How to Sharpen Tools : Sharpening a Drill Bit

[CDeoD]

with all that grinding you should be dipping it in some some water in between applications to the grinder, so you don't lose the manufactured hard temper.

[doobryfingy]

As a toolmaker iv seen people using the side of a low profile wheel like that and end up with a face full of stone so for those that are not skilled like the guy in the video id say use the front of a wider wheel. These shown here can explode as fast a bullet. you have been warned.

[Jeepynator]

Maybe really good on wood application but on metal application you have a wrong move...never turn the drill bit as it does not give a good clearance that cause the sharpen edge no touching the drilled material...clearence is made by grinding down the back face of the cutting edge so the cutting edge is the first to contact with the drilled material

[sharonnnmike]

Thanks this will save money make work easy

[azrios]

I use a Darex bench grinder with a diamond wheel.... takes the guess work out (more accurate) and you remove less material. Not dissing doing it by hand, but it does take skill and practice....

[DownhillAllTheWay]

What's the object of sharpening a drill? - to look at it under a microscope and marvel at its precision and exactitude - or to drill holes?  Maybe for super-precision work with machine tools, you need a sharpening jig, but for the average guy in his workshop, Willie is spot on!

[annalamdesabbat777]

My old boss did this once. Drill bit was so far off, Wouldn't even drill in wood.

[bwatteful]

Haha you guys that are talking ol' Willie down have no idea! He's been doing it for 25 years! I've been doing it for 6 months and my bits come out more than well enough to use in metal and stay sharp for a while. So I'm sure he knows what he's doing. I guess most people can't tell a true craftsman when they see one. You guys need to get rid of your jigs and learn how to execute all areas of the craft, not just using the bit then doing what the drill doctor tells you to do

[stangTCODE]

A MASTER AT HIS TRADE ,,GREAT WORK & CHARACTER...

[Mrpsychotehpyro]

If i grind drills, id love to do the "inside cut" , but sadly a largish bench grinder cannot do that on most common sizes of drills.

Doing the grinding on a cutting wheel is clever.....because unlike my bench grinder it gets the job done.

And a hole thats going to get a screw through needs to be precise to a couple of thou, right ?

Yeah, f course bitch ....

Quit your bitching, a drill makes a hole, not a precision fit.

Use reamers, boring bars and heads.....

[MrFrago666]

Call me an as_hat, but I sharpen my bits by reversing the rotation of drill press, angle the platform to what looks right, clamp on a piece of wood that has a remnant of a worn down metal cutting circular saw blade attached and running the drill at highest speed, lightly press down on the blade with the bit. Doesn't sharpen them like new, but it gets them cutting again.

It's very tedious, but for the inside, I use a Dremal with a grinding wheel.

[sn2ch]

Jeez, these comments are ridiculous. I have been using a slight variation of his method for years and it works great.

[ap1fanatik]

does the machine not read "sharpener" on it? One could guess that means it's not for cutting anything, maybe suited for sharpening things. haha idiots.

Also it's pretty common to use a grinder to sharpen cutting bits. I wonder how they ever sharpened these tools years ago. I assure you it wasn't setting them up in mills and lathes.

[sonofsawdust]

Ever think that the guy just might have a good eye? He's been doing it for 25 years. I sharpen my drill bits on a hand held belt sander clamped to my bench and they come out perfect. Cut the guy some slack for crying out loud.

[moorem99]

NEVER use the side of a grinding wheel to sharpen a drill. Where is his work rest? He is using a cut-off wheel not a grinder. I've been teaching metalwork and engineering for 25 years and this chap is showing dangerous practices. He should use a simple jig to measure the length of the flutes or the drill will produce an over-size hole. Wow... what a joker...

[FirebrandNIRE]

Willy Wonka's Sharpening Factory :/

Whats he drilling through? Butter?

[malecki1887]

A do think a bench grinder is more appropriate with a grinding wheel is safer and more efficient than the way demonstrated here. Also an easy way to obtain 59 degrees or close to is to use the flat side of a nut against the grinder and trace the the other flat which will give you a 60 degree guide line which is close enough to work for most applications. The only real need to worrying about the temper is if your heating the tip of the drill bit read hot, which in all realty there is no reason to

[malecki1887]

do when your sharpening a drill bit. I am in the Industrial mechanics field, and hardly do we ever get a complete drill index, nor are the bits we do have sharp. So we often resharpen them ourselves. It is not hard to learn. The bits can be resharpened until there is almost no flute left. Considering most drill bits have several inch flutes, you have a way to go. Its a good skill to have in a pinch, and the more you practice the better you get at it.

