Sharpening Drill Bits
- Thread starter ET16
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If you have a Drill DR, go for it. But drill bits are too cheap to risk your fingers using a bench grinder. Google Drill DR.
I use a bench grinder, protractor and small ruler, get a perfect bit every time (course it helps that I have been doing it for over 40 years), have a machinist show you how, just go to a machine shop and ask him to show you how to do it then practice.
A variable speed bench grinder helps but isn't a must. Cobalt bits can get pricey so sharpening them pays, the drill dr is a gimmick and takes longer, if you want to use something then get a drill guide.
https://www.amazon.com/Woodstock-D4...&hvtargid=pla-405660998128&psc=1
A variable speed bench grinder helps but isn't a must. Cobalt bits can get pricey so sharpening them pays, the drill dr is a gimmick and takes longer, if you want to use something then get a drill guide.
https://www.amazon.com/Woodstock-D4...&hvtargid=pla-405660998128&psc=1
I've always just used a Bench-Grinder.
The larger the bit, the easier it is to do.
If I'm having difficulty, I'd use a Drill 'sharpening' Guide.
The smaller bits / 1/8" and smaller, I'd just buy a package and not sharpen.
![[Linked Image]](https://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/attachments/usergals/2019/03/full-79675-31179-71aowirjxnl._sy450_.jpg "[Linked Image]")
The larger the bit, the easier it is to do.
If I'm having difficulty, I'd use a Drill 'sharpening' Guide.
The smaller bits / 1/8" and smaller, I'd just buy a package and not sharpen.
Originally Posted by MasterSolenoid
I've always just used a Bench-Grinder.
The larger the bit, the easier it is to do.
If I'm having difficulty, I'd use a Drill 'sharpening' Guide.
The smaller bits / 1/8" and smaller, I'd just buy a package and not sharpen.
Where does one find one of these?
I've always just used a Bench-Grinder.
The larger the bit, the easier it is to do.
If I'm having difficulty, I'd use a Drill 'sharpening' Guide.
The smaller bits / 1/8" and smaller, I'd just buy a package and not sharpen.
Where does one find one of these?
Originally Posted by ET16
Originally Posted by MasterSolenoid
I've always just used a Bench-Grinder.
The larger the bit, the easier it is to do.
If I'm having difficulty, I'd use a Drill 'sharpening' Guide.
The smaller bits / 1/8" and smaller, I'd just buy a package and not sharpen.
Where does one find one of these?
Google 'drill sharpening gage'...
Or click here.
Originally Posted by MasterSolenoid
I've always just used a Bench-Grinder.
The larger the bit, the easier it is to do.
If I'm having difficulty, I'd use a Drill 'sharpening' Guide.
The smaller bits / 1/8" and smaller, I'd just buy a package and not sharpen.
Where does one find one of these?
Google 'drill sharpening gage'...
Or click here.
![[Linked Image]](https://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/attachments/usergals/2019/03/full-38203-31187-5bab3299_21ff_446c_8221_148e882f4864.jpeg "[Linked Image]")
Sharpening drill bits is another lost art. Check out this guy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8oORR6jyh8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8oORR6jyh8
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Decades ago, I was taught to sharpen drill bits by my high school shop ag instructor.Not to brag here, but I remember I was the only one in my class that had a sharpened specimen that the instructor really was proud of.
Sadly, where time is money, a Drill Doctor is probably the best way to go.
BTW, after seeing the drill gauge shown above, a poor-man's way to getting the correct drill angle (or close enough) is to put two six-sided nuts in a vice and clamp the vice tight on the two nuts.
Put both nuts side-by-side in the vice, where you can see the internal threads equally and each vice jaw is touching one nut, and the correct angle is located where the two nuts are touching each other, the area where a wrench would grab when tightening a nut.
Sadly, where time is money, a Drill Doctor is probably the best way to go.
BTW, after seeing the drill gauge shown above, a poor-man's way to getting the correct drill angle (or close enough) is to put two six-sided nuts in a vice and clamp the vice tight on the two nuts.
Put both nuts side-by-side in the vice, where you can see the internal threads equally and each vice jaw is touching one nut, and the correct angle is located where the two nuts are touching each other, the area where a wrench would grab when tightening a nut.
just takes some practice. i sharpen lots of bits at work, as we do lots of drilling in truck frames. really helps to have a flat stone. just watch some videos and practice. after it "clicks" it really becomes quite easy. its true that sometimes the bigger the bit the easier it is.
One of the first things my high school shop teacher made us do was hand sharpen a drill bit, we used a gage like posted above. Above about 3/8" I add a split point like shown on the left in my picture.
My dad is fantastic at sharpening bits. I'm less so. I have a Drill Dr. Works fine.
nice work skippy...im betting you find yours cut better than new
To sharpen drill bits properly by hand, you need a steady grinding wheel. Your average garage does not have one. Despite diamond dressing the wheels, I've rejected multiple new brand name grinders from HF to B&D to Delta for too much oscillation. The Delta vibrated just as much with the grinding wheels removed, so that tells you something. Just recently I scored a used Baldor 1/3HP and now I have something that I can use to sharpen by hand.
In the mean time, meaning the past 15 years, I've been sharpening bits using a first-gen DD 500. It has a chuck for LH bits, and instructions on tight twist bits, 2 things that many people think a Drill Doctor just cannot do. The 500 is not a gimmick, some of the lesser models are very limited though, some don't do split points or more than one angle.
Funny thing, the DD taught me how to hand sharpen drill bits. In order to function, the dull drill bit must first approximate the shape of a factory drill bit. Meaning, if it's broken off you'll never completely sharpen it on the DD. Because of oscillating mass-produced grinders I couldn't get a finished product off of a grinding wheel, but I could get it close enough the DD would quickly finish the job... perfectly.
In the mean time, meaning the past 15 years, I've been sharpening bits using a first-gen DD 500. It has a chuck for LH bits, and instructions on tight twist bits, 2 things that many people think a Drill Doctor just cannot do. The 500 is not a gimmick, some of the lesser models are very limited though, some don't do split points or more than one angle.
Funny thing, the DD taught me how to hand sharpen drill bits. In order to function, the dull drill bit must first approximate the shape of a factory drill bit. Meaning, if it's broken off you'll never completely sharpen it on the DD. Because of oscillating mass-produced grinders I couldn't get a finished product off of a grinding wheel, but I could get it close enough the DD would quickly finish the job... perfectly.
Originally Posted by justintendo
nice work skippy...im betting you find yours cut better than new
Definitely easier when using larger bits by hand. Or on a radial arm drill press with a 2.250" drill and 4140 steel
nice work skippy...im betting you find yours cut better than new
Definitely easier when using larger bits by hand. Or on a radial arm drill press with a 2.250" drill and 4140 steel
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