Non-motoring > DIY drill bit sharpening ?	Miscellaneous
Thread Author: bottomlesspit	Replies: 75

New Sat 8 Jan 11 12:18   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - bottomlesspit

Does anyone out there sharpene their own drill bits, if so any recommendations ? Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 8 Jan 11 12:21   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - Zero

Nope With the cost of drill bits, throw them in the bin. Unless its a specialist drill bit. Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 8 Jan 11 12:30   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - Bellboy

no Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 8 Jan 11 12:35   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - Iffy

I once saw an expensive jig-like gadget on a shopping channel to sharpen drill bits. At the garage, we used to 'put an edge' on the twist drills using a bench grinder. tinyurl.com/39znvcv Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 8 Jan 11 12:39   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - Zero

Most users blunt their drill bits because they run them too hot. Once its got hot, the hardened properties have gone and you will never keep a sharp edge on it. Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 8 Jan 11 12:44   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - smokie

My long departed engineer Dad use to sharpen them, but I suspect that they were built better than today's run of the mill bits. These days I just buy new ones when required. Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 8 Jan 11 12:45   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - Fenlander

The farming engineers across the road taught me how to look after drills.... Buy decent quality, run slow and lubricate/cool. Once they feel they need forcing they're worn out so throw them away. My two most used drills for steel are around 8/10mm. They cost about £10 each rather than the DIY sheds at £8 for a set of 10 for their lead specials. Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 8 Jan 11 14:14   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - MrTee43

Zero's reply is typical of well, Zero. Good drill bits are not cheap and if you use them often, you would be a fool to throw them away. All you need is a cheap bench grinder and learn how to sharpen them. No sharpening gauges needed, just a bit of practise to get the angles right. The bench grinder is good to do all manner of things and you will wonder how you ever did without one. Maybe, Zero is one of thoses individuals who just gets "A Man" round to do his work. Reply to this message | Report message       1

New Sat 8 Jan 11 14:17   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - Bellboy

well ive got a bench grinder and know how to use it but still find it better safer and easier to buy boxes of drills and use and throw Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 8 Jan 11 14:32   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - MrTee43

Can you save them and I will come round and collect them if you close enough to me as I beleive you are. I love it when I get things for free or cheap when all they need is a bit of effort. Once got a nice Lancia Beta HPE (not rusty) for £50 that was going to be scrapped because it had no oil pressure. A bit of effort found that the reason for no oil pressure was a dent in the steel sump, right where the oil pickup was. I have lots more examples. Some people don't know the value of money, is all I can say. Last edited by: MrTee43 on Sat 8 Jan 11 at 14:33 Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 8 Jan 11 15:11   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - bottomlesspit

MrTee43, We are carved from the same mould. I have so many dull drill bits that I would at least like to give it a dry before binning them. Some of them are long enough to go through cavity walls so not cheap to replace. Will probably try one of the specific grinding tools on the market. An HPE for £50 !!!!!! If I had the room to garage one I would have one or a Monte. Had a great Beta Spyder for more than 10yrs and still wish I had not sold it ;-( Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 8 Jan 11 14:27   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - Iffy

...The bench grinder is good to do all manner of things and you will wonder how you ever did without one... Agreed. Stone one end, wire brush the other. One of the most useful tools in the garage. Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 8 Jan 11 16:02   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - Zero

Mr Tee, maybe Mr Zero is a man who was trained in a machine shop, never has a man round to do anything (except plastering) and probably, having more all round experience than you in most things , is talking from experience. Last edited by: Zero on Sat 8 Jan 11 at 16:04 Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 8 Jan 11 16:20   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - Bigtee

Yes i sharpen them but could do with buying some smaller sizes this is something i have needed to do for ages. when i first tried it the looked more like spears than drills but got there eventually. Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 8 Jan 11 16:41   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - Robin O'Reliant

I agree that drill bits are so cheap now they are not worth sharpening. I was amazed to see in Aldi this week a set of Taps and a set of Dies, both under four quid. Those things used to cost a fortune. Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 8 Jan 11 17:07   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - VxFan

>> Those things used to cost a fortune. They used to be made from proper metal as well. Not the monkey metal a lot of stuff is now made of. Reply to this message | Report message       1

New Sat 8 Jan 11 17:10   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - Zero

