How to sharpen drill bits?

When to sharpen your drill bits?

Aaron Barnett of BangingToolbox suggests: Drill bits allow you to drill selected and correctly-sized holes. They’re essential in most tradies and DIY’er’s aprons, but unfortunately, the sharp tip doesn’t last forever.

Not all drill bits are made strong, but almost all of them do share the common trait of losing sharpness eventually. Consider sharpening or replacing your drill bits if:

• They don’t cut like they used to.
• It takes considerable effort to drill through even the lightest of materials.
• It produces high-pitched and unsettling noise when in use.

What’s the best way to sharpen drill bits?

Your drill bits, as with all tools, will eventually dull over time.

While you can simply replace worn drill bits, it isn’t the most practical way, especially if you’re looking to avoid unnecessary added costs.

Quality drill bits are made of higher-end metals like titanium and carbide to regain performance from sharpening.

There are many ways you can sharpen drill bits, but the best ways are to either sharpen them by hand, with a bench grinder, or by using a drill bit sharpener.

How to sharpen drill bits with a file

Learning how to sharpen drill bits by hand saves you from specialized tools. Sharpening drill bits by hand involves only a file and a bench vise. Here are the steps on how to sharpen drill bits with a file:

1. Make it easier to sharpen your drill bits by wiping them clean to remove dirt and grime on the surface.
2. Secure the drill bit into a jig or a bench vise.
3. Using an auger or mill file, place the drill bits about 60-degrees from each of the blade’s face and run down the file about 6 -8 times.
4. Remove any burrs or imperfections by rubbing the bits on leather in the opposite direction.

Making a simple jig

Though not necessary, drill bit sharpening jigs provide you with more stability and freedom to move.

A vise grip does well here for the most part. 

How to sharpen a drill bit with a bench grinder?

Take care as a bench grinder’s power can end up further damaging your drill bit if you don’t have a slow steady hand. Using these tools to sharpen requires a little skill since you need to factor in control and precision. 

Use a bench grinder if you want to quickly sharpen a lot of drill bits without a specialized sharpener.

Models like the Dewalt DW758 and DW756 are quality bench grinders that have all the attributes and power that you’ll need for pretty much all grinding jobs including sharpening tools and drill bits. You’d want to use a 6-inch grinder for this job.

To sharpen drill bits with a grinder, you need to:  

1. Set up your grinder. Place the guard ⅛ inch from the wheel to prevent drill bits from accidentally getting caught in the grinder.
2. Hold the drill bit with both hands, with your right hand holding near its tip.
3. Position the drill bit at about 60-degrees from the grinding wheel and slowly run it along in a rotating motion.
4. Use the bench grinder stand to stabilize the drill bit.
5. Have a cup of water to cool down the bit after each swipe to avoid the bit from burning and weakening.
6. Sharpen your drill bits until you’re happy with the sharpness. Make sure that all the threads are even. 

Making a jig or guide on a bench grinder

To make a jig, simply get a wooden block and cut a 60-degree groove that can fit the drill bit/s you want sharpening.

Once in place, simply insert the bit and slide the jig across the grinder’s table until you reach the wheel.

How to sharpen drill bits with a drill bit sharpener?

A drill bit sharpener is the quickest and most efficient way to sharpen drill bits accurately.

Though you’re going to need to purchase a specialized tool, a drill bit sharpener is a way to go if you’re after maximum speed, precision, and control.

One of the best drill bit sharpeners we know of is the Drill Doctor 750X with its range of attributes that offer versatile, precise, and ease-of-use sharpening.

1. Begin by selecting the appropriate angle and then inserting a drill bit into the sharpener’s chuck.
2. Adjust the bit position, then tighten the chuck.
3. Align the sharpening guide and start sharpening with the push of a button. 

What affects a drill bit’s performance?

Material

Drill bits come built in a variety of metals. High-quality drill bits are made from cobalt and can easily drill through aluminum, steel , and stainless steel.

Drill bits sourced from less expensive materials are less durable and dull faster.

Carbide-tipped drill bits are extremely durable and are specifically designed to retain sharpness significantly longer than most standard drill bits.

Coating

Drill bits can be coated to protect against heat and friction [1]. Coating drill bits prolongs their lifespan and enhances their effectiveness.

Among the common coatings are black oxide, titanium nitride, and titanium carbonitride.

Black oxide is a staple coating and helps guard drill bits from intense heat, rust, and even water damage on its first out-of-the-box sharpness. 

Twist blade type

Twist drills are the most common type of drill bits and are mainly used for everyday drilling across all types of material. As such, these bits also have the most number of size, tip, length, and material specifications.

A twist drill’s length influences its rigidity and reach, while the tip styles dictate which applications twist drills are compatible with.

Know what type to use and when to prolong your drill bits’ longevity and save on maintenance costs.

Sample drill lengths:

• Jobber
• Mechanics Length

Sample tip styles:

• V-points
• Raper Points

How can you keep your drill bits sharp longer?

It’s important to know how to sharpen wood drill bits and how you can better retain their sharpness. R

Regardless of the project or job demand, using cutting oil with your drill bits helps reduce stress [2] and wards off excess friction and heat.

The same can be said about choosing the appropriate coating.

If you can, go for higher-quality drill bits such as carbide and titanium as these are naturally stronger and would require less frequent sharpening and more intensive drilling.

Can you use a belt sander to sharpen drill bits?

Yes.

Once you know how to sharpen masonry or wood drill bits with a bench grinder, you’ll have no problem using a belt sander with a fine-grit belt as it pretty much works off of the same idea.

You can also sharpen your drill bits with a Dremel rotary tool if you don’t have a belt sander or a bench grinder.

Safety gear needed when sharpening drill bits

• Safety goggles. You’ll be working with a variety of materials and almost all the time, there will be flying debris. Always wear safety goggles to prevent metal filings from getting the chance to enter your eyes.
• Gloves. Though not always recommended, it’s better to have gloves on so that not even a slight mistake can cause injury to your hand.
• Mask. A mask protects you from inhaling potentially harmful material debris, such as small metal filings and sawdust.

Should you sharpen your drill bits now?

Drill bits are very flexible and can perform a variety of drilling tasks, but eventually become dull with continued use. Fortunately, drill bits can be restored to near-perfect conditions via sharpening. 

If you are looking to save money on drill bits, then look into the Drill Doctor 750X. It combines the precision and control of hand-sharpening with the efficiency and power of a bench grinder.

Get clean, lasting results with its easy-to-use and versatile sharpening options. Sharpen up to ¾” drill bits at up to 140 – degrees with its included 180 and 100-grit diamond wheel. 

Should your drill bits ever need medical attention, you know the doctor to call. Sharpen, use, repeat – this is not a drill.