
• Pink Aurora: Pink → purple → blue shift
• Silver AB: Subtle silver shimmer, less color shift

Most kits use Crystal Clear AB and Blue Aurora as the default ABs because they’re versatile and look good in most paintings.

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How to Place AB Drills (Step-by-Step)

Tools you’ll need

• Vacuum pen or multi-placer pen (single placers work but are slower)
• AB drills in a separate compartment or tray from standard drills
• Magnifying glass for inspecting placement (ABs should sit flat and flush)
• Light pad (helps spot any gaps between AB and standard drills)

Step 1: Separate your ABs before you start

AB drills should always be placed last, after all standard drills are in place. Place your AB bag(s) in a separate tray or compartment that’s clearly marked so you don’t accidentally use ABs where standard drills should go.

Step 2: Plan your AB placement

Look at your kit’s legend. The AB drills are typically marked with an “AB” symbol or a different symbol from the standard color. Plan which sections you’ll fill with ABs — usually 2-3 small accents per larger canvas, or following specific patterns the designer chose.

Step 3: Use a fresh section of wax

AB drills can be contaminated by the wax on your pen if you’ve already been placing standard drills. Refresh the wax or use a clean applicator to avoid dulling the AB coating.

Step 4: Place one drill at a time, slowly

AB drills are slightly more delicate than standard drills (because of the metallic coating). Use a single-placer pen for maximum control. Place each AB and verify it’s flush with its neighbors before moving on.

Step 5: Avoid touching the AB surface

Once an AB drill is placed, don’t press on the metallic coating with your finger. The coating can be scratched by fingernails or rough handling.

Step 6: Inspect under good lighting

ABs that look fine in normal lighting may show gaps or alignment issues under bright direct light. Use a light pad to spot-check your work as you go.

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5 Common AB Drill Mistakes (and How to Fix Them)

Mistake 1: Sealing AB drills with harsh acrylics

The problem: Standard Mod Podge Super Gloss and Krylon Clear can dull AB iridescence over time. The metallic coating interacts with certain sealers’ chemicals.

The fix: Use a sealer specifically formulated for AB drills (like Artdot Gentle Formula), or skip sealing on AB-heavy paintings and frame behind UV-protective glass.

Mistake 2: Mixing ABs into standard drill areas by accident

The problem: AB drills look similar to standard drills in many lighting conditions. If you accidentally place an AB where a standard drill should go, the section will look noticeably different (sparkly vs flat).

The fix: Keep ABs in a clearly marked separate container while working. Use a tray with a label like “AB ONLY” in big letters.

Mistake 3: Buying cheap AB drill bags

The problem: Low-quality AB drill bags often have inconsistent coating — some drills will have strong iridescence, others will be dull. You can’t tell until you place them.

The fix: Buy AB drill bags from reputable brands (DAC, Dreamer, Artdot AB packs). Avoid cheap mystery packs labeled “AB” without specifying the source.

Mistake 4: Trying to use ABs for full coverage

The problem: AB drills are designed as accents. Using ABs for entire sections of a painting looks overwhelming and unnatural (the entire painting shimmers, defeating the effect).

The fix: Use 2-3 ABs per 10-20 standard drills. Most kit legends already specify where ABs go — follow the kit designer’s intent.

Mistake 5: Sealing before the AB drills have fully set

The problem: If you apply sealer within the first 24 hours of placing drills, the sealer can shift the AB coating slightly. This shows up as hazy spots.

The fix: Wait at least 24-48 hours after completing a painting before sealing. For AB-heavy paintings, wait 72 hours.

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Where to Buy AB Drills

Most diamond painting kits include AB drills as part of the standard kit (most premium kits have at least 1-3 AB colors). If you want to add AB accent drills to a kit that doesn’t include them, or want to swap out an AB color, here are the best sources.

1. Artdot AB Drill Packs — Best Variety

Website: artdot.com · Price: $8-12 per pack · Best for: AB drill refills and variety packs

Artdot sells individual AB drill packs in 4 most popular colors (Crystal Clear, Blue Aurora, Volcano, Mint). Each pack contains ~500-1000 drills.

Pros:

• Specifically packaged for diamond painting (not generic craft ABs)
• Low minimum order (1 pack)
• Affordable pricing
• Pairs with Artdot’s full kit ecosystem

Cons:

• Limited color selection vs DAC/Dreamer
• Smaller pack sizes (good for testing, less good for big projects)

2. DAC AB Drill Sets — Best Premium AB

Website: diamondartclub.com · Price: $15-25 per AB set · Best for: Adding AB color depth to premium kits

Diamond Art Club sells individual AB drill color sets in their shop. The AB coating on DAC drills is among the most iridescent in the industry (and the most consistent).