Old drill bits were designed to be sharpened, Modern ones are not, so you cant really make a good job of it. Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 8 Jan 11 17:52   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - MrTee43

Zero,do you know, I seriously doubt it, and I can plaster, a whole house if need be. In fact in my house renovation days, I did, quite a few. And while you throw those drill bits away, are you throwing away wood chisels, cold chisels, brick bolsters, garden shears, scissors etc etc. We can turn it into a willy waving excercise if you want but over the internet you cannot really prove anything. Last edited by: MrTee43 on Sat 8 Jan 11 at 17:54 Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 8 Jan 11 18:02   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - Zero

>> And while you throw those drill bits away, are you throwing away wood chisels, cold >> chisels, brick bolsters, garden shears, scissors etc etc. No, specially not the chisels I made myself as apprentice pieces. Now when you have made your own tools, I will listen to you. Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 8 Jan 11 18:08   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - MrTee43

Oh come on, I made chisels, screwdrivers and even a model steam engine at school when I did my O level metalwork and engineering theory. Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 8 Jan 11 18:14   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - Iffy

I made a cribbage board in woodwork at school. It was rubbish, the angles at the corners were all uneven. So I couldn't make a tool, but I do know how to buy them. :) Last edited by: Iffy on Sat 8 Jan 11 at 18:14 Reply to this message | Report message

New Sun 9 Jan 11 05:47   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - Pat

There's a lot of tools on here:) Pat Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 8 Jan 11 18:15   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - Zero

Well done, you can be proud of yourself. Me I still throw away modern drills. Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 8 Jan 11 18:33   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - bottomlesspit

Going by what some of the posts on here are saying then yes the small ones are disposable, but the one that I have that will go throw a cavity wall and are about 15mm in diameter, are too expensive to having to keep replacing !!!!! Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 8 Jan 11 18:39   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - Zero

At 12 quid each, yes they get sharpened, as long as they have not been destroyed by running them too fast and hence getting too hot. Last edited by: Zero on Sat 8 Jan 11 at 18:40 Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 8 Jan 11 18:40   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - MrTee43

I sharpen all mine down to 5mm and even 3mm sometimes. Oh and BTW, a bench grinder is also great to keep the tip of your flat bladed screwdrivers in shape. And before Zero jumps in, make sure you dont overheat the screwdriver tips in the grinding process. Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 8 Jan 11 18:41   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - Zero

>> I sharpen all mine down to 5mm and even 3mm sometimes. >> >> Oh and BTW, a bench grinder is also great to keep the tip of your >> flat bladed screwdrivers in shape. Oh really? how do you get your screwdrivers in such a mess? Like to see you grind your pozidrive screwdrivers. Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 8 Jan 11 18:49   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - Iffy

...Oh really? how do you get your screwdrivers in such a mess?... That's easy Zeddo, use them as pry bars, cold chisels, punches, paint stirrers and for adjusting Ford (non)self-adjusting drum brakes. Doesn't everyone use their screwdrivers for things like that? Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 8 Jan 11 18:31   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - Jetski

Learned to do it as an apprentice forty years ago, easy peasy with practice. 118 degree included angle and 12 degree clearance. It takes a gentle turning motion against the wheel whilst moving the tip upwards. Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 8 Jan 11 18:35   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - Iffy

...It takes a gentle turning motion against the wheel whilst moving the tip upwards... That's exactly what I can visualise, but as you say it does take some practice. I was never much good at it. Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 8 Jan 11 18:40   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - sooty123

Most people won't wear them out often enough to keep their hand in and therefore just bin them. Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 8 Jan 11 18:57   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - Skoda

I have a bench grinder. What bits can be sharpened, only metal or also woodwork ones? They've a point so I'm guessing not them. How do you sharpen them, shallow angle and slowly rotate, or only focus on the 2 leading edges? I'll stop giving them full welly after reading this thread! Last edited by: Skoda on Sat 8 Jan 11 at 18:57 Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 8 Jan 11 19:27   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - MrTee43

"Like to see you grind your pozidrive screwdrivers" Did I say anything about pozidrive screwdrivers ? They get replaced with new items when necessary. Actually, most of my pozidrive screws get screwed in with a cordless Makita impact driver using pozidrive bits bought in boxes of 50, my actual pozidrive screwdrivers are never used for screwing screws into wood. For those that are interested, cordless impact drivers are amazing, you can drive a 4 inch woodscrew into softwood without a pilot hole in seconds with ease. Last edited by: MrTee43 on Sat 8 Jan 11 at 19:28 Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 8 Jan 11 19:30   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - MD

