Australian Politics Forum - Sharpening Drill bits by hand

Sprintcyclist Gold Member Offline OzPolitic Posts: 39506 Gender:	Sharpening Drill bits by hand Feb 3^rd, 2018 at 3:53pm This looks worth a shot. Given some of my drill bits are very blunt and I have a diamond steel downstairs I no longer use on knives .........
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Sprintcyclist Gold Member Offline OzPolitic Posts: 39506 Gender:	Re: Sharpening Drill bits by hand Reply #1 - Feb 3^rd, 2018 at 4:04pm Ahah, make a 118 degree jig. Use the diamond steel.
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Setanta Gold Member Offline \/ Peace man! Posts: 15914 Northern NSW Gender:	Re: Sharpening Drill bits by hand Reply #2 - Feb 3^rd, 2018 at 7:39pm It's not an easy task, we were taught at TAFE to do it on a bench grinder.
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Johnnie Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 12485 Gender:	Re: Sharpening Drill bits by hand Reply #3 - Feb 3^rd, 2018 at 8:03pm You can get grinder bits to put in a drill, just remember that leading edge and the angle.
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Sprintcyclist Gold Member Offline OzPolitic Posts: 39506 Gender:	Re: Sharpening Drill bits by hand Reply #4 - Feb 4^th, 2018 at 4:30am Setanta wrote on Feb 3^rd, 2018 at 7:39pm: It's not an easy task, we were taught at TAFE to do it on a bench grinder. I'ld imagine it is difficult. Don't have or want a bench grinder
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Sprintcyclist Gold Member Offline OzPolitic Posts: 39506 Gender:	Re: Sharpening Drill bits by hand Reply #5 - Feb 4^th, 2018 at 4:31am Sprintcyclist wrote on Feb 3^rd, 2018 at 4:04pm: Ahah, make a 118 degree jig. Use the diamond steel. well, make a 59 degree jig, for each 'side' of the drill bit.
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Sprintcyclist Gold Member Offline OzPolitic Posts: 39506 Gender:	Re: Sharpening Drill bits by hand Reply #6 - Feb 13^th, 2018 at 12:56am I have an angle grinder
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Bias_2012

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Re: Sharpening Drill bits by hand
Reply #7 - Feb 13^th, 2018 at 1:50am

Those soft flexible sanding discs are not the best for sharpening drill bits. The cutting edge will be rounded slightly and the drill bit won't bite properly when cutting

One of those hard backed sanding discs is more suited, provided it's fine grit and not "wavy", it must be dead flat

Of course a lapping stone is best if you want to sharpen the bit by hand. One of those cheap stones you get in a reject shop or Bunnings maybe. They usually have "fine" one side, and "course" on the other. Use some water or cutting oil on the stone

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Sprintcyclist

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Re: Sharpening Drill bits by hand
Reply #8 - Feb 13^th, 2018 at 10:22am

Bias_2012 wrote on Feb 13^th, 2018 at 1:50am:

Those soft flexible sanding discs are not the best for sharpening drill bits. The cutting edge will be rounded slightly and the drill bit won't bite properly when cutting

One of those hard backed sanding discs is more suited, provided it's fine grit and not "wavy", it must be dead flat

Of course a lapping stone is best if you want to sharpen the bit by hand. One of those cheap stones you get in a reject shop or Bunnings maybe. They usually have "fine" one side, and "course" on the other. Use some water or cutting oil on the stone

ah yes, disc will have to be as fine as I can get it.

I tried using a cheap whetstone I have downstairs.
It put grooves in the stone but was 'polishing' the drill bit.

Maybe mark the drill bit end with texter pen so I know I have the angle right ?

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Bias_2012

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Re: Sharpening Drill bits by hand
Reply #9 - Feb 13^th, 2018 at 2:21pm

Sprintcyclist wrote on Feb 13^th, 2018 at 10:22am:

Bias_2012 wrote on Feb 13^th, 2018 at 1:50am:

Those soft flexible sanding discs are not the best for sharpening drill bits. The cutting edge will be rounded slightly and the drill bit won't bite properly when cutting

One of those hard backed sanding discs is more suited, provided it's fine grit and not "wavy", it must be dead flat

Of course a lapping stone is best if you want to sharpen the bit by hand. One of those cheap stones you get in a reject shop or Bunnings maybe. They usually have "fine" one side, and "course" on the other. Use some water or cutting oil on the stone

ah yes, disc will have to be as fine as I can get it.