[30x50]

He's doin' this for more than 25 years, all the time in this manner? Uh-oh ...

It doesn't have to mean that he screwed them drill bits all up, but the possibility to spoil the angles is at hand. Personally, I would sharpen a drill bit only if absolutely no other possibility is at hand - and correct it as soon as possible. Everyone can tell a Pro from a wannabe by his tools and the way he's usin' them.

[HighSpeedNoDrag]

Expert Village is kind of scary the non-expert information they present, etc.

[BoldUniverse]

decir lo que??? No, no, no, no, no! Please, no one else EVER try to sharpen a drill like this!!!

[Bulldogtastic]

@BoldUniverse

[Hoothate]

Polish T-Shirt! I Love it :]

[JiggaB00Jones]

@Hoothate hahaha, i noticed that too! polska FTW lol

[rolfethered]

WOW. Thanks Willie and Expert Village. I live in the Eugene Area, and now I know who has been screwing up the drill bits that people bring to me for proper angles. I thoght it was stange to have so many with rounded and uneven relieves. I gues if your desprate and broke you could do things this way. Again, WOW.

[pardomtlca]

he's grinding with a cutting wheel...lol...best way to sharpen a drill bit is with a jig so you get the perfect 118 angle...then you can drill through steel all day!

[ritter89]

@pardomtlca You do realize that one of the signs of a highly skilled machinist is the ability to grind drill bits by hand? Jigs are popular with hobbyists who have zero skills. I agree that this guy is using primitive methods and most likely caters to customers base that's not concerned about close tolerances. However, the weekend warrior who pays 200.00 for the "Drill Dr" knows even less about proper sharpening techniques than this guy. Take their jigs away and they're screwed

[batvette]

@ritter89 " Jigs are popular with hobbyists who have zero skills."

And... Drill bit manufacturers.

I have a bench grinder. I have some skills, like anyone I'd like more.

I've also had a Drill Doctor DD 500 for about ten years, due to the nature of its indexing system and different twists, it cannot sharpen about a third of the bits you attempt, but with the ones it works on are as good as any machinist can do and look factory fresh.

Clip:Hello temper?

Invention and technology = good!

[icotech]

ty master

[Thetruthishere11]

ok vid. need to know more about angle.

[DonBisu]

Dobry z ciebie fachowiec ;)

[Infinitevoyager]

Have any of you complainers ever actually sharpened a bit or even know how to?  Yours are probably worn out and wobble in your chuck from when you let it spin and wear the shoulders off of it, and you worry about this guy....lol. Hey it's free advice, that's not really too far off. Maybe not perfect, but with half a brain you might get lucky and figure the rest of it out.

[ritter89]

@Infinitevoyager Exactly. Today, we're indoctrinated into the dogma that says we need specialized jigs to sharpen or hone our own tools. We pay for jigs and hire "specialists" to perform operations that the avg apprentice was capable of executing just 50 yrs ago. Machines and jigs are perform the lion's share of the work, not the operators. Highly developed hand/eye coordination seems to have become a thing of the past. Fast, cheap and mediocre is the motto these days

[byblosadvocate]

No gloves, poor light, overly course grinding wheel, high RPMs - ? Credit, Willie did remember to wear a face shield. I'd say ExpertVillage doesn't look very hard for their "experts". But they do seem like they all came from a village.

[danielclack22]

@byblosadvocate

It's not really a good idea to wear gloves when using a bench grinder. It's easier for the wheel to grab the glove and suck your hand in. I believe it's also an OSHA rule.

[byblosadvocate]

@danielclack22 - You're probably right about the gloves, there's a lot of dumb-asses out there that OSHA needs to protect from their own stupidity - If you can get a glove caught in a grinding wheel's shaft then you're a dumb-ass who shouldn't be grinding. I'll still wear leather gloves when I feel a need to protect my pretty knuckles.

[ritter89]

@byblosadvocate Gloves while working a grinder? Not a good idea, if you value your hands. Ever see someone get their leather work gloves trapped between an arbor shaft and a grinding wheel spinning at 3500 RPM? Not pretty

[soggybuilders]

Hey Williie thanks for the tips !!!!!! Thats how I do it works real well dont worry about [ wokkas comment ] your way works really well as I have don it the same way for years.Good video !!