Impact drivers for screws are a waste of time. What is wrong with a cordless screwdriver? Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 8 Jan 11 19:41   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - Zero

No way would I impact screws, no wonder you get through screwdriver bits. Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 8 Jan 11 19:47   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - Iffy

...No way would I impact screws, no wonder you get through screwdriver bits... We used to clout the end of the screwdriver to 'shock the thread' of a sticking machine screw. Most usual example would be the little set screws used to hold some brake drums in place, or car door or boot hinges. Yet another reason to buy a decent quality screwdriver. Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 8 Jan 11 19:57   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - MrTee43

God, the ignorance of some people on here is breathtaking. Some of you lot write as if you know what your talking about when clearly you have no idea. Do a bit of googling before you post such rubbish or do you do it to be provocative ? Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 8 Jan 11 20:04   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - Zero

All bow down before the oh great Mr Tee! Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 8 Jan 11 20:05   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - sooty123

do you do it >> to be provocative ? >> Pot kettle black Last edited by: sooty123 on Sat 8 Jan 11 at 20:07 Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 8 Jan 11 21:37   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - corax

>> Do a bit of googling before you post such rubbish or do you do it >> to be provocative ? Well, MD's a builder, so he should know a bit about screwing (ahem!) Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 8 Jan 11 19:54   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - Kevin

Most bench grinders I've seen, even in some professional engineering shops, are fitted with wheels too coarse and pitted to sharpen drills properly. Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 8 Jan 11 20:06   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - Bigtee

Got a nice old Makita and a dressing tool fine and course wheels and it won't stop when you press on hard just plenty of sparks and no metal left wow this is a grinder not like the carp they sell at B&Q. Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 8 Jan 11 20:08   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - Zero

How did I know yours would be better than anyone else's. Is your cat blacker than the one next door as well? Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 8 Jan 11 20:09   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - MrTee43

They know who they are. Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 8 Jan 11 20:23   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - MrTee43

Right, Googled it for you. First result "impact driver vs drill" www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk/forum1/impact-driver-vs-hammer-drill-t1469.html Just a few of many. Zero, your just plain wrong. Be a man and admit it, though I doubt you will because I have noticed in other posts, you think you are the font of all knowledge on any subject and know better than anyone else. You don't ! Reply to this message | Report message       1

New Sat 8 Jan 11 20:27   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - Zero

one lousy page of blokes comments who have pictures of girls bums? You do it your way I I will do it my way. Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 8 Jan 11 20:32   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - MrTee43

You have lost ! Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 8 Jan 11 20:34   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - Zero

you sad sad person. Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 8 Jan 11 20:36   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - MrTee43

I think that that is an insult. You should refer to house rules. Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 8 Jan 11 20:39   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - Zero

But well earned. Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 8 Jan 11 20:43   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - MrTee43

Pistols at Dawn ? Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 8 Jan 11 20:45   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - Zero

. Last edited by: Zero on Sat 8 Jan 11 at 20:45 Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 8 Jan 11 20:49   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - Kevin

>one lousy page of blokes comments who have pictures of girls bums? Nice bum though. Wouldn't using an impact driver for screws damage the wood fibres and therefore weaken the joint? Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 8 Jan 11 20:51   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - Bigtee

You lot should just go to the pub have a few pints and enjoy yourselves bickering like girls. I say i would but stuck on wagon till end of month as there's a wager in it if i do it.!! Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 8 Jan 11 20:54   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - MD

Mr. Tee. I do this for a living. You are wrong. Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 8 Jan 11 21:08   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - MrTee43

So do I, so we will have to agree to disagree. Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 8 Jan 11 21:12   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - Zero

I'm sure the bums know best. Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 8 Jan 11 21:15   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - Iffy

I wonder if there is some confusion about terminology here. An impact driver exerts some downward force as well as a twisting force - a good example would be the air guns used in garages on wheel nuts. There are cordless electric impact drivers, but I suspect most of us have simple drill drivers, which just twist. I have one - a 12v Ryobi cordless drill driver which is more than adequate for my light use. Drill drivers are also more versatile, you can drill wood and metal with them as well as drive screws. Not good for nuts and bolts, though. Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 8 Jan 11 21:36   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - MrTee43