I tried using a cheap whetstone I have downstairs.
It put grooves in the stone but was 'polishing' the drill bit.

Maybe mark the drill bit end with texter pen so I know I have the angle right ?

The texta is a very good idea, I use that method often for various practices. It's good for locating tight spots in mating parts, instead of filing or grinding the whole part/s to make them fit, it's better to reduce down just the spots that are rubbing together

You should be able to get harder stones that don't "groove" so quickly, but soft stones are for hard steel, hard stones are for soft steel

You should really be using only a soft stone, and work the drill bit all over the face of the stone to prevent grooving

If the bit is polishing, the grit size is too fine, you need a courser grit

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Sprintcyclist Gold Member Offline OzPolitic Posts: 39506 Gender:	Re: Sharpening Drill bits by hand Reply #10 - Feb 15^th, 2018 at 11:14pm hmm, might try my angle grinder when I am in the mood for it. If I can clamp the grinder in a vise or similar it might work. Made a wooden jig up to give me the 59 degree angle each side of the drill bit. It is a no-lose situation. Can't drill hardwood with those drill bits anyway.
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COWBOY

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Re: Sharpening Drill bits by hand
Reply #11 - Aug 12^th, 2018 at 6:55pm

Thought I would give this Tread a bump.

First time in here. I have tried my hand at sharpening using grinding wheel. My mates are very good at it, but they are ex Fitters and Turners.
I have given up, got success of about 5 out of ten, even though I was shown how many many times.

Yet, I can sharpen, chisels and wood carving knives extremely well. With the drills I have never tried to do them by hand on a stone. Might give that a go.

I have a few cheap diamond stones and old Carbide stones here. My good Japanese Water Stones are kept specially for Chisels and knives.

I will let you know how I go.

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goosecat

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Re: Sharpening Drill bits by hand
Reply #12 - Mar 6^th, 2019 at 11:58pm

It's like anything, practice makes perfect. I reckon every bloke should purchase a cheap bench grinder with a stone and wire buff for a shed. You can literally get them for under $40 at Bunnings. You don't even need to permanently mount them somewhere, just stick the grinder itself in your bench vice when you need it (I made a wooden base for mine for a grip point just out of a small bit of wood and screws laying around. Pack it away somewhere out of the way and drag it out when needed. For under $40 it's a pretty good investment. All your drill sharpening sorted and you'd be amazed how useful one is once you have it.
As far as sharpening by hand practice goes, just pick a couple of old drill bits to sacrifice and do it over and over. Sharpen, check it against a new one for angle etc, grind flat, sharpen again etc. You'll get it like anything with practice. Once you've really got it, it's actually pretty simple.
Otherwise you can always buy electric drill, knife chisel sharpener combos for under $40 as well. Never have a blunt tool again. That should keep all the family happy, even the missus Wink

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Jasin

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Re: Sharpening Drill bits by hand
Reply #13 - Mar 7^th, 2019 at 7:25pm

Korr

I would never sharpen a 'Drill' bit. The 'economics' of time wasted just doesn't add up.

1. Buy high quality drill bits first of all.
2. Just buy another drill bit and stop being a tight-wad! Roll Eyes

3. Sharpening of a drill bit, no matter how good you think you did it, never attains the original quality and thus leaves you with a less than workable drill bit that will let you down on those important moments.
4. Would you do 'retreads' on your tyres? Sure, it can be done - but FFS, go out and buy new ones!

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AIMLESS EXTENTION OF KNOWLEDGE HOWEVER, WHICH IS WHAT I THINK YOU REALLY MEAN BY THE TERM 'CURIOSITY', IS MERELY INEFFICIENCY. I AM DESIGNED TO AVOID INEFFICIENCY.

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goosecat Senior Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 400	Re: Sharpening Drill bits by hand Reply #14 - Mar 7^th, 2019 at 11:49pm Give a man a drill-bit and he'll drill for a day, but teach a man to sharpen one....
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