[Maartjinski]

Thank you willie, i'm from holland and had some blunt drill bits.

Your video was really clear and with some common sense i now have sharp drill's again!!

[yonmoore]

I don't know why people have to be suck dicks on here. If you don't like this method then go buy one of those cheesy drill bit sharpeners. I'm gonna give this a whirl I'm tired of buying drill bits all the time.

[22rifle]

@yonmoore The reason people bash this guy is because his work is horrible. But hey, there are people out there who are OK with horrible work. Sounds like you are one of them.

[yonmoore]

@22rifle Haha well what's the best way to sharpen bits then? Sounds like you know which method is better and I'd like to know what it is. I've had OK results resharpening bits like this but it's not what I'd call life-changing or anything.

[22rifle]

@yonmoore First of all, if someone wants to sharpen their own bits this way, that is fine. It's also a great way to get by in a pinch.

But a good precision drill bit sharpener will produce precise, consistent results like this method never will. I am a professional sharpener. I primarily sharpen knives, scissors, and chisels. That doesn't mean my opinions should be unquestioningly accepted. It just means I know a wee bit about what I am talking about.

[yonmoore]

@22rifle So, the practical solution for a guy like me would be to just take em in to a professional tool sharpener? Or should I consider buying one of those drill sharpener deals?

[22rifle]

@yonmoore I would consider buying one of those drill sharpener deals. Get the one made by the company that does the large commercial ones too. Forget the name at the moment.

Depends on your needs, the quality of bits you buy, the amount you use them, the availability of a GOOD professional sharpener. If the local sharpener is no better than the guy in the video, you can do this good at home yourself with almost no practice.

[22rifle]

@yonmoore What I object to here is a guy carelessly grinding away at stuff and not only charging for it, but passing himself off as an expert. Yeah, he has been in business twentyfivethirtyyears, but so have other sharpening shops that do horrible work. As I watch his videos I am appalled at the thought of all the people who pay this guy, never realizing he is a hack and doing crappy work.

[chrisnapierutube]

@22rifle Exactly how long did you expect him to need to sharpen a drill bit?

[22rifle]

@yonmoore Yes, he grinds an edge on stuff, but he is not offering quality, precision sharpening. There is a huge difference between the two.

[22rifle]

@yonmoore The reason people bash this guy is because his work is horrible. But hey, there are people out there who are OK with horrible work. Sounds like you are one of them.

[Rednostalgia]

remove this video, it sucks.

[Hollrobb]

Nothings more anoying then to start to drill something and the bit just spins and will not cut, i've thrown bits in the trash many times because of this, now i'll try to sharpin them when i get time. thanks willie.

[yee1st]

woah! atleast i now have an idea how to sharpen my bits... my workers are so damn idiots of ruining my bits... i even buy a black and decker drill bit sharpener but its just a waste of money... thanks... more power to you...

[yonmoore]

@yee1st I was thinking about buying one of those drill sharpeners but I guess I won't anymore! I didn't know about the inside cut bit.

[hendotintco]

lift it off the whel after every pass to use the wind from the wheel to cool it or soon as you drill steel it will blunt fast.Also do one side then the other to keep it centre.

[canubelieve]

twennyfivethirtyyears.  LOL

[Moncantha]

Correct! This is why i always cringed when people sharpen chisels on wheels and press to hard, you see the oxide pattern and it meand the temper is ruined. People might also wanna watch out if they have carbide tipped bits, they won't get sharp i don't think.

[wokkas]

@pha3zme This is bollocks

[mrcoreys0]

@pha3zme or heat it and dip it in oil

[ZipSnipe]

Its not the way I do it, but it was very acceptable. I always wear magnifying optical so I can get the proper rake and the centering the tip. Also drills get harder to sharpen because the flutes are tapered cut, so the more you grind the bit down the harder it is to get a proper cut on it.

[GroovyVideo2]

Nice --Thanks -->

[jrelm7]

I had an expensive bit i thought was junk after drilling some holes in 3/8 inch thick steel.

watched the video and sharpened the bit

it works as well or even better than when it was new.

Thanks

[DeleteFromUsers]

I wouldn't use a hand-ground drill on a CNC machine, but for general drill press/hand drilling work, this method is fast and accurate enough. It would be nice if he used more appropriate nomenclature, but the technique seems acceptable. The first drill seemed to have very aggressive clearance for non-ferrous metals and plastics (high feed). The edge would probably fail prematurely in most steels however. Ultimately I wouldn't recommend the amateur start this way. Not a simple technique.