Judge for yourself, another review of impact drivers versus drill drivers for inserting screws. cordlessimpactdriverreviews.com/Cordless-Impact-Driver-vs-Cordless-Drill I rest my case ! Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 8 Jan 11 21:38   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - MD

Beano or Dandy? Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 8 Jan 11 21:42   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - MrTee43

Why not give reason to your comments instead of trying to be funny or is that meant to be sarcasm. Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 8 Jan 11 21:52   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - MD

Purely using the day in and day out. The correct drill is faster, quieter, more efficient. Impact is noisy, slow and less productive. AND is not intended for screw driving despite what ANY blurb may say. Yes they can drive screws, but so can many other machines that were not specifically designed to do so. Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 8 Jan 11 21:53   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - MD

>> Purely using the day in and day out. >> Meant Them. Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 8 Jan 11 22:16   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - MrTee43

Either you cannot read or you are being deliberately obtuse or for some reason choose to disregard the opinions of the vast majority who use them everyday in a professional capacity. You are so wrong but as you choose to ignore facts there is no point in pursuing this any more. Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 8 Jan 11 22:27   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - Zero

Don't you think that a site called cordlessimpactdriverreviews.com Might just be a little bit biased? Last edited by: Zero on Sat 8 Jan 11 at 22:28 Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 8 Jan 11 22:41   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - MrTee43

Did you actually read it ? If so where was the bias. If you are really interested, which I suspect you are not, you could research the subject and even try one out and compare it for yourself. Come on Zero, you just cannot abide the thought that you are wrong. I bet you were an avid reader of LKJ Setright. Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 8 Jan 11 22:44   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - Zero

The clue is in the name. and AGAIN you have me wrong. My utter dislike of LJK's blatherings are well known in this and the other forum. Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 8 Jan 11 22:53   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - MrTee43

Yes, Zero, as in knowledge of impact drivers. Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 8 Jan 11 22:56   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - Zero

sigh Reply to this message | Report message

New Sat 8 Jan 11 23:44   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - Fursty Ferret

Yes, but I was taught how to do it by someone who had vast amounts of precision engineering experience. Easy to do when you know how, but equally easy to screw up and ruin the bit. Agree with Zero on this, just buy new bits. Reply to this message | Report message

New Sun 9 Jan 11 00:03   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - Number_Cruncher

I'm probably somewhere in the middle on the subject of drill sharpening. I wouldn't dream of throwing a new drill bit away after it gets blunt, and I always sharpen them. However, I will always use a new bit if I'm doing something critical - where drilling off-centre would be a disaster, drilling down a snapped stud in an expensive casting, for example. It is worth making up a template to get the angle right, and to inspect the point, and scribe the edges against a card to make sure the drill will run centrally. All of this effort costs pennies and takes but a few minutes. If you screw up, you can always just grind the end of the drill flat and start again. You would have to seriously try to completely ruin a drill bit. Reply to this message | Report message

New Sun 9 Jan 11 05:57   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - Pat

Oh dear, Oh dear, Oh dear:) It's a bit like a virtual town centre on a saturday night on here. I think you all need something better to do.... or you all need to up the dosage of blood pressure tablets:) One overwhelming consolation upon reading this thread is that I'm not the only person who uses a screwdriver to stir paint, and a knife to remove a screw. Pat Reply to this message | Report message

New Sun 9 Jan 11 13:16   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - FotheringtonTomas

>> Does anyone out there sharpene their own drill bits, if so any recommendations ? Yes, it's a cinch on a small electric grinder. Look up how to do it entirely by hand, and practice a few times. Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 11 Jan 11 20:03   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - PhilW

I bought one of these years ago (was quite a lot cheaper then!) I only use it occasionally but is easy to use and works well. Might be limited as to size of bit it will take though. www.tooled-up.com/Product.asp?PID=320 Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 12 Jan 11 12:54   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - Mapmaker

I've often used something like an impact driver for putting in screws. Called a Manchester screwdriver. Reply to this message | Report message

New Wed 12 Jan 11 13:06   DIY drill bit sharpening ? - bottomlesspit

Thanks all for the 'Entertaining' responses. I will check if any engineering shops will do all the ones I have for a resonable cost, failing that I will buy one of the specific tools to see if they are any good. Reply to this message | Report message