Pros:

• Premium AB coating quality
• Wide color selection (10+ AB color variations)
• Lifetime warranty

Cons:

• Higher price per AB drill
• Sometimes sold out of popular colors
• Subject to DAC’s AI artwork community debate

3. Dreamer Designs AB Refills — Best Newcomer

Website: dreamerdesigns.com · Price: $12-20 per pack · Best for: Expanding AB palettes with less common colors

Dreamer Designs has expanded their AB drill line in the past year, including some less common colors like Volcano Pink and Crystal Rainbow.

Pros:

• Emerging AB variety
• Quality matching DAC at lower prices
• 2-day US shipping

Cons:

• Smaller AB selection than DAC
• Still building the AB ecosystem

4. Diamond Painting Pro AB Bundles — Best Bulk AB

Website: diamondpaintingpro.com · Price: $20-40 per bundle · Best for: Big AB projects requiring many colors

DPP sells AB bundles that include 5+ different AB colors at a discount vs buying individually.

Pros:

• Multiple AB colors per bundle
• Bulk discount
• Free shipping

Cons:

• Larger bundles mean you may not use all of them
• Some confusion with the drill legend (per Reddit criticisms)

5. Amazon AB Drills — Best for Experimentation

Website: amazon.com · Price: $5-15 per pack · Best for: Trying ABs without committing to a brand

Amazon sells generic AB drill packs in clear plastic bags, often unlabeled as to which colors are included.

Pros:

• Cheapest entry point
• Fast Prime shipping
• Many size/color variations available

Cons:

• Quality varies wildly between listings
• Often unlabeled colors (you don’t know what you’re getting)
• Higher return rate due to quality variance

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does AB mean in diamond painting?

AB stands for Aurora Borealis, named after the Northern Lights. AB drills are standard resin drills with a metallic iridescent coating on top. When light hits the coating, it diffracts into rainbow colors, creating a shimmer effect in the finished painting.

How are AB drills different from regular drills?

AB drills are regular resin drills plus two extra layers: a metallic iridescent coating (typically aluminum-based) and a protective clear coat. These additional layers give AB drills their color-shifting appearance but also make them 3-5x more expensive to manufacture.

Are AB drills worth it?

Yes, for accent highlights in paintings. A few AB drills in the right places can transform a flat painting into a shimmering, dynamic piece. For full coverage (lots of ABs throughout), ABs can be overwhelming — the entire painting shimmers and the effect is lost.

Can I add AB drills to a kit that didn’t come with them?

Yes. You can buy individual AB drill packs (Crystal Clear AB is a versatile choice for almost any painting) and replace specific standard drills with AB versions. The kits are usually compatible in size and shape.

How do I tell if my AB drills are good quality?

Three quick tests:

• Color consistency: All ABs of the same color should look identical under the same lighting
• Coating uniformity: The iridescent coating should cover the entire drill surface, not just spots
• No peeling: Gently rub an AB between your fingers — the coating should NOT come off

If any of these fail, you have low-quality ABs.

Will sealing my painting dull the AB iridescence?

It depends on the sealer. Standard acrylic sealers (Mod Podge, Krylon) can slightly dull AB iridescence over time (1-2 years of display exposure). For AB-heavy paintings, use an AB-specific sealer (like Artdot Gentle Formula) or skip sealing and frame behind UV-protective glass.

Can AB drills go bad over time?

If stored properly (cool, dry, sealed container), AB drills can last 5+ years without noticeable degradation. If exposed to humidity, UV light, or heat, the metallic coating can oxidize or fade. Most AB-related degradation in completed paintings is from UV exposure or accidental liquid spills.

What’s the difference between AB drills and other specialty drills?

• AB drills: Iridescent shimmer (color-shifting)
• Glow-in-the-dark drills: Phosphorescent (glow in dark after light exposure)
• Metallic drills: Solid metallic finish (no color shift)
• Pearl/iridescent drills: Soft glow from mica pigment (less aggressive than AB)
• Fairy dust drills: Multicolor glitter suspended in clear resin

AB is the most popular specialty drill type. Glow-in-the-dark and metallic are the next most common.

Are AB drills worth the extra cost?

For accent highlights in the right places, yes. A typical 30×40 cm kit might include 200-500 AB drills out of 8,000-15,000 total drills (3-5% of the total). The aesthetic impact of those ABs is disproportionate to their cost — they’re the “jewelry” of the painting. The premium price is unavoidable if you want the effect.

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The Bottom Line

• What AB drills are: Standard resin drills + metallic iridescent coating
• Why they matter: They add the sparkle that defines premium-looking paintings
• How to use them: Place carefully, after standard drills, in the spots your kit designer chose
• Where to buy: Artdot for variety, DAC for premium, Amazon for experimentation
• Common mistake: Sealing with harsh acrylics that dull iridescence

For most hobbyists, we recommend starting with AB drills included in your kit (most premium kits include them). Once you’ve done one painting with ABs, you’ll understand the difference they make — and you’ll know if you want to buy additional AB packs for future projects.

Have a question about AB drills we didn’t cover? Drop it in the comments — we update this guide quarterly based on r/diamondpainting feedback.

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References (Reddit Sources)

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