[jeppoification]

i wouldn't use one of his roughed up drills in my cnc, i would use one that any of the cnc machinist's including myself have sharpened. it is possible to do it properly by hand and at the end of the day a drilled hole is a drilled hole regardless of what machine you use

[santilian]

cool video

[robviolin1]

Thank you for showing hope to sharpen my drill bits. I enjoyed watching your video.

[DCPartyKid]

i hate you "Expert" VIllage

[Russ821]

Hey you so called experts out there put YOUR video on here so I can watch you. I have been sharpening drills for 35 years no attachments just my hands.... This man doesn't sharpen like me at all at least he is trying to help others. Well come on - I will watch for your video. Maybe your feed back would be more appreciated - and cit out the swearing - Family people read this - Thanks

[tonyshit80]

It not work, I try very hard using this method but my drill bit fail to work properly...and now I,m looking the perfect machine for this purpose...

Anyone could suggest any idea for me...?

[slasher667]

a dremel tool on a small hand drill and a good clamp with some plastic or wooden faces...

[drillsharpener]

it seems a pretty crude way to sharpen your bits..i have made a jig to sharpen mine...it will sharpen up as far as a 50mm bit.check my video and leave a comment..cheers ; )

[MUSCELZ69]

let me assure you, it is not crude, you WILL definitely get a better edge by doing it by hand, i have been sharpening drill bits by hand on my bench grinder for years. a steady hand and basic metal urge knowledge and your set to go, as long as you know how to sharpen things propally at the mean time

[tonyshit80]

Thank of lot to You, Wow that brilliant idea, because for sharing the knowledge, can me copy your method, there are any copy right...in my country very hard to buy your tools....permissionpls...may god bless you...

[handmetheclip]

You can use the side of the grinding wheel on applications where you are putting very little pressure against the wheel, such as drill bits.

[wokkas]

What the fuck???? Don't worry if the point isn't in the centre, and don't worry if the edges aren't the same length mate... She'll be right, hey? And is it just me, or did one side of the first drill look like it had about 10 degrees more clearnace than the other? And the "inside cut, on the pretty thick bit in the middle" is called thinning the webb mate. Dear o' dear...

[solouko]

@wokkas

Take a chill pill dude, "get professional tips and advice from an expert carpenter"... carpenter, that means wood, wood doesn't care if the tip is off centre, even if you were drilling BDMS the 'wobble' would enlarge teh hole by a fraction of a milimeter and you'd have to pilot it first anyway. That drill is what we call 'fit for purpose' I had to do this with a 1.2mm bit the other day and on a course wheel, it was STILL fit for purpose.

[wokkas]

@solouko Ha ha, that was 2 years ago. Gold! I see your point mate, but if you're gonna post a video teaching people how to do something, either do it properly, or don't do it at all.

[Grejzen]

Zajebista koszulka :)

[mrxt500]

I have to agree with toolmaker64, BoldUniverse & sawmilldarren. I'm no expert at sharpening bits but I know what NOT to do. I was always taught NEVER to use the side of a grinding wheel, and to cool the bit in water after every touch. You can clearly see the cutting faces are straw coloured - that's enough to lose temper. If the tips on those 'sharpened' bits are equal I'll eat this computer.

[unscrewthis1]

His wheel is narrow nor dressing the wheel/grits,hardness to preventing wheel burn.

I use the front of wheel 1/2,3/4,1 inch half drill dia.

[sawmilldaren]

I am glad I don't live in Oregon, or have to go to Carson Saw Shop to get my tools dulled. I watched many of the videos...handsaws HA, my customers (soon to be ex customers if I did it that way) would laugh too. Please remove these farces, it is embarrassing to real sharpeners.

[WayneKDolik]

Thanks for the lesson. Wondered how my machinest Dad used to do that!

[BoldUniverse]

someone please teach this guy how to sharpen drills properly.

[3abbosi]

Depends on what purpose you are gona use it for, the way he is doing it is fine for a handyman to make a hole in dry wall or wood or.... I dont know.

In the place where I work (I operate CNC machine @ a professional die making company) in some cases we deal with less than one thou tolerances in 4140 grade steel, for such applications if you sharpen the drills this way it could result in you being fired!!

[toolmaker64]

This guy is a fuck'in clown.