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Sharpening drill bits is a practical task that most of us clearly have no idea how to do. Drill bits dull with use. If you want better results during your projects, keeping them in tip-top shape is a non-negotiable imperative. And luckily, the right tools can make the job significantly easier, no matter your skill or experience level. During my decades as a professional woodworker, I’ve sharpened more drill bits than I care to count, but in recent years, the task has become much easier after I purchased the Drill Doctor Electric Drill Sharpening System.
In the past, I would Sharpen the drill bits By taking them to my bench grinder and jigging the way to hold the bit at the right angle to the grinding wheel. I would carefully align the cutting edge of the bit with the grinder and do my best not to remove more metal from one cutting edge than the other. I got good results a few times (not every time), but it was a messy job.
Drill Doctor products, like this one DD750X Electric Drill Sharpener ($159.95 at Home Depot), makes sharpening twist bits easy, repeatable and reasonably quick. That’s because it has all the setup pieces, a cutting guide, a grinder, and a way to ensure that both cutting edges of the bit are sharpened equally, pre-built into this small machine. And it is more beneficial for people who are not pros in the workshop. You just need to know how to follow the directions, and you’ll have sharp bits in seconds — no need to worry about grinder wheel speed or grit, how to set the 118-degree grind, or how to hold the bit securely on the grinder wheel.
How drills work to sharpen doctor bits better
The Drill Doctor 750X model will not work for everyone Type of drill bit (such as spade bits), but will handle most standard twist bits from ³⁄₃₂-inch diameter to ¾-inch diameter. (Large diameter drill bits are expensive — resharpen the ones you own!) It adjusts between 115 and 140 degrees and easily adjusts to the two most common drill bit cutter angles, 118 degrees (for wood and most other materials) and 138 degrees (for cores). Drilling through metal). There is a step-by-step process where you place your bit in a special holder, set the amount of material to grind and the proper grind angle for the bit. All these actions are performed using features specially built into the machine, so there is no guesswork. When you have the settings right, you simply push the holder and bit into the main opening and rotate the holder. The machine grinds the metal precisely without burning the metal.
There is an additional sharpening feature for split end grinding, though I question how important that is. If you have sharp main cutting edges, the split should take care of itself. One minor drawback is that the abrasive only has one grinding “wheel” with one grit, which means you can’t grind any of the cutting edges with the machine. If you feel it is necessary, you can do it after the fact by hand on a beautiful stone. But I often don’t, which means this little machine is a practical and easy way to keep drill bits in good cutting order.
