3 Super Easy Ways to Sharpen Drill Bits Instead of Throwing Them Away

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If you’re a professional painter or just a serious hobbyist, you know that a cordless drill is one of the most important things you need in your hardware arsenal. After all, it is a solution for a wide range of construction, repair and maintenance needs. You can use it to enhance modern art, install TV stands and shelves, assemble flat furniture, and combine paint. However, it’s important to note that, even if you have a highly reviewed and highly rated cordless drill, you won’t be able to handle your DIY jobs well if its bits are dull.

Sharp drill bits are the mainstay of many crafting projects. Their flexible nature allows DIYers to make precise holes in wood, metal, plastic, and other materials. But drill bits don’t stay sharp forever. If you start to see rough or uneven holes when drilling, that is a clear sign that the bits are not as sharp as they used to be. Sometimes, drilling rigs may produce a lot of heat or wisps of smoke during operation.

And while you may be tempted to use a small drill bit to get the project going, you’ll want to think twice. You run the risk of damaging the equipment you are working on, not to mention the cordless drill. Worse, a blunt piece can send shards flying, risking life-changing injuries to unprotected eyes. That’s why you’ll want to sharpen your drill bit if it shows any sign of dullness. Fortunately, this is something you can do at home, as it does not require professional intervention.

Many DIYers turn to power tools for their mini-sharpening needs, and we’ll cover that later. However, if all you have access to are hand tools, you can still give your dull pieces more life by using a hand file. It is worth noting that this process has caveats, however; it can be time consuming, and you will need less muscle power, especially if the pieces are completely worn out. That being said, in order to sharpen drill bits with a hand file, you’ll want to wear heavy duty work gloves and safety glasses first. Next, secure the worn pieces in a vise with the tip facing up, and clean them with a dry cloth.

Once your bit is free of any dust or debris, grab your hand file and give it a dull light until it feels sharp. Just remember that the file only cuts if you move it away from you and along the cutting edge. Make sure you start with one side of the vise before going to the other, and make sure there are a number of strokes on both sides. When it comes to relief areas, however, don’t forget to apply extra pressure. This way, you will remove a lot of material, making it easier for the leading edge to drill holes. When you are done, repeat this process until you are satisfied that your drill bit is sharp enough.

A bench grinder is a powerful weapon in any woodworker’s tool kit. You can use it for sanding, polishing, and even metal cutting. It is often the best tool for sharpening and polishing chisels, drill bits, or maintaining lawnmower blades, as it is fast, accurate, and easy to use. That being said, knowing that your bench grinder is a good tool for sharpening drill bits and knowing how to do it yourself are two different things.

If you want to bring dull pieces back to life with a grinder, you’ll need the right gear first. As with hand files, protective eyewear and work gloves are required to prevent injury. You will also want to choose the best grinding wheel for sharpening drill bits. According to experts, a 60-grit wheel will work best when it comes to heavy grinding, while an 80-120-grit wheel will work best if you want a smooth finish.

When you’re ready, turn on your bench grinder and gently hold it against the wheel with the cutting edge parallel, at about a 60 degree angle. Grind slowly by applying light pressure on the cutting edge, and gradually increase as you slowly rotate to grind the relief area. Do this for a few seconds, then submerge the pointed part in water to reduce the temperature and extend its life. When it is cool enough, rotate the bit 180 degrees and repeat the process.

If you find a grinder intimidating or just want to eliminate the hassle of sharpening bits by hand, you can always look for a dedicated tool like this Drill Doctor DD500X, available on Amazon for $110. Perfect for DIYers and professionals who use carbide tools or sharpen their drill bits regularly without guesswork or play.

However, before you get hold of any old sharpener, it is wise to familiarize yourself with it by looking at the user’s guide. After all, there are different types of drill bit sharpeners, and they all have different sharpening methods. For example, you can buy the Drill Doctor 500X, which has one sharpening, alignment, and splitting ports. On the other hand, the Drill Doctor 350X has a single hole that handles alignment and sharpening.

That being said, in order to align your blunt bits in the Drill Doctor machine, you’ll want to insert the bit into the chuck and tighten it in such a way that the bit fits in and out of the jaws without falling completely. After that, insert the chuck into the alignment hole and align the marking on the chuck with the corresponding mark labeled on the hole of your bit. Push the chuck into the port, hold the protruding drill bit with the clamping arms controlled by the alignment knob, and tighten the chuck knob.

When you’re done, turn on the lathe and insert the chuck and aligned bit into the sharpening hole. Rotate the chuck clockwise until the grinding noise stops. Then, remove the chuck and check that the bit is sharp to your satisfaction.